The Nova Challenge Month 3 - Mental Health
Nicole Chatten • May 29, 2021
The Release of Month 3 of the Nova Challenge!
We Have Some Winners From Month 2!
After another month of constant movement on the leaderboard, and a fight to the finish, we came out with two participants on top. The husband and wife duo, Pam and Rob Smith ended up in the top spot once again with 2850 points each! Following close behind in second place was Erin Gordon with 2790 points, following in third place was Darrell Chatten with 2745! Amazing work to all of our participants of month 2!
The Nova Challenge
The struggles of lockdown and social distancing can lead to many individuals feeling isolated. These feelings, coupled with the struggle of finding a work/life balance when working from home, has led to a very mentally challenging and exhausting year. It can be difficult to step back and relax, while also finding a strong, motivating and encouraging community… Queue month 3 of The Nova Challenge.
Wellness Habit Building
Since April 5th Nova health club members and their families have come together to build healthy wellness based habits. Over the past two months we have helped 85 members improve their health with small daily activities to form better habits. If you missed out in April and May, you are in luck and still have one more month to join the Nova Challenge. The third phase of the challenge starts: Monday May 31st.
“I'm a huge believer in habit building and the science that backs it, so the Nova Challenge had me at the word "habit". I wish more gyms, trainers embraced this method because it actually works if you're committed to long lasting behavior change.”
Leona Olney
Mental Health Focus
During this final month of The Nova Challenge we will continue to build on the fitness habits started in April, and the nutrition habits focused on in May but will have more of a focus on Mental Health.
Daily Activities
The Nova Challenge features daily challenges that are released on an app called Obii. The activities included will create overall wellness, with the hopes of creating habits in fitness, nutrition, mental health, rest and recovery, nature and community. With activities ranging from completing a walk in nature, to bird watching, cloud spotting, planks, a nap, salt baths and much more there really is something for everyone. This free challenge is meant to encourage Nova members to try new things and step outside their comfort zones to reach heightened physical, mental and spiritual health.
Stay Within Your Limits While Still Challenging Yourself
This program is meant to be a challenge for you to take those steps closer to a healthier you, through wellness based habits. To get the most out of this challenge, focus on the habits that are important to you, that you feel you wish to change the most. If you feel you need to change some nutritional habits then focus on those while someone else may want to focus more on the challenges to do with nature.
As the months have progressed, some of the fitness activities have become more challenging. However, remember that everything can be completed with modifications. You can modify using your best judgement in order to create alternatives that work yet still take you outside of your comfort zone. An example of this is on the days of No Social Media, take data from your phone indicating how much time you spend on social media per day, and cut this in quarter or half, making it more attainable each time the activity arises.
Creating a Community
While you can check the leaderboard at any time to see where you are standing, and completing as many daily activities is the goal, do not stress yourself out about it. Remember that you can go back to ANY missed activities from previous days. Over the last two months participants of the Nova Challenge have done an outstanding job creating a fun and engaging group chat within the Obii app. With dog pictures, bird pictures, fun inspiration, jokes and reminders, the Nova community has given each other a positive and safe environment which has allowed for friendships to form and strengthen. Keep up the great work!
“I am really enjoying all the challenges Nova is coming up with, even if some days I feel a bit exhausted! Thanks for all the work the team has put into this. It is certainly a great idea to help us all through this time and to connect with other Nova members. -
Pam Smith
Month Three Registration
Register
Here
for Free.
If you participated during the April or May challenge, you will automatically be added to month three of the challenge within the app. To move over into the June challenge within the Obii app:
-Click on your profile (the picture you added)
-There is a category that says “current program settings”
-Then click on The Nova Challenge Month 3
If you have any questions please contact
Nicole@NovaHealthClub.com.
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It's that time of year again where Halloween candy is everywhere - especially if you have children who are in the trick or treating age. We all know that candy is unhealthy and we are aware of sugar's detrimental effects on our health, from weight gain to cavities... But do you know the risks in eating Halloween candy that go beyond weight gain and cavities? While sugar is certainly a concern, other ingredients in many popular candies can chip away at your health and well-being. The Deceptive Allure of Halloween Treats While eating Halloween candy can be a nostalgic pleasure, the ingredients list tells a different story. I personally love Halloween but about 7 years ago I went clean and gave up Halloween candy for good because I learned it is much more than a sugar problem… Beyond sugar, are ingredients like hydrogenated oils, high-fructose corn syrup, artificial colors, titanium dioxide and common allergens like wheat, corn, dairy, and soy. These ingredients can wreak havoc on our bodies, leading to a host of negative health effects that most consumers overlook. Beware: 5 Ingredients in Halloween Candy With Negative Health Effects 1. Hydrogenated Oils: Hidden Fats Hydrogenated oils transform liquid oils into solid fats and enhance texture and shelf life. These trans fats are notorious for raising bad cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of heart disease and causing inflammation in the body. Look out for the word ‘Hydrogenated’ in candies like Skittles or Starburst 2. High-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS): A Sweet Sabotage HFCS is another frequent offender. It’s a cheap, sweet alternative to sugar that can lead to rapid spikes in blood sugar levels and cravings. Overconsumption of HFCS has been linked to obesity, insulin resistance and fatty liver disease. Many people consume HFCS without even realizing it. Candies like Oh Henry and other chocolate bars have HFCS. 3. Artificial Colors: A Rainbow of Risks The colors that make Halloween candy so visually appealing are often the result of artificial colorings like Red 40, Yellow 5 (Tartrazine), Yellow 6 (Sunset Yellow) and Blue 1. Studies have shown links between these artificial colors and hyperactivity in children, as well as allergic reactions as well. Here are some of your Halloween favorites with these colors: Skittles , Maynards , Sour Patch Kids , Jolly Rancher , Twizzlers , Starburst and M&M’s 4. Titanium Dioxide: The White Truth Titanium dioxide is used in many candies to enhance their whiteness and opacity. It is a detergent that damages your gut and decreases your gut microbiome. Any candy that has a white center, like Skittles is known to use this ingredient. 5. Allergens: Hidden Dangers for Sensitive Individuals Finally, we can’t forget the processed allergens like wheat, corn, dairy and soy in many candies like Mars or Snickers . Those who are highly allergic know to stay away from foods with these ingredients but what about the low grade allergic response that most people ignore? Hives, scratchy through, congestions, asthma, sneezing, itchy eyes and mild GI discomfort are all effects of these allergens. The Scary Reality Halloween is a fun time but we’ve really thrown in the towel when it comes to our health based on the things we are accepting as ok. We've created a society where we buy the cheapest, lowest quality candies to give to our children (and ourselves). Most, if not all of the mainstream candy companies produce products that are high in chemicals to preserve shelf life, to entice our eyeballs and to stimulate our brain to want more the moment it hits our palette. We've also bought into the idea that it's ok because it is just once a year... but the reality is that this food is everywhere all the time. If it was just one day on Oct 31 then sure - that could be ok, but most children are coming home with more than 10lbs of candy that they consume over the next 30 days. It’s no wonder why so many of us suffer with health issues including our children. Modern children are being diagnosed with more health problems than previous generations. Things like childhood depression/anxiety, food allergies, ADHD, autism, eczema and obesity are just some of the things we are seeing more of. Stay Vigilant and Read Labels Can we blame our poor health all on Halloween candy? Certainly not - it's more than just candy in October however the amount of candy with the above ingredients being consumed during Halloween and through the year is definitely a contributor. So when it comes to candy, watch out for the sugar but it’s time to wake up to the other ingredients that are damaging us. The best thing to do is read the labels and be aware of what you choose to consume. And hopefully in time we choose to buy 'treats' that are not filled with chemicals. Next year, choose to buy healthier options versus the mainstream candy we grew up with. Healthier Alternatives Here are some options to consider instead of the mainstream low quality garbage that we've been accustomed too: Chocolate Bars Unreal Coconut Bars : This company is on point with way healthier ingredients than the mainstream. They carry an assortment of candies beyond just the coconut bar (which is one of my faves). Granola Bars Made Good : You've probably seen this brand around in stores - specializing in gluten free healthier granola bars. Cookies Simple Mills : Making cookies and baked goods gluten free and with sweeteners that have a lower glycemic index than regular sugar (less of a blood sugar spike) Candies Smart Sweets : Candies without artificial colors and high sugar Lollipops & Jelly Beans YumEarth : W ithout artificial colors Water Enhancer (Vitamin C) Emergen-C : Something different from usual candy - Vitamin C drink crystals that are a much healthier option to candy and kids love em. There are more brands out there but you have to be on your toes when buying. Pay attention to brands, scrutinize the ingredient list and pay the extra money. Every dollar you spend is a vote - the more we vote for the better products for our health, the lower the cost will end up being in the future.
