The newsletter discusses American Heart Month in February and encourages employees to participate in various heart health initiatives during the month. It highlights the Go Red for Women event on February 6th where people wear red to support heart health. It also describes the 28 Days to a Healthy Heart Challenge where employees can earn points for daily heart healthy habits. World Cancer Day is mentioned as being on February 4th and focusing on prevention and treatment. Information is provided about weight loss and other wellness challenges being offered as well.

1. F& A WELLNESS COUNCIL NEWSLETER: ISSUE# 6, FEBRUARY 2015
F&A Wellness
Council
Newsletter
Issue #6:
February 2015
IN THIS ISSUE
Many of us celebrate love using the symbol
of a heart during the month of February.
The American Heart Association has
designed February as American Heart
Month as a time to learn about your risks for
heart disease and strokes and stay “heart
healthy” for yourself and loved ones.
Cardiovascular disease (including stroke,
heart disease and high blood pressure) is the
number one killer of men and women in the
United States.
Go Red For Women
This Friday, February 6, 2015, the American
Heart Association is hosting the annual GO
RED FOR WOMEN observance. This annual
event encourages you to wear red in support
of the women (and men) who are diagnosed
with heart disease each year.
Make your plans to wear something red in
your wardrobe this Friday. Encourage your
co-workers and office mates to join you. You
can post yourself, friends, family and co-
workers on social media using the hashtag
#GoRed.
Share Your Story
We also hope that you’ll share any
participation by your office or work group
with us. You can send photos to
michael.t.hickerson@tn.gov and we’ll be
share them other members of the F&A family
and the state wellness council.
So don’t forget to wear your red this
Friday.
World Cancer Day
February 4 is World Cancer Day. Find out more about
this annual observance and how you can participate.
Page 2
28 Days to a Healthy Heart
Challenge
Find out 28 simple things you can do during February to
make your heart healthier
Page 3
Celebrate American Heart Month by
Wearing Red This Friday

2. F&A WELLNESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER | Issue 6 2
Wednesday, February 4 is World Cancer
Day.
Each year this observance unites the world’s
population in the fight against cancer. It aims
to save millions of preventable deaths each
year by raising awareness and education
about the disease and pressing governments
and individuals across the world to take
action.
Taking place under the tagline ‘Not beyond
us’, World Cancer Day 2015 will take a
positive and proactive approach to the fight
against cancer, highlighting that solutions do
exist across the continuum of cancer, and
that they are within our reach.
The campaign will explore how we can
implement what we already know in the
areas of prevention, early detection,
treatment and care, and in turn, open up to
the exciting prospect that we can impact the
global cancer burden – for the better.
World Cancer Day is a unique opportunity to
raise awareness that there is much that can
be done at an individual, community and
governmental level, to harness and mobilize
these solutions and catalyze positive change.
By moving forward together we have the
potential to show cancer it is not beyond us.
You can find out more at the World Cancer
Day Web site.
WORLD CANCER DAY: NOT BEYOND US
• Choosing healthy lives
• Delivering early detection
• Achieving treatment for all
• Maximizing quality of life
World Cancer Day
“Lose the Excuse” is a fun, six-week weight-loss challenge that’s part of the ParTNers for Health Wellness Program. It runs from February
9 – March 22. The challenge is open to all state employees and members of the State Group Insurance Plan.
The challenge is all about ditching tired, old excuses for bad habits that get in the way of your weight-loss efforts. You’ll learn how to
trade them for new attitudes and actions that lead to success.
To enroll:
1. Go to www.partnersforhealthtn.gov and click on My Wellness Login.
2. Sign in to your Well-Being Account
3. In the Groups and Challenges tab, click Join This Challenge under Lose the Excuse.
4. Set up your Weight Tracker and then record your starting weight and weight-loss target for the six-week challenge.
5. Finish registration. Then return February 9 to start participating.

3. F&A WELLNESS COUNCIL NEWSLETTER | Issue 6 3
Streaks For Small Starts
Getting healthy is easier than you might think.
Sometimes all we need is a little help getting started,
plus some high-fives to keep going. Streaks for Small
Starts does just that. It’s the super simple way to start
small so you can form a lifetime of healthy habits.’
You can download this app on the iTunes Store. And
you can find out more information HERE
SHARE YOUR STORY
Your F&A Wellness Council wants to share your
successes! If you’ve got a story, picture or
something else, please drop a line to Michael
Hickerson at michael.t.hickerson@tn.gov.
And don’t forget that your F&A Wellness
Council is on Facebook and Twitter. You can
like us or follow us for the latest news and
updates.
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/TNFandAWellness
Twitter: @TN_FA_Wellness
Department of Finance & Administration
Authorization Number 317389 February 2015
Electronic Copies. This document was created
at a cost of $0.03
Are you aware of just how powerful YOU
are? You have the power to stop a killer.
Join us for the month of February in taking
part in the 28 Days to a Healthy Heart
Challenge.
For each day, you will have one daily
challenge to complete. Participants can
earn a maximum of 28 points (1 point for
each day’s challenge). Points are not
awarded for additional healthy habits.
Challenge yourself, your friends, your family
and your co-workers!
And please share your successes with us.
You can send photos to
michael.t.hickerson@tn.gov and
healthier.tennessee@tn.gov
DATE CHALLENGE
1. Make a heart healthy snack for the
Big Game.
2. Eat five servings of fruits and
vegetables
3. Park further away from the
entrance of work and stores
4. Schedule your annual physical.
5. Call the Tennessee Tobacco
Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW to
take the first steps in quitting
smoking.
6. Sport red for National Wear Red
Day.
7. Make today a salt-free day. Use
herbs for flavor instead of salt.
8. Go for the gold! Walk an extra 15
minutes today
9. Plan your menu for the week with
heart healthy recipes.
10. Aim for 30 minutes of physical
activity today.
11. Calculate your body mass index
(BMI).
12. Drink 48 ounces of water during
the day.
13. Give the elevator a day off and take
the stairs.
14. Protect your sweetheart's heart:
Plan a healthy date.
15. Saturday Night Fever! Dance to
your favorite song.
16. Stress less. Practice mindful
meditation for 10 minutes
17. Give Meatless Monday a try
18. Add a stretch break to your
calendar to increase your flexibility.
19. Swap the sweets for a piece of fruit
for dessert.
20. Share a funny video or joke that
makes your laugh
21. Head to bed with enough time to
get a full eight hours of sleep.
22. Call three relatives and ask about
your family medical history
23. Start your day with a healthy
breakfast
24. Take out a tape measure and find
out the size of your waist.
25. March in place for three minutes to
get your heart going.
26. Make half of your lunch and dinner
plates vegetables
27. Incorporate Deskercises into your
work day
28. Make one personal healthy habit
goal by March 31.
28 Days to a Healthy Heart Challenge

4. F& A WELLNESS COUNCIL NEWSLETER: ISSUE# 6, FEBRUARY 2015