Staying active has a positive impact on your health. So we’ve asked our associates how they stay in shape.
Last month, we explained the importance of incorporating physical activity into your everyday life. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) guidelines, about $117 billion in annual health care costs and 10% of early deaths can be attributed to lack of physical activity.
Since regular physical activity is one of the key drivers of a healthy lifestyle, we asked our associates what they do to stay active. Here’s what some of them shared:
Parts Person LeAnne Carmack, Jacksonville, Florida
“I do weightlifting at the gym. It has so many benefits for full body health. It improves my mood and boosts my cardio and strength. Feeling strong also contributes to feeling confident.”
Grocery Clerk Zach Riebold, #1294, Auburn, Alabama
“I’m pretty active and I try to help my friends. They often complain about being out of shape and not liking what they see in the mirror. So I created a workout challenge with a point-based system and I update the leaderboard weekly to motivate them. I got some of my co-workers at my store, friends, family and guys in my National Guard unit involved. I’ve hosted 2 challenges so far, and everybody has fun doing it. I have enjoyed seeing my co-workers come together, support each other and become more active through this challenge.”
Customer Service Team Leader Cristina Vale, #1453, Charlotte, North Carolina
“One of my pledges for the new year was to have a more active lifestyle. Directly behind my store, we have the Charlotte Rail Trail. After work and on my days off, I enjoy running the beautiful trail through the city. I also discovered a great opportunity for my store to give back to our community. We participated in a March Charlotte Rail Trail cleanup to keep the trail clean.”
Manager of Clinical Programs Chris Popun, Orlando, Florida
“I got involved in Olympic lifting and track and field when I was younger. Later, I got involved in triathlons (a race consisting of swimming, bicycling and running). Now, I find myself doing a mix of all of the above. This includes various cardio exercises, indoor cycling, rowing, yoga and weightlifting. On the weekends, I try to get outdoors to swim laps, ride my road bike or run. I exercise because I want to stay healthy, for relaxation and it’s a great way to spend time with my children. I find so much more joy in exercising with my kids and knowing I’m instilling a positive behavior into their lives.”
Manager of Warehousing Operations Mark Jordan, Lakeland, Florida
“We created a wellness challenge for our team. Participants fill out a form with their personal goals. The information from the form is entered into a master data sheet for tracking. The team goal is determined by adding up all the personal goals. For example, if 5 participants have a personal goal to lose 20 pounds, then the team goal will be to lose 100 pounds. You could have a participant reach their personal goal, but the team does not reach theirs and vice versa. We update the challenge monthly with new exercises.”
