“I’m here every day because every day I miss just makes it easier to skip another one,” explains Laurel—a member of YWCA St. Paul’s Health & Fitness Center (HFC). Laurel joined the HFC in the summer of 2009. She had just been diagnosed with diabetes and was determined to follow a healthier path.
She knew changing her lifestyle wouldn’t be easy and chose to focus on changing her diet and making exercise a priority. One year later, the changes were remarkable. Her diabetes was well managed and she was also 80 pounds lighter.
“Working with a personal trainer has kept me honest and accountable.”
—Laurel
What’s the secret to her success? A personal trainer. “Working with a personal trainer has kept me honest and accountable,” she explained. “It’s hard to blow off exercising if you know that you have made both a personal and financial commitment to another person.” But it’s not just about being accountable. Laurel notes that her trainer has been a source of both information and support as she has worked to meet her goals.
At YW Laurel has found the support and friendship she needed as she tackled the hard work of changing her life and improving her health. She’s an inspiration for all of us who struggle to live healthy and be strong in both body and mind.