More fit and ready for school year, Sarasota County School staff joins local residents in Ton of Fun summer campaign

Photos: 25 Sarasota County School employees and 35 local residents took part in the Ton of Fun campaign, a partnership between Fleet Feet Sports Sarasota and UnitedHealthcare that included biometric screenings. Dan Washmuth, registered dietician and fitness partner for Ton of Fun, talks to participants at the summer kick-off session about the bi-weekly Make it a Mile fitness sessions and provides tips on simple steps for improving daily nutrition for optimal energy. Ton of Fun yoga instructor Rebekka Mars leads a cool down stretch following one of the bi-weekly Make it a Mile sessions that take place along a trail and park adjacent to Fleet Feet Sports Sarasota.

This summer, 25 Sarasota County School (SCS) employees and 35 local residents joined forces to become more fit and healthy thanks to their participation in the Ton of Fun weight loss campaign. A partnership between Fleet Feet Sports Sarasota and UnitedHealthcare, the 60-member group collectively lost 155 pounds through a combination of nutrition, fitness and screening sessions that included overall fitness and biometric tests to help individuals on their fitness journey.

As part of its partnership and to provide participants with additional tools to help them improve their health and wellness, a special UnitedHealthcare Step Contest was added whereby participants walked their way to win gift cards, which were provided to the top four “steppers.” In total, 30 of the 60 participants participated in the contest, collectively logging 10,853,112 steps, the equivalent of 5,426.56 miles (based on 2,000 steps per mile).

To help participants take those additional steps toward a healthier lifestyle, UHC also provided pedometers, Managing Your Weight and Controlling Your Cholesterol pocket sliders, pens, daily food intake log sheets, and custom water bottles. Participants also receive two biometric screenings at the beginning and end of the 10-week courtesy of UHC.

About the Ton of Fun Weight Loss Challenge
The Ton of Fun Challenge aims to help Sarasota, Fla. residents lead a healthier lifestyle, one day, one step, one recipe at a time. Access to local professionals and mentors in wellness, nutrition and fitness provide participants with a well-rounded and balanced approach to weight loss, while offering an invaluable support network for all the people taking on this personal challenge. A total of three, 10-week sessions are being provided throughout 2015, with the fall session commencing Sept. 28, 2015.

Led by professionally certified Fleet Feet Sports Sarasota Coach and Director of Corporate Wellness Whitney Bartlett, UnitedHealthcare is providing additional support services, including biometric screenings, nutrition and wellness guides, and other weight loss tools to enable participants to achieve their goals and learn how to incorporate healthier lifestyle habits into their daily lives. Other community-based partners will offer coaching and mentoring services, including weekly nutrition tips, cooking demos, grocery-shopping-on-a-budget trips, recipes, access to a registered dietitian, free workouts, private weigh-ins, email updates, a private Facebook group and prize incentives as individuals reach weight-loss goals. For more information, visit www.fleetfeetsarasota.com.