In July 2023, Blanca Manzo found herself on the sidelines during a family vacation to Cancun, unable to participate in most activities because she was out of shape. At 46, with a busy career at the Jesus Tena law firm and four grown children, she realized it was time for a change.

“I was totally out of shape,” Blanca said. “When I got back, a good friend, Maria, encouraged me to be faithful to working out at the YMCA, so I did.”

Blanca started going to the Orthman Community YMCA by herself and sometimes with Maria. Before long, her daughter, niece, son, and a friend joined in.

“It was just so cool that everyone would show up,” Blanca said. “We all started working out together, sharing supplements, protein, and pre-workout. If we were going to do this, we were going to do it right.”

She and her workout crew — her niece Pricila, her son Max, her daughter Karina, and a friend, Diego — trained together at 5:30 a.m. five days a week for an hour. They start with 15 minutes on the treadmill followed by weight-lifting.

Over the course of the year, Blanca stayed committed to her new fitness routine, lifting weights and following Pricila’s coaching advice (she is studying at UNL with a minor in coaching). The group’s dedication paid off, and by the time their next family vacation rolled around in August 2024, Blanca was ready for adventure.

“We went back to Cancun, and this time, I wasn’t on the sidelines,” she said. “I got to do all the activities I couldn’t do last year. I swam a mile in the open ocean, played water volleyball, and took aquatic fitness classes. Last year, I just sat by the pool all day long. This year, I was able to be part of everything.”

Blanca’s family explored parks like Xcaret, where they swam with sharks and took on new adventures every day.

“I didn’t stay behind this time—except for the shark swimming!” she laughed.

With her workouts during the past year, Blanca lost 47 pounds and noticed how much her everyday life had improved.

“I can tie my shoes now, do stretches, and go up the stairs without feeling like I’m going to pass out,” she said. “I feel good.”

Blanca credits much of her success to consistency.

“It wasn’t easy to start,” she said. “I quit a lot of times in my life. But I learned it’s not about how much weight you lose, it’s about consistency. I had to figure that out on my own.”

They’ve adopted a mantra to keep each other motivated: “Just remember where you came from. You don’t want to go back and start all over.”

While her son and niece are back in college, they continue to hold each other accountable by sending workout videos and encouraging messages.

Blanca also changed her eating habits, cutting out fast food and embracing portion control.

“I started cooking at home, and now I eat everything I like, just in moderation,” she said. “Before, I was eating out all the time — something fast, something quick, especially the $7.99 pizza. But I learned that pizza in the middle of the night is not worth it. We don’t need it.”

Throughout her journey, Blanca found support not only from her family and friends but also from the YMCA. She credits Linda, the early morning front desk worker, for always greeting them with a smile.

“She makes it awesome to come in every morning,” Blanca said. “We just love her.”

Now, Blanca feels more energized and stronger than ever.

“It’s been life-changing, honestly,” she said. “I can do the simple things in life that I couldn’t before.”