One Man's Road to Wellness: How Charlie Martin is getting his health groove on

May 29, 2007

By Terry Timm Moos, News@Cisco

For Charlie Martin, health issues such as diabetes ran in his family. But that all seemed far in the future for him. Then he took advantage of Cisco's health assessment, because it was right on campus-and there was a financial incentive.

"What I got was a wake up call," he said. "After getting a thorough blood chemistry screening, checking blood sugar and cholesterol levels, I could see I was going in the wrong direction. I simply wasn't in healthy shape."

The director of IT, based in Cisco's Research Triangle Park, North Carolina campus, was contacted and selected for the Health Connections program. He got to choose between online web help or a health coach-Martin chose the coach. "I knew I needed that push," he said.

So he got the materials and started the program, which included assigned reading, self-assessments and Q&A sections. He was assigned a coach and focused on fitness and nutrition. Regular calls with the coach prompted him to take stock of his habits. "One of the big things is the awareness," said Martin. If he slipped, the coach worked to find out what his roadblocks were. "I tracked my weight, wore a pedometer, and reported in to someone on a regular basis-that was a major incentive."

"There are so many little things you can do to get healthier," said Martin. "I park in the far end of the parking lot now, so I have to walk more. I skip the elevator." Rather than going to the cafeteria in his building, he makes the ten minute trek across the campus to another building. "I used to order the fries. But now, I don't," Martin said.

In the office, which he had reconfigured, a standing computer station has reduced his back pain. During the interview, he admitted he was using his exercise band, which was connected to his file cabinet, so he could keep active while on the phone "If the activity is convenient, I'll do it," he said.

With two more coaching sessions left, Martin believes he has developed longer-term healthy lifestyle habits, and that he's making better choices. "I feel much better," he said. His weight loss is steady, down 15 pounds from when he started. He's also joined the Y, increasing his soccer schedule, and is taking things to the next level.

"This is an indirect kind of employee benefit, and one that clearly shows how the company cares about healthy employees. They are in this for the long haul. I actually talk about this program when I interview candidates to let them know just how serious the company is about employee wellness. It's a very good benefit."

"I was in San Jose recently, and dropped in on Dr. Pam Hymel, and I just had to tell her how good this program is," said Martin. "The payoff for me? Hopefully having many decades ahead to look forward to."

Terry Timm Moos is a freelance journalist located in Seattle, WA.