We had a great time interviewing one of our young members for our success stories - Summer Pfeiffer. Summer joined the YMCA in January 2010 with her parents Roger and Kristin and her brother Ethan.  The whole family is very active at the Y.
Summer had not taken any form of classes before she came to the YMCA.  Once her family joined, she started taking Mommy & Me swim classes and then progressed to regular swim lessons.  Water safety was very important to them as well has having a healthy family.
This year Summer’s parents signed her up for a YMCA sponsored youth triathlon.  She was in the youngest division as she was only 4 years old. The triathlon consisted of swimming, biking and running.  In between the meets, Summer continued with her swim lessons at the Y. The more she swam the stronger she became. In the beginning of the triathlon in order to do the swim part of the series, Summer had to use a life jacket until she went to the Bethany, OK meet. At the Bethany and Earlywine YMCAs, she was able to do the swim portion with out her lifejacket. What an accomplishment!
We asked Kristin what advice she would give other parents and what plans if any does Summer have for herself.  Kristin stated that parents should sign their children up for classes.  Try more than one so that you can find out what interest your child.  If they are interested, they will stick with it.  As for Summer, she is now enrolled in gymnastics.  Her future plans consist of getting on the Barracuda swim team, more triathlons and Iron Kids.
Seeing Summer in the pool now, you would never have known that this little girl did not know how to swim when she started here.  She has no fear of the water. She just dives in and takes off.  We look forward to seeing more of this little mermaid.

Rafael is a member of the Lawton Family YMCA and has been since March 2010.  He joined the YMCA because he needed to lose weight. When asked how he heard about the YMCA, he told us that he heard about us by word of mouth and on the TV. 
Prior to becoming a member of the YMCA, Rafael never exercised. When he joined, he started out walking on the treadmill and then running.  As he progressed, and started feeling better he added Zumba, cycling and training with Yolanda. He has worked himself up to 5 days a week, 2 ½ hours a day. When asked what kept him motivated he stated, “I feel better when I work out...I am looking better.”

THEN

NOW

Rafael has come a long way.  It took 9 months for him to reach his goal of 140 lbs. We asked him what personal changes/ improvements he has noticed since he has been exercising. He told us that he had sleep apnea and had to use a machine at night, now he can sleep without it. His strength has also increased as well as his stamina. 
We asked Rafael if he had any advice he would like to give to other people. He said, “Just do it. Don’t think about it, just take action.  If you think about it to much it will prevent you from getting healthy.”          

Rafael’s experience with the Y has given him the opportunity to do things that he thought he would never be able to do. He has participated in a 5k and 10k run. The YMCA has given him the tools to improve his life and to make new friends.  He is happy that he has been able to improve his overall physical health and well-being, which has been of great influence to his son; a great way to pass it on.

Meet Nina Tucker. 
When we asked Nina how she heard about the YMCA, she told us that her daughter was a member and came in all the time.  She said her daughter kept bugging her to join and finally in May of 2005 Nina became a member of the Lawton Family YMCA.
Prior to becoming a member of the YMCA, Nina never exercised. When she joined, she started out doing 3 minutes on the elliptical machine.  She thought she was going to die. She worked up to 60 minutes and now she works out everyday and does cycling 3 times a week. When asked what kept her motivated she stated, “I was determined to do it!” “I wanted to get in shape.”
Nina has gone from 165lbs down to 120lbs.  It took 9 months to reach her goal and now she is at the point where she is maintaining her weight. When asked how she feels about her personal changes and improvements she states that she does not have that sluggish feeling anymore. Exercising helps relieve her stress. She feels great and is in the best shape ever.  Nina had to give up fried food and soda pop but it was worth it.
We asked Nina if she had any advice she would like to give to other people. She said, “Just do it and stick to it.  If you have trouble on your own, join a group. Use your clothes, not the scale to measure your success.”
Nina has made many friends through the YMCA. She is a much healthier and happier person. She looks forward to coming to the Y everyday and says we are a blessing. Nina wants to thank her daughter, staff and members for all their support.

DEE'S STORY

Meet Dee Hennessee, a seventy–five year old retiree. 8 to 10 years ago, Dee injured his back and had major nerve and muscle damage. Over time, his symptoms got worse eventually developing into into Fibromyalgia. His health got to the point that he had to use a wheelchair because of the leg pain. With a little prodding from his grandsons, Dee started swimming in their family pool.

At first, Dee could only swim for about ten minutes at a time. As he swam, he noticed that his pain stayed away and his feet stopped hurting until the next morning, but then the pain would return.  He swam the next day and again the pain went away.  He kept this up all summer long until it eventually got too cold to swim in the backyard pool. 

In September 2010, Dee joined the Lawton Family YMCA in order to keep swimming. At first, he did just laps in the pool.  After awhile, he started an exercise program which consisted of 20 minutes on a cross trainer, 20 minutes on the treadmill and then sit ups. In the beginning, the workouts hurt his back and made him sore, but after a few weeks of working out, his back started to hurt if he didn't workout. Now, Dee comes in everyday to work out at the Y.

DEE'S RESULTS

Since joining the Lawton Family YMCA, Dee has lost 15 lbs, his blood pressure went from 135/80 to 115/65 and his cholesterol dropped from 200 to184. The biggest change is that Dee no longer needs a wheelchair! When he went for his doctor visit, the doctor asked where his wheelchair was, Dee said, “in the garage.” The doctor commented that (Dee not needing the wheelchair) was impossible, to which Dee replied, “You saw me walk in here.”

“(The Y) saved my life. I honestly believe that.  If I had continued on the way it was, I do not think I would have lasted much longer. Now I feel 60 rather than 75.”

 

Dee enjoys coming to the Y, the staff are all very friendly and helpful, he gets to spend quality time with his grandsons, and there are people that he gets to see, and build relationships with quite frequently. Dee's advice to others is to get off the couch, turn off the TV and come to the YMCA!