Host: Hello, and welcome to Employee Podcasts, where Costco employees share their stories of how their benefits helped them with their personal health challenges. Today, we’re joined by Sharon Littles, also known as Sha, at her warehouse. Hi, Sha.

Sharon Littles: Hey. How are you?

Host: I’m great. You’re here. This is amazing. So tell me, how long have you worked at Costco? What’s your position, and which location do you work at?

Sharon Littles: I’ve worked at Costco this past November two years. I was a part-time cashier/front-end assistant until I was promoted to full-time as front-end cashier. I started part-time in Delaware at Christiana store 246. And then I transferred to my current location in St. Augustine, Florida, store 1615.

Host: Two very, very different climates, especially at this time of year, Sha.

Sharon Littles: Yes, it is.

Host: So Sha, tell me, how did Costco benefits help you when you needed it most?

Sharon Littles: Well, when I was in part-time in Delaware, I was able to get my health in check. I was fairly new to the area. And I need to get started my doctor’s appointments. I chose to start with the dentist first to start the process. I’ll get a cleaning. Then I’ll find a primary care provider, and then get my annual physical later on.

Well, when I went to the dentist, they noticed that I had very deep pockets and determined that I needed, really, to go to see a periodontist. So I get to the periodontist, who said, oh, I can repair the damage with gum surgery. But first, I need to clear that surgery with my PCP. And she told me, you need to see a cardiologist to check your heart because before you can get surgery, you got to make sure your heart is right and safe to be able to take care of the surgery.

Thankfully, I did get to see the cardiologist. And so he was able to prescribe me the right medications, number one, because I was on the wrong medications, and then to be able to get me set up for clearance to go for the surgery for the periodontist.

With Costco benefits, as a part-time employee, I was able to see a dentist, a PCP, the cardiologist. And they were all in network, and some with no out-of-pocket costs except for the co-pays.

Host: That’s amazing. And so what kind of things does the cardiologist check? Are they checking your arteries? Are they checking your blood pressures to clear you for surgery?

Sharon Littles: Yeah, they’re checking everything—your blood pressure and your arteries, too, to see. And it so happens that he did a CT scan on me. And it came back that, hey, you have zero plaque in your arteries. It came out zero. And that’s really good. I was like, oh my goodness, zero plaque. I’m on the road to making sure to keep my blood pressure at a great, normal level.

Host: That’s awesome. When you say keep your blood pressure stable, are you talking about managing hypertension?

Sharon Littles: Yes, managing my hypertension. Sometimes, it could be hereditary in our families or just being able to have Costco benefits to be able to help me to maintain that. And that was really good, to be able to have pamphlets that we get through the Omada app as well as the Cylinder app.

Host: That’s awesome. So tell me more about these apps. Let’s start with Omada.

Sharon Littles: The Omada app I like because you’re able to also track your food intake. So you go in there, and you put your food that you like. So let’s say it’s oatmeal. So I’m able to track my oatmeal, my lunch, or whatever it is, my dinner. And then this way, what’s good about it—it gives you an outline of how much protein this is, how much salt, how much just different things, sugar, all these different things. So this way, you can see what you’re actually eating and then are taking in your body. So just, let’s say, if you’re having a slice of pizza and it’s like, oh, do I get cheese or do I get pepperoni pizza—

Host: And this is part of the Meal Map feature?

Sharon Littles: Yes.

Host: Oh, that’s so cool.

Sharon Littles: Mm-hmm. And actually, there’s a part 2 where you can add—I have my Apple Watch where it connects to that, as well, where you can be able to track your walking and all that. So there’s just so many features to name that. It’s just a lot.

Host: And it’s free?

Sharon Littles: And it’s free, yes.

[LAUGHING]

That’s what we have to realize—that with Costco, it is free. And then on the Cylinder app, they also have resources, too, that you can be able to have quick recipes—especially being on the go, fast-paced, working at Costco, it’s good to have these quick meals—and then articles, too, about different things that could help you with your health.

One other thing that I liked about the Omada app—they sent me a blood pressure monitor as well as a scale to keep track of your weight. And the beauty about that is that when you step on the scale and you step off the scale, they send it to Omada, both the blood pressure and the weight. So they can tell you how you’re doing. So that was very helpful.

And they also—there’s a care team of representatives. And they give you a coach and a dietitian. And the beauty about that is that dietitians—if you go out on your own to try to get one, it’s expensive. But it comes with Costco benefits. So I took advantage of that. And I was able to speak to the health coach. And she was telling me about my physical activity.

She also suggested that I also incorporate weightlifting. And then when it came to my hypertension, she also mentioned that you do need to take your medications every day because that also is—you think you’re feeling better. Oh, I don’t feel it. But no, take your medications every day. So that also helps to keep your numbers and your hypertension at normal levels.

Host: That’s a very good point. Actually, speaking of numbers, what sorts of numbers are you looking at? Have you had any wins so far?

Sharon Littles: Yes, I have. I had a couple of wins. But I mentioned one already, where I went to the cardiologist and I have zero plaque in my arteries. So that’s one. And then the other thing is I lost over 30 pounds with just maintaining my weight and just getting my numbers in order. And that’s just been—and then my blood pressure levels and cholesterol levels are at normal bases, and glucose, too. So all of those levels are really wins for me and being able to maintain my weight, which has been great.

Host: That’s so impressive, Sha, truly. Congratulations on that. You’ve achieved so much. And for other employees out there, what’s one thing you want them to take away from this podcast? If I’m such a physical job, there are days you’re tired, you don’t want to work out, or you want to eat something quick. What keeps you going?

Sharon Littles: Actually, what keeps me going is just wanting not to go backwards, to just keep moving forward—that this way, I can be able to let others know that you, too, can do it. Costco has excellent benefits. Take advantage of Costco benefits. Whether you’re part-time, full-time, there’s just so much benefits in there.

And it’s just easy to access. They give you QR codes to go. They give you links. They have phone numbers that you can be able to get assistance and, like I said, coaches. You don’t have to go into a doctor. You have so many different things.

When I say go into a doctor, there are certain things that you may have a quick question about. And I want to be the best version of Sha to be able to be around for my family and just enjoy life. So it’s just a beautiful thing to be able to just keep moving forward and getting better in myself.

Host: That’s amazing. And now what might be the hardest question is, what is your favorite Costco product?

Sharon Littles: [LAUGHING]

My favorite Costco products are definitely my fruits and vegetables. I love the frozen fruits and vegetable section, where I’m able to make my smoothies in the mornings or whenever as a meal replacement as well. I enjoy juicing, as well as I do like—my favorite little chocolate is Unreal chocolate bars with the coconut and the dark chocolate. So those are really, really good. So I do enjoy that.

Host: Hey, chocolate has antioxidants in it. Well, Sha, thank you so much for your time and for sharing your story. And congratulations on all you’ve achieved so far. I imagine you’ll achieve much more. And thanks to those who listened in. Until next time, remember, we’re in this together.