Do you have a favorite pair of old shoes that fit just right and you can’t get rid of them? 

According to Campo Family YMCA member Amy Domenech, the gym she wanted to go to had to be a good fit – “like an old pair of shoes:  reliable, secure, comfortable and kind.

It had been 12 years since Amy had focused on her health and fitness when she started working out at the Y two years ago. “I was scared because I was overweight, a new mom of children 21 months apart, and very out of shape.”

The first year she struggled with consistency. “I found reasons NOT to go to the gym.” Then one day everything changed.  Just when she was about to quit, she stepped out of her comfort zone and joined a spinning class. “The instructor was so encouraging, inspiring and kind.  I felt secure in her class.  That first spin class started a journey for me that I had no idea I was about to embark on.”

“Soon I was working out three times a week . . . then five times a week...then I added even more!  Combined with some changes in my diet I started feeling (and looking) healthier!”

Amy admits that she did all the “hard work” but gives all the credit to the staff members at the Campo and Fishhawk YMCAs.  “Every staff person I ran into smiled at me, said hello, offered assistance or just gave me an encouraging nod.”

These are the things that kept me coming back and these are the things that I feel make the difference in people’s lives.  They help us feel like ‘I can do this!  I can live a healthy lifestyle!’”

“The Y had become my pair of old shoes:

• Reliable because the same staff is there day in and day out encouraging me to come back.
• Secure, knowing my kids were safe and well cared for.
• Comfortable knowing I was surrounded with people who were just like me.
• Kind – smiling faces greeting me and telling me to have a good day.”