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Transforming Wellness: How Two Employees Achieved Their Health Goals at Northwestern Mutual

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When it comes to your wellness journey, progress takes time. Photos comparing Rosalina and Derreck from a few years ago to now show remarkable changes. While the weight they’ve lost is notable, the confidence and energy they’ve gained has been transformative. At NM, we understand how important the health of our employees is, which is why we offer perks and benefits designed to help them achieve their wellness goals.

Heeding the call to better health: Rosalina’s story

Rosalina worked exclusively from home when she started as a treasury operations analyst in January 2022. She was the unhealthiest she’d ever been, petrified of how colleagues would perceive her when she eventually returned to the office and battling seasonal depression.

“The final straw was when I tried to put my shoes on to go to the office. I couldn’t bend down to tie them. I didn’t want to be this limited at 29 years old,” Rosalina said.

Preparing to return to the office, Rosalina’s colleague took her on a tour of the downtown Milwaukee campus. Rosalina was floored to discover the free 24/7 fitness center for employees with a variety of state-of-the-art equipment. Despite her excitement, she wasn’t yet ready for the gym environment. So, she started her fitness journey by increasing her activity level in simple ways like walking more and taking the stairs. She also adjusted her eating habits, finding the salads at the company’s restaurant an easy way to add healthy foods to her daily diet.

Following these habits for about a year, Rosalina lost 50 pounds and gained the confidence to try the fitness center. She began exercising two to three times a week, and the physical and mental benefits continued to increase.

Rosalina continues to use the fitness center, often taking advantage of the 24/7 schedule to work out after hours or on weekends. Through Foodsmart, a program available to our employees to help them make healthy food choices, she has also been able to receive support from nutritionists to ensure a balanced diet.

New year, new resolve: Derreck’s fitness journey

Derreck, assistant director of distribution performance, decided to make big life changes when he was on a family vacation in Florida last January. As a father of two young children, he struggled to keep up with his family. Derreck didn’t feel strong mentally or physically.

He found a solution in the company’s free group fitness classes – using offerings like cycling, bootcamps and HIIT to make fitness social and enjoyable. He complements his group fitness classes with one-on-one sessions with an exercise specialist for additional support and guidance.

Combining his regular fitness routine with the healthy offerings at the NM cafes, Derreck has lost more than 40 pounds. He feels more confident and energetic, enabling him to be a better father, husband and employee.

Rosalina and Derreck are proof that better habits like prioritizing healthier eating and physical activity can do wonders for your physical, emotional and mental well-being. At Northwestern Mutual, we make it easier than ever for our employees to set and achieve their personal goals through our lifestyle benefits.

Learn more about the benefits we offer by visiting our Culture page.