How Upper Valley Aquatic Center Changed My Life

Here are the inspiring stories of four Upper Valley Aquatic Center members who have found real change here in our facility with our trainers and staff. We are a home away from home and a moral support to them all and we are PROUD to have them as our members.

Natalie Thompson

Natalie Thompson

"For my entire adult life I have always been obese. Before moving to Vermont for a travel nursing assignment in August I had given up on weigh loss all together and decided that I just needed to accept that this was who I was. A couple of weeks after the move I did decide to join the Upper Valley Aquatic Center and try to start working out. I went to my free first personal training session with no intent of getting a personal trainer, however even though I was completely out of shape John never made me feel like I was the fat girl or make me feel out of place. John has not only helped me lose the weight but has been there for me every step of the way on this physically and emotionally trying journey. With his encouragement I am pursuing new goals that I could had never imagined 6 months ago!"

       

Lester Dropkin

Lester Dropkin

When I turned 40, I weighed 265 and decided it was time to lose weight.  I went on a diabetic diet (low salt and fat) and exercised.  I lost 85 pounds in 9 months.  For the next two decades I have tried to keep the weight off.  With the help of Katherine MacPherson and john Grainger of Uvac, I have adjusted my exercises due to the aches and pains of getting old and have kept 60 off. "

Maria Borowy
"I was 238 pounds at my heaviest by the fall of 2010. My annual visit a year earlier in 2009, showed my Blood Sugars were getting in a pre-diabetic range, and by early 2011 my attending physician called me a well-controlled Type II diabetic.

Maria Borowy

Needless to say, I was in denial from day one and very concerned about this diagnosis. I did not accept the diabetic label and started my turn around on January 27, 2011. I joined the Points Plus program of Weight Watchers International and have not looked back.
I argued with my AP about whether I was ever in fact a "diabetic", because the parameters of this diagnosis were changed during the period affecting me and that in fact that I was only pre-diabetic and not ever a confirmed diabetic at all. I am happy to report my AP has agreed to my point at issue and has taken diabetes type II off my record. I have had normal blood sugar since early spring 2011.
I joined the Upper Valley Aquatic Center in the Spring of 2011. I started with Evelyn in Zumba and then decided to re-try the Spinning Program at UVAC. I soon became a regular at Deb and Corey sessions, and I braved Jen's now and again. I take a Spinning class at least 4 days a week, and I do two of these sessions with Deb's Spin/Kinesis, I down hill ski, enjoy gardening and a good political novel. I am married to the Principle Engineer at Hypertherm and have two beautiful daughters both attending University in Canada.
I have lost a total of 70 pounds and I am up or down 5 pounds because life has its moments. I have changed my life style and have made exercise and eating healthy top priorities.
I am 55 years old and want women and men my age, younger, and older to know that Diabetes is a killer. It wreaks havoc on the Heart, Eyes, and immune system. And frankly, limb amputations are not anything a person should bring on themselves."

Kathleen Danforth

 



Kathleen Danforth

"After smoking for 35 years and trying to quit millions of times, I tried something different and joined UVAC. The instructors cared about my success and helped me tremendously.  I have met a whole new circle if friends.  Uvac is now one of the most important points of my life and this year I am learning to swim laps!"






Would you like to tell us YOUR story?  
Send your before and after photo along with your story to kmacpherson@uvac-swim.org and receive a FREE personal training session. In sending your story and photo, you agree to let us tell others about your accomplishment via print, web or other advertising. Be an inspiration to those who need it most!

My Experience at the Olympic Training Center

By Hannah Cox, UVAC Swim Team 

On Thursday October 24, 2013 Dorsi and I flew out to Colorado Springs for the National Select Camp. After a long flight we finally arrived at the Olympic Training Center. Over the next three days, 31 other girls and I shared tightly packed days filled with meetings, swim practices, and meals. The ten meetings we had were informative and inspirational. We heard from USA swimming coaches about race day execution skills, starts and turns, USADA, nutrition, and from national athlete, Laura Sogar. 

Before and after meetings we had swim practices where we were split up into different groups. I swam with the distance group. The practices were hard but everyone was encouraging and supportive. After practices and before the following meetings, we all headed to the dining hall where we ate delicious food and drank a lot of chocolate milk. During the scheduled events each day I was able to meet a lot of swimmers and start building new friendships with these girls. I am very grateful for the opportunity and how much I was able to learn while at the Olympic Training Center. I am also thankful for my UVAC family, teammates and coaches for all their support.