This Time Last... Summer 2014

Since early on with the opening of the Rec Center, Donna Ladd has been a true "regular", and for good reason. For starters, she has lost 45 pounds. But more importantly, she has made tremendous improvements in her health.

While Donna admits a family photo prompted her to consider losing weight, the clincher was a doctor's appointment. The doctor informed her that she was both diabetic and that she had high cholesterol and triglycerides. She knew it was time to get down to business, i.e., lifestyle behavioral changes. And fortunately for Donna, she had just the place to start right here on campus.

With the convenience of the Center, she admits she really has no excuse to not exercise. Besides this benefit, she will also tell you how much she enjoys the friendly and unintimidating atmosphere, and having the availability of state-of-the-art equipment. And another dimension of the atmosphere she enjoys is the camaraderie of students and colleagues. When it comes to fitness and wellness, we are "all in this together".

So, what does Donna's workout look like? She begins with one or two miles on the treadmill, followed by a series on the strength machines. She has two favorite strength machines... one is the multi-hip machine and the other is the abdominal machine. Having broken her back several years ago and additionally having had surgery on both knees, these two machines in particular have allowed her exercise without injury.

Along with her workout at the Center, Donna has made beneficial changes to her diet. What had to go were the processed sugars and the white carbs. Additionally, she has added more fruits and vegetables to her diet and made an adjustment in portion sizes. Yes, occasionally she allows herself an indulgence, but this too is in moderation.

Donna is now within five pounds of her doctor's recommendation, and better still, she now has her sugar numbers in the normal range and has dramatically decreased her triglycerides.

Ask Donna what keeps her motivated and she will give you both a simple as well as profound answer... "it really does feel good to exercise regularly!" She, like many, will tell you how much she can tell if she has missed too many exercise sessions. "I don't ever want to let my weight get out of control again."

That's Donna's story... and it can be yours too. The Rec Center and staff are here to help you get started and help you in any way. Contact one of the senior staff if you have questions or need "no excuses" to get underway.

This is a third in the series of “This Time Last…” when we feature a Rec Center member who has accomplished significant changes through working out at the Center. We are always looking for members to share their story with our community. If you have a story on accomplishments in the fitness and wellness area, contact Donna Miller at the Rec Center.