My family and I were already subsidized members at Shawnessy YMCA when my husband saw a poster. The Alberta Cancer Board was seeking participants for a weight-loss study.
Losing weight was something I had thought about for four years, but always put off. I was obese at 231 pounds and felt it every hour of every day. This time, with the right supports, I decided to give it a try.
My name is Diane, and this is my Y story.
In addition to eating well, I began regular exercise. I started by talking to the Shawnessy weight floor staff. Lex, a staff member, showed me how to use the equipment, and suggested some exercises from the FitLinxx program for me to do regularly.
The staff were so friendly and supportive. If I wondered whether I was doing an exercise right, I just had to ask them. They encouraged me to keep going. After a few months, I realized I had outgrown my routine. That’s when Rob, the fitness director, suggested a personal trainer. I was given a subsidy for training sessions and took my workouts to a new level.
Sixteen weeks later, I had lost over 44 pounds.
It feels wonderful. I have so much more energy, and I feel healthy and strong. My kids have benefitted as well – because they are also Shawnessy members, we can go swimming and use the facility together.
I’ve had to work very, very hard at it, but losing weight has been much easier and quicker than I expected. I don’t think I could have done it without the Shawnessy YMCA. The subsidized fees, the encouraging weight floor staff, my personal trainer Allison, and a facility that my whole family can use together really made a difference in fitting regular exercise into my life.
To anyone struggling with weight, I want to say, “I did it, and so can you!”
To the Shawnessy YMCA, I want to say, “Thanks for changing my life.”