Buckeye Wellness is honoring Coco Kneisly, Facilities Operations and Development (FOD) administrative manager, in its February 2022 Spotlight.
“I was humbled,” Kneisly said. “It was nice to be recognized for the work that we all do as Buckeye Wellness Innovators in FOD.”
Kneisly has been a Wellness Innovator for nearly a year. Her passion for healthy living started during the department’s SummerFest, when she helped plan health-related activities for the annual staff appreciation event. The health portion was important to Kneisly, who knows firsthand about the physically demanding jobs in FOD.
“The health coaches and representatives from the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) would attend, and there was an opportunity for staff to interact with health experts and get information,” Kneisly said.
Her team also worked with dieticians to offer healthy snacks and promote physical fitness by giving out yoga bands and provide chair massages.
Kneisly often shares her wellness ideas with Mark Conselyea, vice president for FOD, who also has taken a special interest in healthy living. He encouraged people to sign up for the American Heart Association Central Ohio Heart Walk last year.
“Coco has displayed hard work and dedication in her quest to live a healthy lifestyle,” Conselyea said. “Her commitment to her own personal wellness and an unwavering promise to helping others are to be admired.”
Kneisly committed to a personal wellness goal while she was working from home during the Coronavirus pandemic.
“I was overweight, my blood sugar level was elevated, and my cholesterol wasn’t great,” Kneisly said.
Meeting with dieticians and attending health coaching webinars during her lunch break have become part of her normal routine.
“They’re really informative,” Kneisly said. “You get to learn the science behind how your body works.”
She also joined a 12-week course at a gym and actively participates in Your Plan for Health initiatives and programs. YP4H, established in 2006, is designed to provide employees and their spouses with various resources for living a healthy life.
Kneisly also is participates in Virgin Pulse Transform, a free, year-long course pairing her with a personal health coach. The idea is to empower people to take an active role in their health and circumvent obesity-related health issues.
“That made me take an interest in promoting these opportunities for faculty and staff who aren’t aware of these resources,” Kneisly said.
Since then, Kneisly has lost 80 pounds and her blood sugar and cholesterol levels have returned to normal with a clean bill of health from her doctor.
In fact, she had to scale back her activity after she said she signed up for too many programs.
If you’re thinking about starting your own health and wellness journey, Kneisly encourages A&P staff to take the first step and meet with a personal health coach.