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

[Letitsnow9]

Non tester- I've not been in a gym since leaving school but so far am sticking to my exercise goals for 2014

[CointreauVersial]

Gah - I'm going to have to bust out the Fitbug tomorrow, aren't I? You lot are showing me up.

I have scheduled my first gym visit for this afternoon (same one as WalkingthePlank - sounds very flash), and I really don't know what to expect. RL has got in the way this week, with Parents' Evening, golf lessons, football matches and an overworked DH all conspiring to keep me from my goal (he is supportive, but grumbling about who's going to sort out dinner/collect children etc. if I'm off "gallivanting"). But I will get there.

I am drinking lots of water (but I wouldn't say it has become a habit yet). And going to the loo a lot.

[HellonHeels]

Non-tester. I'm a gym member (LA Fitness) and also member of a yoga studio. I love the gym but I'm focusing a lot more on my yoga practice at the moment and go to class 4-5 times a week. January and February are not my favourite time of year to go to the gym as it's always very busy then.

It's frustrating trying to book into gym classes as they fill so quickly (my usual gym classes are spin and yoga). For yoga I much prefer classes at the dedicated yoga studio as they supply better props (blocks, bricks, straps etc) I've had good instruction at gym yoga classes but generally yoga studio class instruction is better.

I enjoy the gym experience and don't find the atmosphere intimidating or feel that people are looking at me - in my experience everyone there is just focusing on their own goals and progress and doesn't take any notice of anyone else.

My only gym 'issue' is probably specific to LA Fitness - they don't have gym instructors on the gym floor anymore to offer help and you cannot book in for free progress reviews or workout plans. For that you now have to pay for a personal trainer and there is a bit of a hard sell approach - I get fed up with PTs coming up to "chat" AKA sell their services.

I'm enjoying reading about particiants' experiences on the Vitality Experience - thanks!

[muser31]

non participant - i am a member of a local gym and really like the yoga class in particular. my goals have been to use it at least 3 times a week, but i haven't been able to do this, because i am usually too tired to find the motivation. i also find it difficult to get motivated in january when its rainy and cold and all i want to do is hibernate. I keep wishing i had a gym partner as this would really help me to keep it going.

[goodasitgets]

Non participant
I just love exercise
Mainly I do spinning, pole fitness, horse riding but I've started a bodypump class too which is enjoyable despite me being all "I don't know what I need and what if I'm not fit enough"
I think you have to find something you really enjoy. For me spinning is my escape, I totally tune out almost meditation like

[CointreauVersial]

Goodasitgets - that's what running is like for me. It's my "thinking" time; I go into my own little world.

[ScienceRocks]

Non participant here. I used to go to the gym, and was pretty disciplined about it but never really enjoyed it. Now I have kids, I simply can't manage it, so I have DVDs that I stick on instead. Sometimes I get quite into it, other times I find it really hard work, I never get that endorphin high that people talk about getting after exercise, but I do feel virtuous for having done it (as well as very red and sweaty).

What I really like is putting on wii dance, or similar, and bouncing around to that, but I know it isn't anything like as good a workout :-( I try and walk as much as I can, but it is functional walking. Still, I live on top of a hill, so I guess it helps. I used to love long country walks, but it isn't possible with the kids at the moment.

Sorry, it's all a bit negative.

[peronel]

Non-tester. After forcing myself to the gym for a year - and spending a LARGE sum of money - I gave up and found a fitness DVD which works for me, plus I save shed loads of cash...

[StillNoFuckingEyeDeer]

Non-participant
Gym & me
I don't belong to a gym. I have at various times of my life, mostly when living in a big city where I find it more difficult to exercise outdoors (hate having to cross roads when running). The biggest barrier to me exercising is childcare, which a gym won't resolve. The second is daylight - I like to run on the mornings, but need to do it between dawn and DH going to work, so I'd need a gym that opened early enough for me to get back home. Running from my doorstep saves time.
I prefer running outdoors to running on a treadmill and there isn't much else I'd use at a gym, except perhaps a swimming pool. I'd like to try some classes too.
The gyms 'near' me would all take 20+ minutes to travel to, so it's really not something I'd consider right now.
I'm trying to get my fitness back post-DD2. I managed to go from couch to 10k in 4 weeks, but I'm still well off my pre-pregnancy pace and don't seem to have enough time to run for longer than about an hour before I need to get back to the house to let DH go to work/feed DD2 or something else.
I'd love to do a half marathon this year, but I'm also hoping to get pregnant again, so we'll just have to see how that goes....

[janeyh31]

I have started going swimming once a week since Christmas and I am really enjoying it and still sticking at it. I usually have to drag myself off the sofa but once I have been swimming I feel so much better for it & find I have so much more energy in the week. I have joined gyms in the past but find I quickly loose interest & find it boring. They are also very expensive & with a family it's not always practical to fit in

[sharond101]

Non tester here and i used to brave the gym before my knees packed in and then before having DS1 and now i manage a swim once per week.. The feeling afterwards was the best feeling ever. I felt I had achieved something by breaking out in sweat. I cannot understand all those women who get all glammed up to go and sweat it out, many of them just browsed the machines I found.

[Kelloges0811]

I have always been sporting from an early age and I enjoyed all sports at school. On leaving school i trained to be a Fitness instructor and kept a great level of fitness up for about 10 years, until I planned my pregancy. Since my first child I have been in and out of fitness programmes. After my second child nearly three years ago i find it quite difficult to be selfish with my time and have time to myself exercising around my family.

I do not go the gym or exercise at the moment. I did attend BOOTCAMP classes up to April/May last year then stopped due to family caring responsibilities. Having put on about 1 stone in weight I am really hoping I can start to shift it and feel and look healthy asap. With still having not got the time to start bootcamp again I have started to fit in an hour or so of fun fitness at home with my husband and children, playing our WII, every couple of days. Everyone joins in and it is great fun. This is easing both of us back into getting fit and lots of fun for all the family too. Hopefully we will be able to arrange some family members to help look after our children to exercise properly to enable us both to get fit properly, seriously. :O)

[Hopezibah]

It's got to be a gym you feel comfortable going to. You don't want to feel self-conscious and you want to feel supported by the gym trainers there. Otherwise it's never going to work out.

If you can find somewhere with a sauna and swimming pool too then you can treat yourself to a little swim and sauna afterwards as a reward for getting to the gym (and on the days you really can't face the actual gym - a swim is better than nothing after all as it is great excercise in its own right)

[jollytummywobbles]

Non participant here

I feel very nostalgic about the gym righ now! I am on ml at the moment, and have an ebf baby who is still superglued to me night and day. I've woke up having dreamt of a good session on he cross trainer! Hopefully I'll be able to do something other than sit on the sofa when i wean...

[Willemdefoeismine]

Not a piece of cheese nor dairy milk has passed my lips since last Friday....I'm not sure I'm feeling any different yet. I've cut down on the carbs too but it's quite difficult when also cooking for a family of very slimline bods... (DH and one of DCS don't have a scrap of adipose tissue on them!). Luckily I am very fond of veggies :-).

I used to drink water copiously (to the point that I half thought I might have undiagnosed diabetes) - but I find that I just don't get that thirsty.....so that's proving quite an effort to get the water down but I'm sure it will get easier...

The gym kit is on its way...and thanks for the info about child(ren) membership - worthy of consideration.....

USING THE SWEATSHOP GIFTCARD ONLINE INFO! Fellow Vitality Crew, I've just gone thro' the process to checkout again and I would say that where you are having the issues is presumably at the checkout stage....At Payment:

The first stage says "Are you a Member of ......" and PruHealth is one of the options - click on that and then it will prompt you to input your PruHealth details....(first name,DOB, m'ship no. and gender).

Once that is done and you've got four green ticks, the Promo Code box will become active - input the giftcard no (the long one at the bottom of it) and then proceed........

Does that help..........???? Good Luck

[Bagtrainlady]

I went to the gym last night - it was packed but I still managed to have a go on the equipment. At one point when I was struggling to keep pace on the treadmill I thought of all you MNers watching & it kept me going! you're a little scary
Must remember to do some stretches as part of my cool down as my glutes aren't happy this morning!

[ArthurCucumber]

Non participant - was completely put off exercise by school sports and it took me a couple of decades to shake the notion that I hated all forms of physical activity. Started going to the gym a few months ago - more of a September resolution than a New Year one - and couldn't believe how much I loved it. I didn't see myself as "that sort of person" before.
My tips are: look around and pick a gym where you feel comfortable - in my case it's a big deal not to feel intimidated by big muscle guys/superfit women in designer gear. There are loads of places out there where nice normal people like me can go, and it doesn't matter if you're not a size 6 and your trainers are glued together not a designer brand.
My favourite cardio activity is the treadmill as I can plug in some 90s dance music and get into a zone, almost like dancing :D. It's hard to drag myself out sometimes on a cold wet night but I have never yet been sorry afterwards that I did it. I go with my cousin and this works really well - there are nights that neither of us would have gone if it hadn't been for the other one.
Swimming pool and sauna are great, as a poster above mentioned. Lovely for a wee reward.

[DifferentNow]

I need to lose 5 x baby weight! I've been a member of several gyms over the years but I've come to the conclusion that it's not for me so I plan to get back to basics and just eat less and move more. I'm going to walk with the buggy rather than drive and cut down my portion sizes and sugar intake. Now I just need a bit of motivation.....

[supermariossister]

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)

We have madea family effort since the beginning of the year to eat healthier and together more often and so far this is going quite well, the children are trying new things with less dramatics than usual and we all seem a bit more energetic than we were in the post Christmas slump. I do not gym I always feel self conscious and silly but I do walk a lot so have invested in new walking shoes.

[Fillybuster]

Non tester (sadly!)

Been doing 5:2 since last January and hit initial target weight last May, then revised target in July, so actually quite happy with my weight, and eating much more mindfully and healthily as a result these days. Fitness is another matter though, and my January resolution this year was to tackle that as I'm concerned about my lack of stamina and tone (and my much reduced but still very flabby tummy!)

I've been trying to build more excercise into my daily regime this month but it isn't having the same impact as getting to the gym on a regular basis. I have a variety of workout dvds, but find it hard to get motivated to actually do them in the evenings- although I do always feel great afterwards!

I cancelled my gym membership last year when I had an operation that meant I wouldn't be able to go for a while, and have been thinking about re-starting it.....reading this thread is making me think I should give it a go, as I do miss having access to a wide range of classes (Virgin Active) and I love the atmosphere of being in a 'real' class instead of my front room!

[Kewcumber]

For any of the non-participants who aren't into gyms - I really recommend investing in a fitbug (or similar) - it's addictive and does make you focus on how much you're moving/walking!

I got up to about 9,000 steps yesterday and I'm buggered today so I obviously don;t move anything like as much as I thought I might...

[Kewcumber]

Thanksfor the tip WillemDefoe will try it later. I'd like some new earphones and new shoes - just need to work out which shoes are best for me.

[whattoWHO]

I've joined a gym for the first time ever this Jan. I'm getting married in April and have been losing weight but I really need to tone up.
So I've got very good motivation, hopefully I won't lose it once the wedding is over!

[WalkingThePlank]

Have tried the voucher again. Wasted another half an hour. Still doesn't work.