I started a new job at Baker Roofing and one of the benefits offered was an onsite Personal trainer.
“Interesting,” I thought…
I was not obese, and I considered myself to be in overall good health but decided to give this so-called “training” a try. The first class I attended was a wake-up call. Out of breath, I quickly realized that I was out of shape.
Seeing fellow employees in better shape than me, and with better endurance, was motivating but also embarrassing. Something had to change. I signed the waiver and joined the Baker Exercise class. By class, I mean a small handful of others, mainly consisting of the IT department. We met every Monday and Wednesday afternoon. Our gym? An unused, dusty old warehouse in the back of the building. Our weights? Rocks. Literally.
So it began. Twice a week every week. Was it enjoyable? No.
“Give it 3 months Raymond, it will get easier, trust me,” they said. Time seemed to slow down for those two hours each week. Never did an hour seem so long. Oddly enough, at the end of the class, there was a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. I had made it yet another hour without puking in front of everyone, without completely giving up and walking away. That in and of itself was motivation to keep coming back.
Soon after I began attending the class, I noticed that I planned my schedule around workouts. Meetings got switched around, appointments rescheduled, and reminders set. So the weeks slowly continued on, and months went by. Whoop whoop! I was finally able to keep up with everyone.
“They” were right! It did get easier. So the pounds started to come off. Who knew I had 40 pounds to lose?! Then the months turned into years. I started becoming more conscious of nutrition labels and calories. I learned it was quite simple. You get out of your body what you put in it. Calories in, calories out. I was no longer a teenager who could eat anything deep-fried, golden brown, and delicious. Turns out that metabolism does change.
Joining Baker’s exercise class came at a perfect time. Our old dusty warehouse of a gym turned into an actual gym full of exercise equipment. The small “class” that started the Baker Roofing wellness program has grown, a lot! Today, it’s not uncommon to be joined by 20 or so co-workers for exercise. The two classes a week have turned into eight classes per week! Baker now offers beginner & advanced strength training classes, Zumba, and a well-equipped gym facility to all of its Raleigh employees. There is even a Wellness Committee that meets twice a month. Its purpose? To promote awareness for a healthy lifestyle, offering employees team-building opportunities.
Does consistency pay off? Definitely! Join Baker’s health initiative and prove it to yourself. Small steps, big results. If you’re looking to join a company that cares about your well-being, check out some of our open positions. We can’t wait to see you there!