| For Rico Dempsey and Savannah Denny, GE Appliances is more than where they work—it’s where their story began. The two met on the job and spent a year building a friendship before realizing there might be something more. Then came third shift. Rico, a press operator, and Savannah, a Swordfish forklift driver, experienced a major lifestyle adjustment. Like many overnight employees, the schedule shift left them feeling tired more often, gaining weight, and struggling to establish healthy routines. But every day, as they walked to their car after work, one thing caught their attention: The Y @ Work. “The gym was so easily accessible,” says Savannah. “We literally passed it twice a day and found ourselves with no excuse but to go!” |
| “We literally passed it twice a day and found ourselves with no excuse but to go!” Savannah, Forklift Driver |
| What started as a simple decision turned into a life-changing habit. Rico and Savannah committed to working out five days a week, encouraging one another every step of the way. But nutrition presented another hurdle. At the time, the house they lived in didn’t have a stove, making healthy meals difficult. But once they were able to cook at home, everything began to click. Savannah found healthy recipes on social media, and together they added creatine and protein powder to support their nutrition goals. “Every morning we eat an egg white omelet and Greek yogurt with berries and chia seeds,” says Savannah. “Repetition makes everything simpler.“ |
| 70 lbs. in one year … for just $5/week Rico lost 40 lbs.Savannah lost 30 lbs. |
| The results have been remarkable. In one year, Rico has lost 40 pounds, while Savannah has lost 30 pounds. For Rico, the transformation became about much more than weight loss. After losing his mother, fitness became an important outlet for healing. “The gym helped occupy my mind as I was grieving,” says Rico. “And my progress also became motivation for my sisters to get healthy too.” As the pounds came off, the physical benefits became impossible to ignore. |
| “I used to take ibuprofen daily for the pain in my body,” says Rico. “After losing weight, I rarely have to take it.” Inside the gym, the couple trains side by side. While they often perform the same workouts, they tailor the weights to fit their individual goals. They also credit The Y @ Work team for helping them stay focused and continue progressing. “We began planning our workouts and keeping fitness journals,” says Rico. “John and McKenna at the Y have been so helpful in training us and helping us hit our goals.” Their transformation hasn’t gone unnoticed around the plant. “Everyone at work has been so supportive,” says Savannah. “Sometimes they don’t even recognize us!” Looking back, Rico and Savannah know their journey wasn’t built on perfection—it was built on consistency. A gym they passed every day became the place where they reclaimed their health, supported each other through life’s hardest moments, and discovered just how much they were capable of accomplishing together. One thing is certain: after coming this far, they’ve learned that the greatest reward isn’t just the weight they’ve lost—it’s the life they’ve gained. |
| Do you need help losing weight? A registered dietitian is joining the onsite care clinic, CareATC, starting Monday, Aug. 3. Free to employees and their dependents on the Horizon Health Plan. |
Latricia Taylor
