Sheryl Gibson

Name: Sheryl Gibson            

Garver Y Member: November 2011       

 Y-Story: I knew it was time for me to work out and I visited a couple of places but they were not a good fit.  A co-worker, now friend said, “Come to work out with me at the Y”.  That was the best day of my life.  I had a good work out and found where I wanted to make my fitness home. 

I started the Monday after Thanksgiving in 2011.  I was much intimated the first day I walked in because I was extremely over weight and everyone seemed to look good and working out hard.  I was only able to do 15 minutes on the elliptical. 

I had spoke with Erin S. about getting a personal trainer to optimize my work outs and weight loss and she recommended who she has.  I met Tonya for the first time and was impressed.  She told me to do cardio 5 days a week for 45 -60 minutes at my target heart rate.  I thought she was crazy. 

Starting out, I had a hard time hearing my heart beat fast.  It would make me scared.  I bought a MP3 player to tune that out.  I began to make minor adjustments to make working out work for me. 

I started working out with Tonya about 3 weeks after I joined.  I started the ultimate weight loss challenge at the beginning of the year to help jump start my weight loss.  Since the last week of November until now I have lost a total of 52 pounds.  I contribute my weight loss to the Y for making it comfortable and friendly environment to exercise in.  Thanks to Erin S. that helped me “find” the Y.  Thanks to Tonya, my personal trainer for giving me crazy strength training routines every week.  No two weeks are alike.  Thanks to Shawn that talked to me when I had a meltdown.   Thanks for Teresa and Marcus for the words of encouragement when they see me working out hard.  Thanks to Darrell and Michelle for having fun classes that I attend on a weekly basis as much as I can.   I go to one of Teresa’s classes too!  Thanks to myfitnesspal.com.  That is my online application I use to log all my food for calories, fat, carbohydrates, and proteins.  Thanks to Mrs. Betty who is the best worker in the Kids game room.  You rock and Joe loves you.  She allows me to workout comfortably without thinking about what is going on with my child.  Thanks to the Y for giving me my life back.  I still have more work to do but I look forward to doing it here at the YMCA-Jerry Garver!