Aberdeen Family YMCA

They say the camera adds 10 pounds… but, I knew it wasn’t the camera. I was fat! And it was time to do something about it. But, what? I’d never been on a diet before. Just thinking about exercise made me tired. I didn’t know how to lose weight in a healthy way. My mother offered to join other weight-loss programs with me… but, I didn’t want that. We have all seen them advertised on TV...Weight loss is a billion dollar business in this country for one reason… because most people gain the weight back. I’d seen friends and family use those fad diets to lose weight quickly… only to gain it back just as fast. I wasn’t interested in being a statistic.

A simple diet wasn’t going to fix the problem. I knew the time had come to take control of not just my weight, but my overall health. I needed a comprehensive program that taught me how to eat and exercise. I needed someone to help me every step of the way – a teacher, a counselor, a friend.

I’d heard about the New Leaf program and decided to look into it. I made it clear that I wasn’t willing to spend two hours a day at the gym… and I wasn’t going to live on salads with fat free dressing. If that’s what I had to do, I told her, I would stay fat. But, she assured me I could do it. It wasn’t going to be easy and it wasn’t going to be a quick fix. But, if I was dedicated and determined I would do it.

So, off we went on this journey together. Jackie cheering me on as I steadily dropped the pounds and gained the confidence to do more and more. I honestly expected it to be torture. But, it never was. I never spent two hours a day at the gym and I never ate fat free dressing… I didn’t become a marathon runner and my favorite food is still pizza.

It worked for me, it can work for you. If you are patient, determined and have the desire to truly make a life change, then the New Leaf program will work for you.

I was new to exercise and had a few things to learn about my nutrition so New Leaf was a per-fect program for me. I liked being able to have a plan that was designed for me and my lifestyle. The coaching sessions were helpful because I had to be accountable and I got the one-on-one support that I needed on a weekly basis. I know what I need to do to maintain a healthy lifestyle and I feel great! My doctor said that my blood pressure has never been this good!