A group of Lincoln Elementary faculty and staff is seeing improvements through the Thrive-sponsored Meltdown program.
The eight-week program is nearing its midway point, and Judy McIntosh, the elementary counselor for USD 257, said she has seen positive results for herself and her team. “The Healthy Hart Club,” is named after Lincoln Elementary principal Larry Hart, who is also a member of the team.
Damaris Kunkler, program director for Thrive Allen County, said the program is an eight-week initiative meant to emphasize healthy living. She said the idea is not necessarily centered on weight loss, but to help people get in shape.
McIntosh said she has seen results in her personal life from eating healthier and exercising daily.
“We are eating healthy and have been very focused on exercise,” McIntosh said. “I’ve had more energy and it’s from getting up and moving.”
Since the program began in the beginning of October, Hart said more have become involved with the Meltdown. The team is now up to around 18 people, which is above the suggested limit of 10. Hart said since the program is not a competition, they have no advantage from such a large team and they want to motivate as many people as possible.
Denise Buchanan, special education teacher at Lincoln and Meltdown team member, said she appreciates the camaraderie and support she receives from her teammates.
“We give all day long and this is almost like going to the spa every day,” she said.
McIntosh echoed her opinion by saying partnership in the program makes all the difference, and she wants the effect of their success to ripple throughout the Lincoln faculty and staff. She said it is just as important for the children to see the effects of the Meltdown as it is to the teachers.
“We can’t teach what we aren’t,” McIntosh said. “We need to pass our healthy habits on to the children.”
The team members have personal motivations for the Meltdown as well, and team member Nancy Vest said she and her doctor have taken notice of improvements. After she had heart surgery five years ago, Vest said her doctor encouraged exercise and healthy eating. She said her doctor emphasized that she “is doing wonderful” and her cholesterol problems are now non-existent. This new lifestyle change has given her a positive attitude and the energy to spend time with her grandchildren, she said.
McIntosh and Hart said they have involved their spouses in the program as well.
“I told my wife I couldn’t tie my shoes without huffing and puffing,” Hart said. “That’s when I decided to join with Judy (McIntosh).
The team cited multiple benefits from the program, some of which included lower cholesterol, better posture, more energy, weight loss, stress relief and better moods.
Overall, McIntosh said the team has had great success and is looking forward to the rest of the program. She said they are planning to carry their improved habits past the eight weeks.
“Our goal is that we want to see every teacher wearing a Meltdown T-shirt,” McIntosh said.
