The Small Steps for Big Changes team is sad to announce today that we have made the difficult decision to cancel the in-person November 14 World Diabetes Day event. We have been closely watching the recent covid-19 restrictions put in place last weekend in the Metro Vancouver and Fraser health regions, as well as the rising cases of covid-19 in the Interior area. For these reasons, we cannot in good conscience put ourselves or our challenge participants at risk of virus transmission, no matter how low the risk may be.
For those of you who have been participating in the SSBC World Diabetes Day Challenge – THANK YOU! Together, we can continue to reduce our risk of developing type 2 diabetes safely at home and in small groups.
Even though we cannot meet in person this week, WE STILL HAVE PRIZES!! To claim your #WorldDiabetesDay CHALLENGE prizes, please email us at small.steps@ubc.ca ASAP, and let us know which challenges you completed and your mailing address.
Please continue to engage with us virtually during these difficult times! We love seeing pictures of your walks and your #lowcarb cooking! As well, you can still find our online content right here, on the YHealth YMCA at Home platform, and on our social media platforms.
We look forward to joining you for bigger and better events during safer times in the future.
– The Small Steps for Big Changes Team
This month, Small Steps for Big Changes is launching a month of wellness challenges leading up to World Diabetes Day on November 14, 2020.
We have nine exciting challenges leading up to World Diabetes Day on Nov 14. A new challenge will be revealed every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday!
Each challenge will be posted on our blog (right here!) and our social media platforms on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
To participate, complete each challenge leading up to November 14 at your own pace (extra bonus points and bragging rights for anyone who posts evidence of their challenge completion on social media with the haghtag #SmallStepsforBigChanges!)
There will be PRIZES for EVERY CHALLENGE you complete!
Here are your challenges:
CHALLENGE #1: Talk to your doctor about prediabetes!
When was the last time that you talked with your doctor about your risk of developing prediabetes or type 2 diabetes? Has your risk level changed since you last talked to your doctor?
This challenge is a reminder to book that appointment you’ve been putting off and make sure you’re on track to reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes!
To complete the challenge, book your appointment and talk to your doctor (and then tell us by November 14 how many and which of the challenges you completed!)
CHALLENGE #2: Bring a friend to a walking group!
Any walking group counts for this challenge, but the Small Steps for Big Changes alumni-run walking group is always looking for new members! The alumni-run walking group runs every weekend on a Saturday or Sunday. Walks are about an hour long followed with a hot cup of coffee! ☕ Location of the walks varies each weekend – find out more by checking out our awesome alumni-run Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/groups/smallstepsubc) or emailing SSBC alumni Lois Hourston (lghourston@gmail.com).
To complete the challenge, bring a friend to a walking group (and then tell us by November 14 how many and which of the challenges you completed!)
CHALLENGE #3: Try a low-carb DPRG recipe!
Have you tried a Small Steps for Big Changes low-carb recipe? Find and try a recipe through one of the following sources:
- Previous SSBC newsletters (each one has a recipe!)
- Our TWO virtual cooking classes (kale salad with Mary and Jon; tofu stir fry with Megan and Kaela)
- The YHealth Diabetes Prevention Series
To enter today’s CHALLENGE, pick out and cook a Small Steps for Big Changes low-carb recipe! (extra bonus points and bragging rights for anyone who posts evidence of their challenge completion on social media with the haghtag #SmallStepsforBigChanges!)
CHALLENGE #4: Watch a video from the YHealth YMCA at Home series!
Have you checked out the YHealth YMCA at Home series?! Today’s CHALLENGE is to watch one (or more!) videos in the series.
To complete this CHALLENGE, watch one or more videos from the YHealth Diabetes Prevention Series! Extra bonus points for anyone posts evidence of challenge completion on social media with the hashtag #SmallStepsforBigChanges. Then, tell us by November 14 how many and which of the challenges you completed!
CHALLENGE #5: Take a walk and post a picture of the evidence!
Staying active by taking a walk can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes as well increase your physical activity. To enter in this CHALLENGE take a picture during your walk and post on social media using the hashtag #SmallStepsforBigChanges. Then, tell us which CHALLENGES you completed by November 14th!
CHALLENGE #6: Attend a walking group hosted by the DPRG alumni!
To enter in this CHALLENGE, attend a #SmallStepsforBigChanges alumni-run walking group. Location of the walk varies each weekend – find out more by checking out our awesome alumni-run Facebook page or emailing SSBC alumni Lois Hourston. Walks are about an hour long followed with a hot cup of coffee at a nearby coffee shop.
CHALLENGE #7: Take the American Diabetes Association diabetes risk test!
CHALLENGE #8: Listen to a podcast on diabetes!
To complete this CHALLENGE, listen to at least one episode of the following podcasts:
Then, let us know by November 14 what episode you listened to and what you learned!
CHALLENGE #9: Watch a SSBC virtual cooking class!
To complete this challenge, watch one of our virtual cooking classes below:
Bonus points for anyone to shares their meal that they made from one of our recordings using the hashtag #SmallStepsforBigChanges!
