Lipscomb County Healthy Employees

11/03/2023

AWP has some great solutions for employees and their families (even if they aren’t covered by the health plan!) Take a look today or come by the Treasurer’s office for more information!

Our Employee Assistance Program, Alliance Work Partners, is hosting a Managing Holiday Stress Webinar on Nov. 8 and Nov. 16. Members can register now at https://www.awpnow.com/main/access-benefits/.

07/29/2022

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You have received this email message due to your membership, participation or interest in Texas Association of Counties.To ensure delivery of TAC Healthy Byte, Please add our email address to your address book or safe senders list. Copyright Texas Association of Counties | 1210 San Antonio, Austin,....

01/28/2022

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You have received this email message due to your membership, participation or interest in Texas Association of Counties.To ensure delivery of TAC Healthy Byte, Please add our email address to your address book or safe senders list. Copyright Texas Association of Counties | 1210 San Antonio, Austin,....

01/26/2022

Free at home COVID tests are available to order. You may also present your TAC insurance card at qualified pharmacies for payment for in home tests.

09/22/2021

Challenge-of-the-Day

Daily Challenge

What's Your Favorite Childhood Cereal?
Raise your hand if you grew up on spoonfuls of Fruit Loops, Cap’n Crunch, Kix, and all the other kid classics. These were perhaps one of the best parts of college dorm food too (talk about a midnight snack!). However, it’s no secret these childhood staples hold little to no nutritional value and often include more sugar than anything else. Still, the memories are pure and the taste is unparalleled, and that deserves to be honored! But if you’re looking for some “adult-friendly” options for your bowl, read on.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Share your favorite childhood cereal in the comments, and see which one was the most popular among your colleagues! If you want to get really crazy, elect someone to tally up the results, and share the final rankings at the end of the day!

To put a healthier spin on this challenge, here are some more nutritious swaps you can make, while still enjoying a spoonful of deliciousness:

Whole-grain oats for overnight oats, oatmeal, or on top of yogurt
Bob’s Red Mill Muesli, which is a healthier alternative to sugary granola
Kashi 7 Whole Grain Nuggets, a good alternative to Frosted Flakes
Love Grown Original Power O’s, a good alternative to Fruit Loops or Cheerios
Post Foods Grape Nuts
Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain cereals
Nature’s Path Organic cereals
Barbara’s Shredded Wheat cereal

When buying cereal in a box, always check the labels to make sure you understand what you’re eating. And of course, it’s okay to go back to those Lucky Charms every once in a while for a treat (everything in moderation, right?)
Sonic Support Team (a.k.a. "Member Success")
[email protected]
1-877-SONIC08 (1-877-766-4208)

09/15/2021

Challenge-of-the-Day

Daily Challenge

Transform Your Toast Toppings

Avocado toast is having a major moment, and "fancy" toasts are now gracing cafes and coffee shops everywhere. However, you don't have to spend $10 on over-the-top toppings to enjoy the experience. Make it at home!

TODAY'S CHALLENGE:

Transform your boring bread-and-butter toast into something tastier! Whether it's a colorful avocado toast or something totally different, pretty much anything pairs well with a toasted piece of bread. Here are some of our favorite go-tos — post a photo of which one you tried in the challenge comments!

Avocado toast. Mix up your favorite guacamole (hold the salsa, if you'd like), and spread it on toast. Spice it up with a cooked egg, or add some balsamic vinegar drizzle. You can also slice up cherry tomatoes and/or mozzarella for some extra flavor.
Nut butter, banana, and honey toast. For more of a dessert-tasting twist, spread your favorite nut butter, then top with sliced banana and a drizzle of honey.
Goat cheese and berries toast. It's exactly how it sounds: spread goat cheese and top with your favorite berries (we recommend blueberries and raspberries).
"Garden radish" toast. For a more savory option, reach for herb and chive cream cheese for your main spread. Top it with sliced radish, fresh chives, salt and pepper, and enjoy!
Smoked salmon toast. This is one of our favorites! Use regular cream cheese, and cover it with slices of smoked salmon and cucumber slices. If you're not into cucumbers, we promise the smoked salmon stands alone well!

Whether you start your day with a slice, or enjoy as a midday snack, don't forget to use Sonic Boom's Food Journal Tracker to record your toasted bite. It can be a healthy part of your larger diet, especially if you opt for whole-grain bread.

HOT SHOTS:

Not into any of those options? Make up your own toasty version! Share a photo of your original creation as a Caught Ya, and tell your colleagues why yours is worth a try.
Sonic Support Team (a.k.a. "Member Success")
[email protected]
1-877-SONIC08 (1-877-766-4208)

09/09/2021

08/26/2021

Challenge-of-the-Day
DAILY CHALLENGE

Why Dogs Are Truly Our Best Friends
Happy National Dog Day! Today is the best day to give your pup an extra squeeze to show your appreciation for their companionship. They stand by our sides when we're feeling down and wag when we're excited.

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

You know it — post a photo of your dog in the challenge comments, and share why they're your best friend! If you don’t have a dog and want to share another bestie (a pet, stuffed animal, actual person, etc.), post them instead!

Here are some heart-warming reasons why dogs actually are the best friends to have:

They have terrible short-term memories and great long-term memories. If you step on their tail accidentally, they’ll dismiss it in a second and remember all of those times you played catch, instead.
They always have your back. Owner over strangers, right?
They are empathetic. In other words, they feel what you feel. Ever felt super sad and ended up with a puppy face on your leg? They’re feeling it, too.
They don’t let you eat alone. In fact, they actually beg to join the table.
They won’t leave you hanging. If your human friends cancel, Fido is waiting to fill in!
But in all seriousness, dogs are better for our overall health. One study in California revealed that pet owners are more likely to go for leisurely walks than non-pet owners. Another study found that interacting with animals in general has been linked to higher oxytocin, otherwise known as the “love hormone.” In other words, the healthiest thing you can do is get a dog (okay, maybe not, but you get the idea).

Sonic Support Team (a.k.a. "Member Success")
[email protected]
1-877-SONIC08 (1-877-766-4208)

07/23/2021

Challenge-of-the-Day

Daily Challenge

What's Your Favorite Olympic Sport?

The first day of the Olympics is finally here! We've waited a year (literally) for this. And while Tokyo may not look the same in the stands, it’s still a great time to bring the world together and cheer on our favorite athletes. But first, some Olympic-sized trivia about the Summer Games:

1. True or false: Figure skating has never been part of the Summer Games.

2. The first Olympic athlete to fail a drug test was busted for ...

Steroids
Drinking beer
Ma*****na
Sports drinks

3. Which other “category” used to be a part of the games?

The arts
Professional car racing
Creative writing
Meditation

4. True or false: Today’s gold medals are made from 100% gold.

5. How many days did the 1908 London Olympics last?

50 days
The entire year
108 days
17 days

Now that you've developed Olympic-sized knowledge, it’s time for the opening ceremonies … aka today’s challenge!

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Post a photo in the challenge comments of you competing in your favorite Olympic sport. Ah, the glory days. Were you a high-school star swimmer? Are you a leisurely "race" walker? A gymnastics phenom? Are you really good at soccer? Did you play a really competitive game of neighborhood basketball? Is your sport simply sitting on the couch watching the Olympics? We want to hear from the secret athletes among us!

Answer key: 1. False; 2. Drinking beer; 3. The arts; 4. False; 5. 108 days

Sonic Support Team (a.k.a. "Member Success")
[email protected]
1-877-SONIC08 (1-877-766-4208)

07/22/2021

GOOD MENTAL HEALTH CAN IMPROVE
YOUR OVERALL WELL-BEING

If you had asthma, a heart problem or some other physical health issue, you’d probably get checked out by a doctor, right? You’d do your best to follow the doctor’s orders.

The same should be true for mental health issues. Both physical and mental health conditions may be caused by a combination of your genes and life experiences. But many people never seek help for mental health conditions.*

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health.

Taking care of your mind, along with your body, may help you:

Feel better about yourself
Improve the quality of your relationships
Manage your emotions
Handle personal and work challenges

Your health plan includes mental health benefits (called behavioral health) so you and your covered family members can get the support you may need for issues such as:

Anxiety
Autism
Depression
Drug or alcohol use
Eating disorders
And many other mental health conditions

Mental Health Providers to Fit Your Needs

Whether you need a counselor, psychiatrist or treatment facility, Blue Access for MembersSM can help you find one. Log in to Blue Access for MembersSM (BAMSM) at https://mybenefits.county.org Click on Benefits, then select Links & Contacts and Go to Blue Cross Blue Shield Member Site. Use the information on your member ID card to complete the process. Then, click Doctors & Hospitals to start your search.

Extra Support for Serious Issues

If you are dealing with an especially complex mental health issue, our licensed behavioral health professionals may contact you. We can help you understand your condition and find sources of support to help you stick with your treatment plan.

Answers to Your Questions

We can help you understand how your mental health benefits work or find a provider. Just call the Customer Service number on the back of your member ID card if you need help.

bcbstx.com

When the planned combination between Willis Towers Watson and Aon takes effect, Willis Towers Watson, its affiliates, subsidiaries, and related entities will become part of a new Aon PLC ("Aon"). Information on the planned combination, including updates on the timing, can be checked here.

07/14/2021

Challenge-of-the-Day

Daily Challenge

Workout Wednesday: Boost Your Abs with Toe Taps

Abdominal muscles are responsible for proper torso rotation, breathing, pelvic movement, continence, leg flexion, and more, so it’s important to keep them healthy and strong. But this goes beyond the vanity of looking good for beach season; we also need functional strength! Among the different groups (upper, lower, obliques), the lower abs are often the toughest to strengthen, but with a little work (plus cardio and a clean diet), it's possible to achieve that awesome "core" function!

TODAY’S CHALLENGE:

Build up your lower abs by trying some toe taps. Better yet: challenge someone to a toe-tap-off, and post a photo of the showdown in the challenge comments. (Don't forget to tell us who won!) Check out this video to see how toe taps are properly performed, or follow the step-by-step instructions below:

Lie on your back on a towel or mat.
Bend your knees and place your feet flat on the floor, about a foot from your bottom.
Keeping your legs together and knees bent, use your lower abdominals to lift your legs, until your calves are parallel to the ground. Aim to keep your back fully connected with the ground.
Lower your right leg to the ground, keeping your left leg in place.
Tap your right toes on the ground, then return them to the “up” position.
Repeat the motion with your left toes. Alternate legs, aiming for 10-15 reps on each side. That’s one set.

Don't just "fling" your legs up and down with your hips. Instead, concentrate on using your lower abs to lift and lower with each movement, breathing evenly throughout. See how many sets you can do, then challenge your partner to beat your record! If you feel your back arching to compensate for weaker lower abs, try lowering your legs less, versus touching the ground with your toes.

HOT SHOTS:

Incorporate this helpful move into your weekly exercise routine. Don't forget to sync your activity tracker to the Sonic Boom app, and watch your progress under the Goals tab.

Sonic Support Team (a.k.a. "Member Success")
[email protected]
1-877-SONIC08 (1-877-766-4208)

06/23/2021