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Enroll in Walk to Wellness, Receive a Free Pedometer

Want to feel better, have more energy and perhaps even live longer? Exercise is the answer.

Walk to Wellness can show you how easy it is to enjoy the many benefits of exercise. Enroll in this program by Sept. 30, 2012 to receive a free pedometer. Walking begins Oct. 1.

Walking is a form of exercise you can live with. It can be done anywhere—no gym or special equipment required. It can be done anytime. And it can also be seriously good for your health.

According to Mayo Clinic experts, walking is just as beneficial as jogging in terms of cardiovascular health. The challenge is doing enough of it. Most of us walk about half of the 10,000 steps recommended for maintaining good health.

Developed by health experts at Mayo Clinic, Walk to Wellness makes your everyday walking activity count and gradually increases your activity over a period of 28 days. The more you walk, the better you'll feel.

Along the way, Walk to Wellness offers tips for selecting walking shoes, advice for improving technique and posture, instruction for using a pedometer, and strategies for getting your family involved.

There is no out-of-pocket cost for this program. Even better, eligible participants receive a free pedometer when they enroll. The enrollment period ends Sept. 30, 2012, so hurry–you'll want your pedometer by the time walking begins on Oct. 1, 2012.

Research proves that walkers who use pedometers are more likely to see better results. They walk more miles, burn more calories, lose more weight, and see better improvements in blood pressure readings. Positive results provide motivation to continue walking after the program ends.

You do not need to be a "gym rat," fitness fanatic, or Olympic medal winner to benefit from Walk to Wellness. If you have a hard time warming up to the idea of exercise (much less doing), Walk to Wellness is a great first step.

  • It's simple. Just enroll on CarpentersHealth.org, set a goal, start walking, and log your steps or minutes using the Walk to Wellness tracker.
  • It's stress-free.  Come as you are, regardless of your weight or physical condition. You won't be pressured to do more than what's comfortable for you. And never worry about getting off track or falling short of your goal. The important thing is that you keep walking.
  • It's short. In a span of four weeks, you'll be walking on a regular basis, seeing results, and feeling great. The whole idea is to get you started, teach you the basics, and give you the confidence to continue walking after the program ends.

Walk to Wellness is available to carpenters, spouses, and dependent children (18-25) covered by the Carpenters Health and Security Plan of Western Washington. To enroll, log on to CarpentersHealth.org (the EmbodyHealth website) and look for Walk to Wellness on your home page. The online program will help you set a goal and show you how to use the tracking tool to log your steps or minutes. Then start walking.

As a reward for completing Walk to Wellness, you'll be able to download an electronic book (e-book) from Mayo Clinic. The offer will come to you through CarpentersHealth.org (the EmbodyHealth website). Choose from a list of 10 titles.