PruHealth Vitality Experience - month 1 feedback thread with WEEKLY prizes for non participants.....

[AnnMumsnet]

You may recall we have recruited 10 willing volunteers to take part in the Mumsnet PruHealth Vitality Experience - this is running until mid March. This is the feedback thread for the participants to share their feedback with you all.

As PruHealth are so very keen for as many MNers as possible to experience the benefits offered by their Vitality programme each week there will be an incentive (see below for chance to win a £50 Nectar card) offered to non participants to read how the volunteers are getting on and to share your own tips, experiences and opinions. Bookmark this thread and keep an eye out for updates across the next few weeks....

PruHealth 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 kicked off in style at PruHealth HQ in London on Friday 17th January. Here participants were given everything they need for the experience - including a Vitality Healthcheck, advice on healthy eating from a qualified nutritionist and an exercise plan designed by a personal trainer.

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.

Here's the 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 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.

Week 1 - Get Gyming
Vitality Experience Participants: please share on this thread:
How you found the welcome day - what did you enjoy, what worried you, how did you find meeting other MNers? Why did you want to take part? Pick three words to sum up the day.

Please share how you're getting on with the gym: have you been before? What did your family think / say? What did you buy with your Sweatshop voucher? How did you feel the next day? Do you think it's given you the push to start going regularly? How do you fit it into your schedule?

Non Participants - gyms and you - discuss!
Now that we're in the middle of January, how are your resolutions for a fitter 2014? Share your stories and thoughts about gyming and you and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £50 pre-loaded Nectar card (prize draw Monday 27th at 9am) NOW CLOSED

Week 2: - is all about healthy food choices (w/c 27-1). PruHealth with Vitality members can earn five times the amount of Nectar points they normally would by buying certain foods. As well they earn 1 Vitality point for each £2 is spent on healthy foods once they have linked their nectar card to their account.

Vitality Experience Participants - please share on this thread: At the welcome day you had a presentation from Sally Nash, the nutritionist with EnergiseYou -
~ What would you say was the key message you took away from her presentation and what did you learn?
~ What healthy foods have found their way into your trolley since then and what are you planning to buy this week with your Nectar card?
~ How's the rest of the programme going - we'd love to hear what you've done!

Non Participants - what's your best tip for including your 5-a-day in family meals? NOW CLOSED
~ Share your best tips for getting the 5-a-day into family meals or share a fruit or veg packed recipe on this thread and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £50 pre-loaded Nectar card NOW CLOSED

Week 3
The third week is about increasing the number of steps you take every day and finding ways to fit 'steps' around your lifestyle. PruHealth with Vitality members can earn points for the number of steps they take each day. Start earning once you've taken over 7,000 a day - the more steps, the more points.

Vitality Experience Participants: please share on this thread:

~ How are you getting on with your new FitBug pedometer?
~ How many steps are you taking each day? Does this surprise you? Disappoint you?
~ What tips can you share for increasing your steps per day.

Non Participants - what's your best tip for increasing the steps you take each day? Add your comment below to be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £50 pre-loaded Nectar card! Share your top tips for making it easy to get more steps into your daily life on this thread and you'll be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £50 pre-loaded Nectar card (prize draw Monday 10th Feb at 9am). NOW CLOSED

Week 4
Family Treat Week
PruHealth say "The very heart of Vitality is focussed on wellness and making healthy choices cheaper, easier and well-rewarding for our members. The weekly cinema ticket incentive is one of our most popular as it gives members the opportunity to treat themselves to a night at the cinema as a reward for their efforts to lead a healthier lifestyle. Small changes, big rewards."

Participants please share what film you are seeing or have seen with your Cineworld/ Vue voucher and what treats you like to enjoy generally with your family. How do you think the treat and reward element of the PruHealth with Vitality plan works?

Non participants...with half term coming up what treats do you have in store for your family? What are your families fav films?
~ Add your comment and you will be entered into a prize draw where one person will win a £50 preloaded Nectar card. Prize draw Monday 17 Feb at 9am. NOW CLOSED

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

[Willemdefoeismine]

Oh non WalkingThePlank .....

We normally wait to see the children's films until they come to the KidsClub type cheap viewings..Can't bring myself to spend full-price on films that possibly only half the family really wants to see.

Yes, cinema giftcards wended their way thro' the letterbox yesterday - although you may find the delay is possibly because you've opted for Vue rather than Cineworld????

If it's any consolation I haven't got any Champney's goodies yet - they sound lovely though!

Hope Kew is okay down in Devon.....

[CointreauVersial]

Thanks Audrey for the advance birthday wishes, but it isn't a "milestone" thank goodness. Let's just settle on 40-something!

Onto films.....well, I have been browsing the listings and it's a tricky one. No major standouts that all five of us would like to see, so we may split up (the beauty of going to a multiplex is we can do that easily and meet at the end). DS is the tricky one, as he's 14, so feels too grown-up for cartoons, but isn't old enough (despite what he thinks) for Wolf of Wall Street or similar. I want to see American Hustle but it has pretty much stopped showing now. We will discuss over dinner tonight!

Family treats? Tend to be days out, trips into London, shopping trips, the odd museum. We try to take one UK weekend city-break a year (often between Christmas and New Year, when nothing is happening and hotels are dirt-cheap), or when we are en route to somewhere, and have done Bath, Bristol, Birmingham, Exeter and Portsmouth over the last few years. Actually, cinema is one thing that has really been neglected since we had the DCs. We will sometimes go to family movies (Despicable Me 2 was the last one), and follow that up with dinner out, but DH and I hardly ever go and see "grown-up^ films.

I think the treat and reward element of the PruHealth with Vitality plan works really well - everyone loves a discount, and they seem to be substantial percentages. It's a brilliant way to keep people motivated on the exercise front and when buying healthy food, as you can see the points mount up and the discounts increase.

Free cinema tickets are good, because they have universal appeal (not everyone can get to Champneys, or necessarily have the cash to pay even a proportion of the cost). With five of us in the family a cinema trip is still a sizeable outlay, so it would be nice not to have to be so "discriminating" when it comes to choosing a film to see - I'm sure we miss loads of good films. I'm not sure if a cinema trip improves my "health" per se, but it certainly keeps me engaged in the programme.

[CointreauVersial]

Champneys goodies, you say??

[JS06]

Non Participant

Teen treat at half term combined with a teen birthday will involve a theatre trip to London to see Woman in Black. It's been a long old half term since Christmas and we're all looking forward to a few days off together. It's a matinee not starting til 4pm so plenty of time for a bit of shopping, tiny bit of sightseeing and a decent lunch. Just love London, glad I've inducted the kids well over the years!!

[supermariossister]

NON TESTER...with half term coming up what treats do you have in store for your family? What are your families fav films?

It will probably be a very quiet half term here, ds has been saving his money up and wil hve enough to go and buy his new game which will make him happy. he wants to go and see the lego movie so we might try to do that.

[Chopstheduck]

Non participants...with half term coming up what treats do you have in store for your family?

What are your families fav films?



we go to the cinema a lot more now since I joined pru-health. Have booked Mr Peabody and Sherman for this week and will probably go to see the LEGO movie soon too. Our family likes all sorts really, and since pru-health has made it more affordable, we do see lots of films. The twins liked Captain Phillips, and Saving Mr Banks, as well as the typical kids films.

[Chopstheduck]

As for treats, prob swimming a few times. Anything that is fairly cheap really, as we are saving for Easter!

[tinypumpkin]

Non tester here. Nothing too exciting planned here but my DH are not school age yet (next year). Probably a day trip out (if weather is better!) and visit some friends.

[Stripytop]

Happy birthday to all those celebrating lately or in the near future. A big slice of (very healthy) for you all!

Despite having to work over half term (boo), we do have a few family treat activities planned. A National Trust Park, weather permitting, and ice skating are on the list. Some sleepovers, and a meal out are also being discussed.

We try to go the Kids AM screening at Vue which works out about $10 for the 4 of us. That would mean we could go 4 times with our voucher, or use some of it for sweets and popcorn healthy snacks. However, I think next weeks Kids AM film is Dinosaurs, which the kids have already seen. Otherwise, it might be the Lego film.

I think the treat and reward element of the Vitality plan is a really nice concept. We love films as a family, and it's something I don't think we would ever get tired of using. From what I understand, it's easy to unlock the treat too, you just have to complete an online health questionnaire, which would be do-able for us. If we considering buying health insurance, it would be a major carrot for us.

[Bagtrainlady]

Wow! The man across the road braved the weather to drop off my parcel that he collected in for me. That wasn't the only amazing thing though (he usually only grunts at us if we're lucky) I got my lovely valentines gift.

Think I shall be having a pampering bathe on Friday evening with the contents of my lovely goody bag. Thank you PruHealth it's a really lovely surprise. Feeling very spoiled tonight.

[loopsngeorge]

Lovely surprise in the post today! Especially as the parcels that come are rarely for me!
For those thinking of going to the Lego Movie, I can tell you that DS (9) and DD (5) thought it was hilarious and have been quoting it at length ever since. Even DH said it was pretty funny.

Participants please share what film you are seeing or have seen with your Cineworld/ Vue voucher and what treats you like to enjoy generally with your family.

It would have been the Lego Movie, but as DH had to use that to entertain them while I worked last Saturday, I think it will be Mr Peabody.
Going to the cinema is a treat and not something we do that often normally - it always seems to add up to such a lot of money and half the films are just as good watching them on tv. When I can, I love taking the kids to the London museums or to see something at the theatre. One of their favourite treats though is to have a milkshake or if they're really lucky a meal at our local Wimpy!
This half term our big treat is that we're going over to Ireland to see their cousins. I think they enjoy that kind of holiday more than anything.

How do you think the treat and reward element of the PruHealth with Vitality plan works?

I think it's a great idea and really contributes to feeling positive about the whole programme. As Cointreau says, the discounts are big enough to make it feel like you're really getting something, rather than when it's about 10% and you know you could have got that one way or another anyway.
It's a really clever motivator as there's something about knowing that you 'only' need to do such and such before you get x number of points to make you really try and hit the target.

[Willemdefoeismine]

Participants please share what film you are seeing or have seen with your Cineworld/ Vue voucher:

Well aside from animated films there's nothing that is going to be suitable/appeal to the whole family. Wanted to take DS to see The Book Thief but not on during half-term so it looks as if it will be Mr Peabody and Sherman....

Will be going next weekend though as I'm doing my fitness session this weekend and can't fit everything in, as we already have other events/activities booked...


and what treats you like to enjoy generally with your family.

We love trips to the Museums/theatre/gallery combined with a family meal out, although at the moment the age-gap twixt our DCs causes some issues as a 13 year old doesn't necessarily want to do the same things as an 8 year old - particularly when they're not the same gender either...

At this time of the year treats tend to be indoor rather than outdoor ones - we are not one of those hail and hearty families renowned for embracing the elements (aside from me and DD on the school run!).

The DCs also love spending time with their similarly aged cousins who live nearby! Quite easy to please really!

How do you think the treat and reward element of the PruHealth with Vitality plan works?

I think it's brilliant and really an approach that should be embraced by mainstream health services and primary care too....It also seems like a much better reward-based 'loyalty' option than any others I can think of...

I suspect that it would have a much greater impact for me were I having to earn the rewards. I can see it all now - striving to get to one's step level every week to get the family cinema ticket once a month....It would be more motivating in reality than as part of this trial - for me anyway....

[Kewcumber]

Participants please share what film you are seeing or have seen with your Cineworld/ Vue voucher and what treats you like to enjoy generally with your family.

We're probably going to see Lego the Movie and dragging my mum along and making an afternoon of it out at Westfields. Like many other the cinema for first showings is really too expensive for us except as a Christmas/birthday treat so it will be exciting to blow a pile of money on it - I may even opt for the poncy posh seats as there will only be three of us. We stick to weekend kids club at £2.50 and even that ends up at £12-15 if I can't resist DS begging for popcorn and drinks!

How do you think the treat and reward element of the PruHealth with Vitality plan works?

I think it serves to keep you engaged with the programme - I suspect peoples psychology is that you feel you need to earn rewards. I recall that someone on the induction day showed a slide of how many more gym visits people who used the cinema tickets made. Also as (was it sally?) said it takes 10 times to form a new habit and if trading gym/walking/healthy eating for cinema tickets initially helps form a new habit then its really worthwhile.

[Kewcumber]

I forgot - treats with family tend to be the free Museums in London or going to a rugby or football match

[Kewcumber]

And I forgot to say thank you for the lovely Valentines gift! What a nice surprise and the scrub and hand cream smell delicious. I've promised DS he can interview me on camera later today for my first film...

[AndHarry]

Non participants...with half term coming up what treats do you have in store for your family? What are your families fav films?

I'm at work so DD will be going to nursery as usual. Sorry DD... DS will be having fun with his grandma. They've got all sorts lined up, including a children's show at the local theatre, lots of baking, gardening and going out on his bike. We're going to Woburn Safari Park as a family on the second Saturday of half term, hopefully with one of his friends.

[AndHarry]

Forgot the favourite films bit! Our two are only little so we don't really watch films as a family. DS would watch the Thomas the Tank Engine Blue Mountain Mystery film every day if we let him and also enjoyed Despicable Me.

[CointreauVersial]

I was at the gym this evening, for the first time in a week (real life has been getting in the way, with school and social stuff happening most evenings), but I have kept up the exercise with a couple of early morning runs. My PruHealth white cap has been called into service a couple of times to keep the rain off. This evening I did around 25 minutes on the treadmill, then a Ballet Fusion class, which was really quite tricky.

I am losing weight, but gradually (which is fine), and I am feeling generally more fit and toned.

I have booked my PT session for next Wednesday, and I have to say I'm not actually looking forward to it. I'm wimpishly worried the trainer is going to make me do difficult stuff.

I was very chuffed with my Champneys goodies, though; the hand cream is lovely. Feeling very pampered.

[Willemdefoeismine]

Yes thank you for the Champney goodies - what a lovely treat!

I don't think I'm losing weight really at all - I definitely haven't slipped right back with food (to pre-Vitality levels) but I'm not doing the good stuff as religiously as I was in the beginning....and everytime I'm doing top-up shopping, by the time I get to 'almond milk row' my basket is full of fruit etc....and I forget to go down it en route to the freezer section...

The gym is definitely having some effect but not going as often as I should...

[Audreyblue]

You lucky things - the gift sounds lovely. Could do with some pampering. I have yet to receive mine. I reckon it's because I haven't sent my video diary in yet (too scared) or I'm not working hard enough at the gym! They've sussed me out.

[Willemdefoeismine]

Just come back from the gym (all hot and bothered and semi-delirious) - I'm definitely getting quicker/faster on the running machine but realise that as my fitness is improving peu a peu, I'm not burning quite as many calories ...

Gym session on Sunday....quite looking forward to it....

I think my DCs are much more impressed with this fitness/health makeover than DH....

If I could afford to I would be tempted to continue my gym membership too....it's nice to know it's there.....

And in answer to the 'treat day's we did used to go to the cinema virtuallly every weekend to the Kids Club (cheap) showings. Before the prices suddenly doubled in the Autumn, it was a bargainaceous £5 (particularly if we smuggled in too our own popcorn etc...) for a family of 4......Not so cheap at £10.00 although the long walk to get there (40 minutes each way) would quickly totalise 10,000 steps without really trying too - so a double whammy.....

We don't seem to go as often now because DS is more interested in the action films and refuses to sit thro' Frozen, Tinkerbell etc....I think it's a pity they don't do a Tween/Teen equivalent but DH implied that it would be nightmare to patrol ....

[Willemdefoeismine]

And note to self - don't go food shopping straight after a trip to the gym. Ended up spending way too much money on lush-looking fruit and juices in M&S (never buy those sort of products there!) just because I was feeling very virtuous (polishes halo...)

[onadifferentplanet]

Non participants...with half term coming up what treats do you have in store for your family?
My kids are older so most of the things they have planned won't include me ,Ds 2 I hope will spend at least some of the week revising for his A levels and not a treat but ds2 and 3 have volunteered to help me decorate the bathroom so that should be interesting. We are also planning to start running again as the general bugs of the season and the cold have been used as an excuse to avoid it for far too long!
When we do watch a film together they tend to be out old favs that we watch time and time again like the National Treasure films, Bonds and Die Hard and at the moment The Muppet Movie quite a lot as that's a firm favourite with my grand children!

[aristocat]

Non participants...with half term coming up what treats do you have in store for your family?

We usually go bowling and love going to the cinema as a family. We love the usual family films like Despicable Me, MegaMind and the Goonies.
DDs favourite at the moment is Frozen she is constantly singing and humming the songs!

[CheeseTMouse]

Hopefully next week we will manage some lovely long walks. My daughter enjoys them primarily because she naps well in the buggy! Hope the weather cheers up soon though.