Before learning about the Thrive app, I had been having different kinds of issues that were affecting my well-being. I was only sleeping four or five hours a night, even with sleep aids. I was also eating a lot of junk and fast food, and I felt like I never had time to exercise. This lifestyle led to a lot of health issues and trouble in my relationships, too. I knew I needed to make a change, so when I started Thrive, I decided to focus on the Connection, Food, and Movement journeys.

I started with my diet. I liked the Microstep about meal prep. I started looking at the nutrition information on foods I was eating, and I stopped eating frozen foods that were high in sodium. I also cut back on sodas and snacks that were high in sugar. Instead, I started incorporating more fresh vegetables into my meals, along with white meat, fruits, and nuts. I also started drinking more water, and gave myself assigned mealtimes instead of grazing throughout the day. All of these small changes really made a difference for me. Today, I’m sleeping better ––no less than seven hours! I’m also walking 7.5 miles each week, which has helped ease some of the pain I used to feel in my back. I’ve lost 25 pounds, my blood tests are better, and I feel so much more energetic.

My main reason for making a change was because I wanted to be a better person, and to reach excellence as an employee, a father, a friend, and a husband. My family has been such a big support for me. My family bonds are even stronger now, as I’ve been spending more time with my family. We do activities in the house and outdoors, and it’s been so much fun. I have followed some of the Money Microsteps too, and I’ve learned some good financial advice.

I’ve learned that small steps really make a difference. Call it culture or general knowledge, but we consciously know what we should do if we want to thrive and live a balanced life. Having Thrive as a resource has been incredibly helpful in giving me that reminder when I’ve needed it.