Recently I was told I had high blood pressure and the doctor only gave me a few months to get it down or I would have had to start taking medication for it. From this point on, losing weight became imperative for me. Luckily I could join the Wellness Committee at work, and this has been key in my journey towards better health.
The Wellness Committee is just one of several committees at Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s European Headquarters that offers employees the chance to get involved in activities outside of work. Other committees include the Diversity Committee, the Charity Committee, a local Lean In circle as well as the BOSS Committee – which aims to reduce barriers to progression so all employees reach their full potential. The Wellness Committee itself is championed by Mike Nigro, Senior Vice President of European Operations, after the success he enjoyed on his health journey.
As I’d been working out for three years, but not lost any weight, I decided to explore what the Wellness Committee could do for me. It offers three group training sessions a week as well as a walking club, running club and yoga. These sessions are accessible to every employee who is based in Enterprise’s European headquarters, and are held at different times throughout the week to cater for people’s other commitments. They also hold Lunch and Learns on a mix of topics, focusing on nutrition, mental and physical health, as well as circulating a monthly newsletter so everyone can see what is coming up. All of this is free and based at work too, so there’s no more travelling time added to my day.
I decided to get involved, and for three months now I’ve been doing two group training sessions a week, and I have followed the nutritional tips from Chris Davies – the personal trainer that runs the sessions. I really enjoy the group classes, and several of my colleagues are now on a health journey too – which is fantastic as we really motivate and encourage each other. Some of Chris’s workouts only require bodyweight, so I’ve also been able to do those at home, and even once at my parent’s during my Dad’s 70th birthday! It was also very easy to get involved; all I needed to do was to sign up to the session on the intranet and turn up. Best of all it was free!
Generally the Wellness Committee has encouraged a healthier lifestyle for me, and I’ve been tracking what I’m eating using a fitness app. I’m not starving myself though, I consider it eating intelligently. In addition to this, I still workout with my personal trainer to focus on strength and conditioning and I’ve also started hot yoga.
Three months later I have now lost 8.5 kilograms and my blood pressure is in the ‘safer’ range. There is still work to do though; I’m getting focused on getting fitter and stronger which is just as important to me now. I also have more energy since eating better and increasing my workouts, and I am committed to this being more than just a phase.
There’s no doubt to me that the Wellness Committee is responsible for why I feel so good now, and I can confidently say that it’s changed my life. This is just one more example of how Enterprise Rent-A-Car lives by its values of taking care of its customers, and its employees.
Join us, and you too can take advantage of the Wellness Committee’s initiatives, as well as all the other extra-curricular activities and benefits that Enterprise has to offer. Browse all our available jobs in our 450 branches across the UK now.