What if the moment you’ve been avoiding is the one that changes your life?
When we talk about building better at PJ Wallbank Springs, we’re not just talking about products. We’re also talking about people. This includes supporting and celebrating their health and well-being as we pursue our bold vision of saving lives.
Most recently, we’re proud to celebrate our team member, Traci Thompson, who was one of only nine finalists across thousands of participants nationwide in the 2025 American Health & Wellness HealthyMe Contest.
Here’s how Traci improved her health:
- 105 pounds lost
- A1C reduced from 8.9
- Cholesterol lowered from the 300s
- Off all three diabetic medications
- Lowered cholesterol medication
- More energy. More life.
But those numbers don’t tell the full story.
A Picture Worth 10,000 Steps
After seeing photos from her brother’s wedding in 2022, Traci made a decision: it was time to take control of her health.
But she didn’t choose a quick fix. She chose a lifestyle change.
With her doctor’s support, she adjusted medications, made better food choices, and started moving more. She went from eating out four times a week to once a month, and she made the intentional choice to give up fast food for Lent each year.
Within a year and a half, Traci lost 70 pounds.
As the scale moved, something even more important changed: she started feeling better.
She was able to come off medications, she had more energy, and she became more active.
Then she hit a plateau at 180 pounds.
Most people would have stopped there, but Traci didn’t.
Instead of quitting, she shifted her focus. She paid attention to how far she had already come, including how her clothes fit, how productive she felt, and how much more she could do. Traci completed the Mackinac Bridge Walk on Labor Day 2025 and has now finished three 2K walks. She didn’t let the lack of progress get in the way of her new lifestyle.
Then, when American Health & Wellness partnered with PJWS, she really leaned in, and this strengthened her momentum. Through the Nutrition Re-Boot Camp (NRBC+) 2025 challenges, adding more fruits and vegetables, and committing to daily walks with her dog Turbo (three 15-minute walks after work, one at lunch, plus weekend walks), she pushed past the plateau.
Traci has lost 105 pounds.
Traci credits our partner, American Health & Wellness, for helping her reinforce all the things she’s learned in her journey.
“I am excited that this is a program offered to everyone here at PJWS and their family. Sometimes the first step is the hardest. I resisted the change, but once I started, I never looked back.”
Traci’s Advice
Traci is now off all three diabetic medications and has reduced her cholesterol medication. She has more energy and greater productivity. She’s bringing her best self to all aspects of her life.
Traci’s advice to you:
“Weight loss and healthy living are really a mind-over-matter state. Celebrate each small goal and try not to focus on the end goal. Find a good support team, including your health care provider. Believe in yourself and don’t let a relapse become a collapse. We didn’t gain the weight in a day, and it will not come off in a day. It is not a diet. It is a lifestyle.”
That mindset shift is what makes her story powerful.
Why This Matters
Traci will receive a $500 award and is featured in a 2026 monthly profile from American Health & Wellness. She is also eligible for the $3,000 grand prize at the end of the year.
But the real reward is bigger than prize money.
It’s how her story inspires others to proactively manage their health. Her transformation reflects what’s possible when personal commitment meets support.
At PJWS, we’re proud that our partnership with American Health & Wellness supports journeys like this – reinforcing healthy choices, providing tools, and helping turn small steps into lasting lifestyle change. We’re committed to investing in health and wellness for our people so we can help them build better, live longer, and ultimately, save lives.
Our Chief People Officer, Tracey Fletcher, shared:
“Traci’s story is a strong testament to what’s possible when you take a long-term preventative approach to your health goals. Small changes add up to big results with the right mindset and resources. We are proud to play a role in her story through the coaching and support that our partners at American Health & Wellness offer. It’s through this focus that we believe we can save lives.”
This Could Be Your Beginning
Traci’s transformation didn’t happen overnight. It happened because she made a decision and kept making it day after day. Her new mindset, coupled with persistence and support, has led her to achieve her health goals. She’s proof that change is possible. Not perfectly. Not instantly. But consistently.
The question for the rest of us is simple:
What small step are you willing to take today?
