Chrissy is a member of the Geauga Family YMCA and has taken advantage of the opportunities that the facilities have to offer. Her story of weight-loss success and personal growth is one to be admired:
“After 30 years of living with the ravages that multiple sclerosis has plagued me with, coupled with being extremely overweight my whole life, I decided to become fully committed to my personal health and well being. In September of 2013, I weighed 224 pounds and was a size 20. I was already a YMCA family member, but only took advantage of the facilities occasionally.
Due to MS neuropathy, stiffness and overwhelming fatigue, I started my journey in a YMCA water aerobics class. By the end of September, I began to ride the stationary bikes and started to use the weight machines. As my fatigue and mobility improved, I started to – out on the elliptical machine and advanced the weight on the all of the machines I used. At this point, I was elated. I had finally gotten my weight under 200 pounds. This was my goal weight.
Over the first two months, I was bringing my infant son to the YMCA Child Watch. The friendly staff started to notice improvements in my physical appearance and would frequently make encouraging comments. This gave me the motivation to push myself even further. Could I finally get my weight into a healthy range?
Over the bitter cold winter, I was not always able to bring my infant son. I started to come to the YMCA alone during the evenings and at various times over the weekend. I was now using the ATS machine and Arc Trainer machines, in conjunction with the weight machines.
When May hit, I had lost 61 pounds and was a size 12. My 20th high school reunion loomed around the corner in July. I was working out for over an hour a day at the Y but I had hit a plateau. For Mother’s Day, I decided it was time to take advantage of the YMCA personal trainers – a decision that changed my life forever.
I truly never thought it was possible to sweat without my iPod (or before 9 am) until I met Ben, my personal trainer. In the first 15 sessions with Ben, I ran my first mile ever! I also threw stones, played with medicine balls, swung kettle bells, manipulated Swiss-balls, flipped tractor tires, did Tabatas and used free weights. This is when I learned how to work out smarter.
At this point, I also attended my first group exercise class – Ben’s Bootcamp. I went to the reunion as a happy size 8. But, I continued with my newfound passion of working out under Ben’s knowledgeable training, his Bootcamp classes and my almost daily workouts at the YMCA.
By November 2014, I had lost 96 pounds and was a size 0.
My body fat percentage went from morbid obesity to athletic and is currently 18 percent. I still continue with my training sessions with Ben, Bootcamp, and now added Barre class as I tone and continue to build muscle. I have never once felt self-conscious about my appearance or my physical impairments while working out or swimming at the YMCA. In fact, it is the only time of the day when I forget I have MS. Thank You to Ben and the great staff and friendly members of the YMCA; I am forever in your debt.”
This Story is brought to you by the Geauga Family YMCA
