Eileen Russell

“THE Y TRANSFORMED ME INTO TO AN ACTIVE ADULT WITH A RENEWED SENSE OF LIFE AND AN INSPIRED EMPLOYEE”

I had worked for the Y for 10 years and all that time I had a weight problem. In 2014, I was having a difficult year, dealing with personal issues and knee problems. I was really down – only I didn’t realize how down I was. One day, as I worked at the front desk at my Y, one of the fitness instructors approached me to ask what was wrong. I shared what was going on and he convinced me that it wasn’t just about being overweight, it was about taking care of myself and loving myself. He inspired me to change my eating habits and start exercising in the fitness center at the Y.

That was 11 months ago. I’ve lost 71 pounds and changed my whole lifestyle. My fellow staff members were so supportive along my journey and YMCA members that I saw at the front desk started noticing my weight loss and offered me so many encouraging words. That meant so much to me and kept me motivated.

Along my journey, I’ve taken on more challenging fitness classes and feel so accomplished – and my knees feel great. Now I have a lot more strength, energy and confidence.

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