Her story is about dramatic weight loss and self-discovery. It’s a story she keeps writing, every day.
One day as he watched other people finish a race, he made a dramatic decision to run a triathlon. The result is a story that is both inspirational and amazing.
When she finally learned to invest in herself, she began the long-term, sustainable steps that continue to improve her weight, her health—her life.
His story took a critical turn when he chose to stop the unhealthy cycle—a step that enabled him to find new purpose in his life.
Before working at Whirlpool I was very athletic and always looking for ways to stay in shape, but sitting behind a desk definitely slowed down my drive. My story began when I decided to… read more
For the past five years, I have been in and out of gym memberships and on and off diets. I would drop 50 pounds just to gain it right back when I quit a… read more
I am a remote employee who often travels for Whirlpool. When I was on the road, my normal day looked like this: Go to the airport, eat bad food, get on the plane, arrive… read more
Normal life was mostly sedentary. I played golf, went to the gym on occasion, played softball a few years, and played basketball in a church league. But for the most part I was an… read more
Six years ago, I started a journey from health crisis to good health. I weighed over 300 pounds, had type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and my doctor told me would be dead in… read more
I was a normal everyday person, meaning I came to work and would go home. There were times when I would just get home and fall asleep on the couch. I know for me… read more
Competition was a big part of my life growing up. My twin brother and I were competitive at everything, including sports. After graduation he went into the Air Force and I stayed home, went… read more
On December 8, 2015, I had a stroke. My husband was out of state on a business trip. I had dropped one of my children off to soccer practice and taken my other three… read more
I was already overweight. Then I had had four children in eleven years. I never really lost the 30 pounds I gained with the first two kids, and I’d stopped exercising regularly. Recently, I… read more
After smoking for more than 35 years, I finally decided I was ready to quit. The Whirlpool culture change triggered my decision. The starting point was that I wanted to quit, not that other… read more
I was a "meat and potatoes" kind of person. I never watched what I ate from a nutritional standpoint. I would eat and drink whenever, whatever I wanted with no hesitation to the quantity… read more
I would wake up every day, and the first thing I would do, is light a cigarette. I would drink a cup of coffee, and then have another cigarette. At my worst, I was… read more
Normal for me was working, going home and pigging out, then passing out on the couch. I wasn't doing any crafts or things I previously enjoyed; just laying around and smoking a pack of… read more
Before I began, I would just sit around at home playing games on my phone, sit on the couch watching tv, I had no energy, I was irritable, my feet always hurt, I was… read more
Four years ago I had to shut down two of my businesses, go back to college, and start all over. The journey to Whirlpool was terribly stressful mentally as well as physically. I've moved… read more
After quitting smoking two years ago, my weight got out of control. I had issues with everyday activities and could not breathe. My doctor diagnosed me with severe COPD, polycythemia, high blood pressure, and… read more
I had always been in good shape growing up and throughout college, but the weight had crept up on me after my wedding a little bit at a time. It wasn't really noticeable at… read more
I am an active man and always have been. I was frustrated with blood pressure issues that negatively impacted my health.My health coach, Tim, was checking employee blood pressure readings. I approached him to… read more
Four years ago I had an event that changed my life. There were multiple news stations that covered my story. Here is the remaining post: http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2012/04/19/doc-helps-save-life-of-wings-fanI have Brugada Syndrome, a rare heart condition, and it… read more
Diagnosed with deteriorating hip sockets and a bulging disc, exercise was not a possibility for me (or so I thought). I sought after the simple pleasures of food and television to make life bearable.My… read more
I had a wake up call during rehab in Jay, Oklahoma. This time was a key moment for me. God triggered change in my life. From that point on I’ve made progress. My dad… read more
I was in a rut.I would go to work, go home, and sit––do nothing but watch TV and eat whatever I wanted. My health was going downhill fast. I went to Hawaii for my… read more
During an annual health screen, I weighed nearly 300 pounds, was identified at pre-hypertensive and pre-diabetic, and had high cholesterol. Normal life included no exercise and boredom eating. I would sit down to read… read more
Before I quit, I felt sluggish and tired all of the time, even if I got a full 8 hours of sleep. l, throughout the day I still felt tired and sluggish and I… read more
I was exhausted, starved, had chronic inflammation, and was constantly out of breath. I did not sleep, did not eat right and have tried every short term solution on weight loss there is. I… read more
I've always enjoyed working out and trying to take care of myself but after I got married and had our children, workouts were a thing of the past because of all of our schedules.… read more
Being in the military had made me tough mentally and physically. I could run 3 miles in 15 mins. I could lift, move, do anything I could put my mind to. After being honorably… read more
I have worked for several different companies since the age of 13. I have always tried to have a positive and friendly coworker relationship. But until I had major surgery, in 2009, I never… read more
Culturally, my family has always had a tradition of eating things not good for us. I like it, but over time, some of the foods I’ve always eaten can take a toll on you.… read more
I was always in good shape growing up. I was in sports in high school, then I joined the army and stayed in good shape during that time as well. It wasn’t until I… read more
Gigi thought she was going to die. She didn’t know what to do. Then she went to a Whirlpool health fair… and that one step changed her life.
When Steve lost all hope, Whirlpool was there, and they have been there through the good times and the bad times.
(If you're wondering what wellness credit is available to you, please contact your health coach or HR representative.)
We asked for stories from the Whirlpool community whose lives had been changed by a commitment to health and wellness. Four big winners were selected and now we’re in the process of turning those stories into mini-documentary films. We’re excited to celebrate with them at a special winner celebration event later this summer. And have bragging rights. Forever.
The stories we received brought this idea to life. They are filled with great examples of how these little steps can make a big impact. Whether it was being at a crossroads in their life, experiencing a health crisis or a personal loss, or just simply deciding to make a lifestyle change, all of our stories show how small steps can change lives and inspire others.
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