Employee Wellness Insights

Q: What does wellness mean to you?

A: I think wellness just means feeling good about yourself, more than anything else. If you feel good about yourself then you can do the things you want to do, and be in shape to do them. My wife and I have both made major changes in the last year and a half, and for us to be able to go out and hike together -- to me that’s what wellness means.

Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your day-to-day before Givhero?

A: My days weren’t much different than they are now because I’m out in the field. It just feels so much better now. I’m able to walk much further and get things done a lot faster, but the activities of my day haven’t changed much.

Q: What was the biggest hurdle in your health and wellness routine? What were some of the challenges you faced and what did you try in the past that didn’t work?

A: The biggest thing I had trouble with was getting anything going consistently. I might say, “okay this is it, I’m going to lose some weight, walk more, and try and eat better,” but it would only last a month or so. I would fall off the wagon and end up right back where I was. Consistency was my biggest challenge, and that’s where Givhero has helped me a lot. With Givhero, I was able to sustain what I’ve been doing. After the first doctor’s appointment that I went to, I had lost 25 pounds. And that really got me going and excited!

Q: How did you integrate Givhero into your work life? And what was different about the app? What motivated you to have those healthy behaviors even when you didn’t feel like doing it?

A: I walk a lot more! Whenever I check things out in the clubhouse here, I spend a lot more time walking than I used to. And I do count my steps, but I think it’s a good way to see the golf course and to see the clubhouse ground. So if I’m walking instead of riding in the cart, I see trash, sticks, leaves -- things that need to be cleaned up - and when you’re riding in a cart, you don’t always see those things.

Having a goal to meet each day is what motivated me. I got to the point where I was trying to beat that goal time and time again. Three weeks ago Shelly had a challenge where the top 3 finishers would get a prize so I was super motivated that week. I walked and walked and walked until I reached 26,000 steps - that’s not easy to do - I found out the hard way! But I enjoyed it! Everywhere I went I added extra steps. If I went to the grocery store I’d park far away, or walk around the perimeter of the shopping center just to get steps in. I also like all of the things we contribute money to through Givhero’s charitable causes.

Q: What’s been the biggest change you’ve experienced post-Givhero?

A: The biggest change is probably the way I feel more than anything else, and the fact that I’ve lost 50-55 pounds! I’m now down to a size 34 pants and a year ago I was at a size 40, so that’s made the biggest difference.

Q: What advice would you give people who’ve struggled with weight management about the value of Givhero?

A: Part of Givhero is to have the app on your phone. To have this app on your phone and keep track of the steps you’re taking makes you realize that, at the end of the day, if you’re 1,200 steps away before bed, you might go outside and take a little extra walk. I find myself doing that a lot. If I’m at 13,000 steps at the end of the day, I might take a walk around the block to get to 14,000!

Q: Would you recommend Givhero to other people and other organizations?

A: Yes, there are two things - the health benefits for the employees and the donations that are going to charitable causes. It’s a win-win! Givhero has worked out really really well. It came during a time when I had weighed in at the doctor and I was pretty unhappy with the results. Shelly had started the program and I put the app on my phone and it motivated me more and more to get those steps in and whatever the challenge was, I tried to exceed it. It’s helped me a lot!

Q: What is the progress you’ve made since you started your Givhero journey?

A: The first thing is the weight. I weighed in at 240 pounds at that doctor’s appointment and I was unhappy with that. So that’s what got me started! A lot of what changed me was my wife as well. She was pre-diagnosed with diabetes and she changed everything about her lifestyle (exercise, nutrition, etc.). So I’ve piggybacked off of that and continued with my steps which have made a huge difference in my life.

Q: Any final words of advice you’d give to someone struggling on their wellness journey?

A: My biggest suggestion would be to try the app. Keep track of what your activities are because it makes a huge difference. I know that some people use a Fitbit. I always carry my phone, etc. But just to have the app to keep track makes a huge difference in terms of motivating you on a day to day basis to be active. That’s the biggest thing I think - to be active and feel like you can be active!