Nothing is more important than our health. It impacts our quality of life. Everyone knows that exercising, eating nutritious foods, or not smoking affects our health. However, did you know that half of all disease Americans suffer is attributed to lifestyle behavior? For most of us good health is a choice. WellNS, Norfolk Southern’s voluntary wellness program, is designed to help you choose a healthy lifestyle. Here you’ll find information, tools and support you’ll need to maintain your good health or reduce the risk factors for poor health. Of course, lifestyle is personal and you may not feel change is needed or you are just not ready now. If you are ready, just have a little curiosity, or would rather wait, WellNS will be there for you.
About the WellNS website
WellNS is your gateway to healthy living and this web site is your gateway to WellNS. Employees and their spouses, healthy or managing a health problem, can use this site to access all the resources that WellNS offers. A storehouse of information awaits you. You can peruse the public information where you’ll find general information about lifestyle choices, inspiring success stories of your NS coworkers and as the WellNS program grows, check out the planned events posted on the WellNS calendar. You can access the secured site available only to NS employees and their spouses. You can enroll in a fitness center; join Weightwatchers; get a personal health coach; design a home work-out with a virtual trainer; do a health self-assessment, receive a plan just for you and track your progress; find healthy recipes; learn more about how to quit tobacco, maintain a healthy heart, or any other health and wellness related topic. Most importantly, when you utilize the resources of the secured site, your confidentiality is protected. Any personal information you may choose to provide to a coach or to complete a health survey is private and secure under the same high standards as your information under your medical plan.
To access the secured site:
Select a topic such as ‘Get Fit’ or ‘Health Coaching’ on the home page. When you get to the login page:
If you are the employee:
- Enter your Employee ID as the username
- Enter your birth date as the password
If you are the spouse:
- Enter your spouse’s Employee ID as the username
- Enter your spouse’s birth date as the password
You will also be asked to enter an e-mail address that will enhance your ability to use the resources available. Once registered, you’ll be directed to your personal resources home page where self serve resources can be accessed on the vertical tool bar and coach assisted services can be accessed on the horizontal tool bar. Explore!
WellNS Tour Guide
Health and wellness information, lifestyle choices and all the resources available can be overwhelming. Here’s a quick tour to sort out some of the key points and features of WellNS provided to inspire, motivate, educate, and support you.
First things first – self care
Do you know what normal blood pressure is? Do you know yours? Did you know that there is good and bad cholesterol? What’s yours? The research is clear, not knowing how you measure up on these “silent killers” increases your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Despite treatment advances, statistically, each of us has a significant chance of cancer. Our risk of cancer can be greatly reduced simply by earlier detection. Preventative care involves very little inconvenience and expense. Why increase your risk of a serious health problem? Get your annual physicals and the diagnostic screenings appropriate for your age and gender and ‘know your numbers’.
Lifestyle Changes
WellNS can help you:
Get Fit
Move your body into a more active lifestyle. Learn how you can move from a couch-potato to a mover and a shaker and enjoy more energy, improved health and a few less pounds. You will look better, feel great and enjoy life more in your body.
Lose weight
Fit into those clothes in the back of your closet. Feel better when you look into the mirror. Lose a few pounds and you won’t have to pull in your tummy when you walk into a room. We want to help you lose a few pounds of body fat and put that bounce into your step, and not your jiggle.
Eat better
Fruits and vegetables help you stay healthy. Low fat foods allow your heart to stay fit and strong. Learn what foods are power foods and how you can increase your energy and satisfy your appetite with health foods.
Manage stress
Take some of the stress out of your life. Learn how to increase your energy and instill some calm into your day. Eliminate the stress that is wearing you down and chipping away at your health.
Avoid back problems
Learn how to make your back stronger. A more flexible body and stronger tummy muscles will improve your back health. A few minutes on these issues will help you eliminate future back pain.
Quit tobacco
Breathe easier. Taste foods with a real zest and flavor again. Start a new savings account with your tobacco money when you quit. We want you to get back the joys of life you give up when you smoke.
Health Coaches
It is funny how we are often are more accountable to others than we are our to ourselves, particularly when it comes to lifestyle change. We will often do the extra rep, jog a little farther, or choose a salad for lunch when there is someone else involved. Research tells us that behavior change supported by professional coaching is far more successful than without it. Therefore, you and your spouse have the option to engage a professional health coach at no cost to help plan and achieve your lifestyle goals. Health coaches are multi-disciplined experienced professionals who are certified in nutrition, fitness, smoking cessation, etc., ,and in motivation and behavior change. You can request your personal coach via the WellNS website and talk with them on an unlimited basis by telephone or live chat on the web. Your coach will help you design an efficient and effective plan just for you and continually support you with the resources you need to maximize success.
Special Offers
Fitness facility networks
Perhaps you haven’t joined a gym because you didn’t want to risk that high enrollment fee or sign a membership contract until you actually tried it. In a WellNS network participating facility you’ll have a no-risk trial period of no less than a week and in certain facilities a whole month. If you do wish to commit after your free trial, you’ll receive a reduced, if not waived, enrollment fee and always the lowest rate available.
Weightwatchers
If weight management is of interest to you, as a WellNS participant you’ll enjoy substantially reduced pricing on most of the Weightwatchers products including work-site meetings [if organized], public meetings, and on-line at home programs.
Exercise equipment
If you prefer exercising in the privacy of your home, you may want to take advantage of price discounts on professional quality exercise equipment.
More from WellNS
WellNS programs
Coming to work locations across the system will be employee orientation meetings; lifestyle topical meetings; Lunch & Learn sessions; and health screening fairs. Look for posters, e-mails and check the WellNS calendar announcing these events.
Work site assistance
The WellNS staff is ready to assist groups with their wellness related events and challenges with promotion, coordination, prizes and support. The WellNS team can provide a scale for a weight loss challenge or pedometers for walking.
Printed resources
Look for pamphlets, booklets and similar materials in home mailings, on displays and at events and meetings or make a request.
Questions or comments?
If you have a question or need help navigating the web sites,call the HR Help Desk on the microwave at 823-5486 or at 1-800-267-3313. If you have a comment or suggestion or don’t need to talk with someone right away, please e-mail us at WellNS@nscorp.com.