A year ago, stepping into the weight room felt intimidating for Lexington Middle School teacher and coach Kasey Lamborn. Like many people beginning a fitness journey, she wasn’t sure how to use the equipment or where to start. In August 2025, Kasey signed up for the Orthman Community YMCA’s Women & Weights class, hoping to remove the excuses that had kept her from the gym. “If I’m honest,” Kasey shared, “signing up for Women & Weights was my way of eliminating excuses to avoid the gym.” What she found was more than an introduction to strength training—it was the beginning of a journey marked by confidence, consistency, and the discovery of the power of simply showing up.
Finding confidence in the weight room
Kasey serves the Lexington Middle School as an 8th-grade Social Studies teacher. At the Middle School, she is also a member of the CORE technology team, assisting with technology-based professional development, and a member of the PIBS team, creating a predictable, safe, and positive school environment. Outside of school hours, Kasey stays active in the community as a youth sports coach for 12U and 18U softball, 8th-grade girls volleyball, and 8th-grade girls basketball.
Despite helping and leading others, Kasey still faced uncertainty about beginning her own wellness journey. Kasey shares, “It can be overwhelming to start, especially when you are unfamiliar with the equipment and unsure of what workouts to do.” Although hesitant, the Women & Weights class at the YMCA provided the structure and support she needed to take that first step. “Joining the Women & Weights class was the best decision I could have made for myself,” Kasey explains. “It gave me the ultimate confidence to show up every day and give it my all.”
THE POWER OF SMALL WINS
For Kasey, confidence didn’t appear overnight; it was built one workout and one small victory at a time. The process wasn’t always easy, but Kasey learned that progress comes through consistency and patience. “When it comes to staying committed, what has helped me the most is learning to be proud of myself for the little things,” says Kasey. Terri Burch, YMCA Health & Wellness Director and instructor of the class, was impressed with Kasey’s dedication. “After taking the Women & Weights class, Kasey took the information that was taught and continued to come and work out consistently at the Y,” Terri says.
Beyond consistency, Kasey has learned the importance of adjusting her expectations and appreciating every step of the journey. She shares, “Weight loss doesn’t happen overnight. You have to be realistic and prepare to wait months, if not years, to see those major changes.” To help along the way, Kasey says, “My biggest advice is to celebrate the small victories—even if it’s simply showing up and trying your best.” Over time, those small victories added up to something much bigger than Kasey could have imagined.
SHOWING UP FOR HERSELF—AND OTHERS
As the small victories accumulated, Kasey discovered that the benefits of her wellness journey extended far beyond the weight room. Her consistency not only made her stronger physically but also strengthened her confidence and relationships with others. “If you had told me a year ago that I would be down 40 pounds and coaching multiple youth sports teams, I would have laughed in your face,” Kasey commented. “But showing up for myself has made it that much easier to show up for others.”
Along the way, Kasey also found something she hadn’t expected—a community of encouragement at the YMCA. She states, “Coming to the YMCA has also built a beautiful support system of people who continuously encourage and celebrate me. Knowing I have so many amazing staff and community members in my corner makes it much easier to tackle the difficult things life throws my way.”
Terri has watched Kasey’s confidence grow as she has moved beyond the basics, becoming comfortable with more advanced, muscle-specific lifts and fearless in spaces that can often feel intimidating to women. She comments, “Often, women are intimidated to be in the free weights area, but not Kasey, or at least not anymore.”
Kasey’s story is a reminder that wellness journeys aren’t defined by perfection or overnight transformations. They are built through courage, consistency, and celebrating the small wins along the way. Her advice for anyone who feels nervous about taking that first step is simple: “Just do it!” She encourages, “I promise you, the majority of the people in the classes are feeling the same way you are. Everyone starts somewhere, and the community you find here at the YMCA will lift you up rather than judge you.” For Kasey, that first step into Women & Weights class led to far more than a fitness routine. It led to confidence, community, and the realization that sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply show up.