YMCA Member Shares Weight Loss Journey

The St. Charles County Family YMCA has been sharing the successes of its members in their personal journey to greater health and well-being.  Here is the story of one YMCA member, in her own words, whose weight loss journey has made a powerful impact for good in her life.  Meet Sandy Bethmann -

"In the fall of 2009 I felt horrible. I didn’t sleep well, so I was tired all the time. I had irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, acid reflux, terrible acne, and never felt good. I was crabby, unhappy, grumpy and unkind to those around me. I didn’t want to go around people and I’m sure people didn’t want to be around me. I weighed 380+ pounds, my joints ached and some days I hobbled around like an old lady if I sat at my desk too long. I couldn’t balance to put on underwear and putting on socks got me out of breath.

One day, I’m not sure what came over me, I’ll never be able to explain it, but I knew my life had to change. I just started watching what I ate to see if it helped my stomach, staying away from heavy greasy food adding in a few fresh vegetables and fruit here and there. I started feeling a little better, so I started just writing down what I ate to see if eating certain things were making the difference. I knew I couldn’t diet; I had to make lifestyle changes for this to work.

I quickly discovered that my one soda at lunch had 3 or 4 refills, the burger and side salad was loaded with mayo, cheese, ranch dressing, croutons, and sunflower seeds, just loaded with fat and very little vegetables. So I started drinking water or plain ice tea at lunch, had grilled chicken instead of the burger, and vegetable salad instead of fat salad. Before I realized it, I was down 20lbs.

I started reading a lot about healthy eating. I asked my doctor a million questions. Started measuring portions and looking at low or no fat options; but I never deprived myself. If I wanted ice cream, I ate ice cream. A small sundae instead of the banana split. I ate pizza, but went with thin crust, light on the cheese and with lots of veggies instead of the thick super meat special with extra cheese. It never felt like I went without or that I was forced to eat food I didn’t like which made it easier to make these changes.

I still didn’t sleep well and my stress was through the roof. In casual conversation with a friend, he mentioned he had been taking Yoga at the Emerson Family YMCA one night a week and that I should come with him. I joined him once and was hooked. The instructor made sure she always gave options if there were positions I was unable to complete. She was very supportive and she never made me feel uncomfortable being a more then 360lb person in a class with a lot of folks much healthier then myself. My stress level went down, I looked forward to the class and I started sleeping a little better. My stomach wasn’t upset and
staying away from the fried foods and junk food my acid reflux and acne really
improved. I had to buy some new cloths. I was down almost 40lbs.

I continued with the Yoga until the class changed from Yoga to Step, I didn’t think I was ready for a cardio class of that type.  I knew the St. Charles YMCA was closer to my house. I checked out the website and saw the aqua classes; I loved swimming as a kid so I signed up. I hadn’t owned a swimming suit in about 10 years, but I braved the stores and found a suit and headed to the pool.

Both Daphne and Barb were so encouraging and supportive. All the other members made it seem like social time rather than working out and I really enjoyed going. I ended up going about 3 or 4 times a week and added in some time on the treadmill and stationary bike. I continued to lose about 1 to 2 lbs a week, and felt better every day.  I was sleeping better than I had in years. My
energy level was through the roof and I noticed I had stopped growling at other
people. I enjoyed getting out more.

Down a few more pounds and feeling healthier I needed to branch out. I signed up for “beginning spinning” with Casey. She was very welcoming and encouraged me to come back the next week even though I didn’t make it through the first class. Casey didn’t seem surprised that I was back the next Saturday, continued to be encouraging and before I knew it I was spinning regularly with Casey and Kelly and even doing back to back classes on Tuesday evenings.

Aqua, spinning; why not kick boxing and cardio? I stumbled and dragged my way through classes that a year or two before I would have never imagined attending. I was continuing to lose and felt like a totally new person mentally and physically. I could have never imagined an hour or so at the YMCA a night and watching how and what I ate could make such a radical change in my life. I’d made so many new friends, found encouragement in others and found strength in the positive feedback I got from the employees and other members. People from work were commenting on how much weight I had lost and I ran into an old friend who even didn’t recognize me at first.

I felt empowered. Up until that point I had just been working on feeling better, getting healthier and losing some weight, but I never set a goal or had a target in mind. When I reached over 100 lbs lost it came to me; I would work to be half the person I was before. 190lbs would be my goal.

I’ve lost 140 lbs. My life has totally changed. I go for long bike rides with my brother. I have two five year old nieces that get me into all kinds of things; playing on jungle gyms, games of four square and kickball, hop scotch, and just a ton of other activities that my former self would have passed up to sit on the couch. I got a dog, we go on long walks, go out to the dog park, play fetch; my former self would never have had the energy or the desire to anything like that.

I’ve had ups and downs, gone astray here and there; but Casey mentioning that she’s missed me or Barb calling to make sure I’m ok if she hasn’t seen me for a while brings me true happiness that they want me to succeed also and that bring me back on track. A step onto the scale is a quick tell if food has been in charge or if Sandy has been and sometimes I have to regain control.

I’ll always struggle with food and weight; I may not ever meet my 190lb goal, but I’ll keep trying. If you run into me just ask and I’ll show you my “FAT” picture, I carry it with me to remind me on how far I’ve come and it makes me smile to think that this journey has been a wonderful experience and it has brought nothing but good things into my life."

Sandy Bethmann