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MNers needed to take part in the PruHealth Vitality Experience

164 replies

AnnMumsnet · 08/01/2014 13:36

We've been asked by PruHealth to find 10 Mumsnetters to take part in their Vitality Experience designed to introduce the full range of discounts, benefits and rewards available by being a PruHealth with Vitality member.

This 2-month long challenge is aimed especially towards Mumsnetters looking to make healthier lifestyle choices for themselves as well as their families. You don?t need to be an existing PruHealth member to take part, just be in the market for easier ways to make healthy choices for you and your family.

Here's what PruHealth have to say:

"We believe the more you look after yourself, the healthier you feel. That's why we offer our customers Vitality when they buy our health insurance. Vitality is the world's largest incentive-based wellness programme and can make getting and staying healthy both easier and cheaper, but also reward you for all of your hard work!"

The Vitality Experience will kick off at PruHealth HQ in central London on Friday 17th January. Where you'll be provided with everything you'll need, including a Vitality Healthcheck to better understand your health, advice on healthy eating from a qualified nutritionist and an exercise plan designed by a Virgin Active personal trainer to get you on your way.

Each week participants will be presented with a new Vitality benefit - from earning additional Nectar points when you buy healthy foods at Sainsbury's, taking advantage of discounts at Virgin Active or treating the family to a trip to the cinema! Vitality aims to make healthy living fun, easy and rewarding.

Below you'll find a full schedule of the Vitality Experience:

Week 1 - Get Gyming - Kick start your January resolutions with a free 2-month pass to a Virgin Active gym and £50 to spend on new gym gear at Sweatshop.
Week 2 - 5-a-Day - Get £50 worth of Nectar points to spend on healthy food choices at Sainsbury's.
Week 3 - Step It Up - Get motivated to increase your daily step count with your new FitBug pedometer.
Week 4 - Family Treat - Take the family out on a trip to the cinema with £40 worth of vouchers to either Cineworld or Vue cinemas.
Week 5 - Half-Term & Half-Time - Check in with your Virgin Active personal trainer for a free 1hr session to boost your gym routine.
Week 6 - Discounts Dispensed - Get £25 worth of vouchers to test drive our up to 50% cashback at Lloyds Pharmacy benefit.
Week 7 - Choose Your Reward - Take your pick between discounts to Merlin attractions, National Trust parks or travel with Eurostar, Mark Warner or Mr & Mrs Smith getaways.
Week 8 - Wrap Up - Finish the Vitality Experience with a day of pampering at Champney's spa.

Participants selected will be required to give regular feedback (at least once a week) on the MN thread to report back on how they're finding each of the benefits as well as to give support to the other MNers participating in the Vitality Experience.

To take part we're looking for MNers who:

~ Are able to attend the launch day in central London, kicking off at 10am on Friday 17th January (transport costs will be covered).
~ Can commit to taking part in each of the weekly experiences above between the 17th January and 14th March.
~ Are able to do their food shopping at a Sainsbury's store, access a Virgin Active gym and have either a Cineworld or Vue cinema nearby (NB: this excludes Virgin Active gyms at Clements Hall, Rayleigh or Chiswick Riverside).
~ Are able to document their experience on a weekly basis via the Mumsnet thread as well as by video blog on the handheld flipcam provided (which you can keep as an additional thank you!).
~ Are able to attend the wrap up day at Champney's Spa in Tring on Friday 14th March (transport costs will be covered).
~ Are happy for PruHealth to use your feedback on the experience across their future marketing materials and/or website - inclusive of photography, video or print where relevant.

If you'd like to be considered please add your details here and we'll be in touch with selected MNers asap.

Any questions please post below.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

OP posts:
tootssweet · 16/01/2014 08:21

I am sure I have done the test wrong as my vitality age is coming up as 39Shock! Think I better try that one again (was guesstimating my waist size as I've lost my tape measure - possibly been a bit too kind to myself)

So trainers? I've got to go to a concert straight after so not sure what outfit is going to work for all of this?

Kewcumber · 16/01/2014 10:52

"The ‘dress code’, for lack of a better term, is casual. Thinking jeans/trousers and sensible shoes. A dress is fine, we will be doing a few example exercises, but nothing to strenuous."

AnnMumsnet · 16/01/2014 11:04

Thanks Kewcumber: you pipped me to the post: was just going to post that!
You'll all be amazing whatever you wear/ look like...

OP posts:
GwenStacy · 16/01/2014 11:16

I'm planning on bringing my baby in a sling rather than bring a pram on rush hour transport! If we're doing exercises I may have to offer her to someone not participating for cuddles!

CointreauVersial · 16/01/2014 12:58

Always up for baby cuddles..... Smile

GwenStacy · 16/01/2014 17:03

CointreauVersial I'm sure that can be arranged - she's fairly ridiculously cuddly

Willemdefoeismine · 16/01/2014 20:07

I'm waving! I'm in :-). How do I check my Vitality age (have I fallen at the first hurdle???)....!

CointreauVersial · 16/01/2014 22:32

Willem - there was a link in one of the emails.

I came out as 49. I don't think it liked my low-carb diet.....

See you all tomorrow!

telsa · 17/01/2014 08:32

Where are we going to be able to see the vids? Can't wait...tee hee. From one of the jealous losers!

AnnMumsnet · 17/01/2014 14:45

So....WOW - ladies - what a day you have had today! I skipped off early sadly but it was really lovely to meet you all - even I am Envy of all the treats and wholesome goodness you've got coming.

Hope everyone enjoyed the day and had a safe trip home. Thank you all!

Be in touch on Monday with the feedback thread Wink

OP posts:
loopsngeorge · 17/01/2014 17:09

Thanks Ann it was really fun - bring on week one!!

WalkingThePlank · 18/01/2014 10:53

Hi everyone - 'I'm 'the one in the red/orange jumper'.

I have done my Vitality Age Score. I did it at the start of the week and it came up 4 years older than I am. I did it just now though with the cholesterol/glucose/BP scores and I happen to have lost 1kg this week which has moved me from Overweight to normal on the BMI categorisation. My Vitality Age is now 7 years younger than my actual age! Crikey. I wish someone would tell my face to look 7 years younger!

I had an email from my Vitality Coach with details of my Gym membership. It looks like I have been confused with the lady with the same Christian name as me and I have membership of a club about 200 miles away. I have emailed my Coach to let her know that but thought I should let the other lady know here in case she tries to join the Gym and is refused entry.

I have made some changes already. I had orange cordial rather than Diet Coke last night. I've just bought some Almond Butter and when the 101 oils in the cupboard are used up we'll start to use Coconut oil. For me the project is more about food and I found Sally's presentation really inspiring. I don't have my 5-a-day so need to work on that.

My DH has got his PruHealth folder out now!

WalkingThePlank · 18/01/2014 11:16

Ooh, Corrine just contacted me to say Gym confusion resolved. I have a run scheduled for tomorrow so will probably go to the gym on Tuesday. Has anyone been to their's yet?

Kewcumber · 18/01/2014 11:28

Interesting, "Lady with the red/orange jumper" (though you will forever be known by me as the one who already had membership without realising it) - I was more interested in the exercise segment but I too found the nutrition bit really interesting (despite have kickstarted the day with a bacon baguette) and also came home and googled almond butter, almond milk and coconut oil.

One of my three habits to change was to cook more - am getting a halogen oven (little one) for my birthday in a couple of weeks so will use that too as part of my attempt to improve our diet.

I'm a bit worried that an hour of personal training may well finish me off completely!

PS I'm the one who couldn't blame the state of my body on pregnancy despite the nice trainer lady's attempts to give us all that let out!

Kewcumber · 18/01/2014 11:29

I'll have to wait for school on Monday to get to the gym but will go straight from drop off...

I've also looked up zombie run - anyone else tried it?

GwenStacy · 18/01/2014 12:27

Boo, not had an email yet! If I get an email in time, might try for a swim at least on Monday!

Kewcumber · 18/01/2014 12:46

For some peculiar reason my gym is the only one actually sending me a membership card so no doubt it will take a few days more... am going to have to tackle the home stuff we were given and get out and walk instead.

Willemdefoeismine · 18/01/2014 15:56

Hi everyone

Did I miss anything with the keep fit session??? Lovely to meet you all!

I've just done all the relevant admin this morning and have ordered my keep-fit outfit! I shall have to await its arrival before I can gym it though, as I don't have any such clothes at all - the last lot ended up as painting/decorating garb! :-)

I was quite depressed after initially feeling quite uplifted. My high cholesterol reading did rather depress me so I've already vowed to change my dietary habits (which had got sloppy)...I've even gone out and bought some almond milk this morning......And had a very yummy chickpea-based salad last night....

On a very positive note I sorted out my Fitbug and took it out when DD and I went out this morning - I've already done nearly 9,000 steps and only activated it at 10.00 am! :-)So I'm confident that the walking part won't be at all difficult for me to do and improve on!

Onwards and upwards.....Wink!

Willemdefoeismine · 18/01/2014 16:00

Oh...On the diet front...I thought it all made perfect sense but it's not exactly cheap - I cannot imagine that coconut oil or almond butter come cheap - all will be revealed with the Sainsbury's 'healthy' shop!

CointreauVersial · 18/01/2014 17:12

What a great day, and lovely to meet you all (I'm "navy blouse and sparkly necklace" in case you are wondering). I haven't done a lot yet, as I had a horrid allergic reaction to something I ate yesterday evening, and spent the night wheezing and puking. Confused I have been drinking plenty of water, though.

Audreyblue · 18/01/2014 17:21

Had a very informative day. I am blue cardigan black boots! lovely to meet you all.

Can someone tell me how to use the sweatshop voucher? I am at a loss! tried entering my membership number but that doesn't work. Also wanted to go to a Pilates class tomorrow but having trouble with the membership.

Kewcumber · 18/01/2014 17:46

Cointreau - sparkly necklace I remember (sorry about allergy)
Audreyblue - blue cardigan black boots not doing it for me... you're going to have to be more specific... I have the attention span of a gnat...

GwenStacy · 18/01/2014 19:37

So, if I'm remembering correctly, going round the room…

Lady in stripy top
Kewcumber
(AudreyBlue?)
WillemDefoeIsMine
GwenStacy (me, with baby!)
CointreauVersial
Lady in orange cardigan
LoopsandGeorge
WalkingthePlank
Lady who was scuppered by trains (and had an awesome bag!)

Is this right?

LocalEditorMerton · 18/01/2014 19:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Kewcumber · 18/01/2014 20:28

Oh couldn't you get the sale prices? Thats disappointing - I was hoping for some trainers in the sale without forking out too much extra.