Family fitness
Natalie Dabney said she was always a “bigger” girl growing up. But after having her first child, her weight rose to 250 pounds.
“My first marriage really affected my self-esteem, and I gained weight during my pregnancy,” Dabney said. “I was in an abusive relationship, and my divorce really took a toll on me.”
When she married Buddy Dabney in June 2005, she began to lose some of the weight. But she tried every diet imaginable, and none seemed to give her results she wanted. One morning, as she put on panty hose before work, she saw the lines and creases they made on her unfit body.
That’s when she decided enough was enough.
She quit her job that day and dedicated her life to making the best life for herself that she could. She joined the Shades Valley YMCA and made it her full-time occupation to transition into a healthier lifestyle, complete with exercise and diet. Since then, thanks to her dedication, she’s lost 120 pounds. Now, she’s helping others dedicate their lives as well.
In 2011, Dabney became an instructor at the YMCA and began teaching at Mommy and Me Time Fitness, a Homewood fitness organization dedicated to introducing and promoting healthy lifestyles to mothers and their children.
“Mommy and Me Time Fitness is a major part of my life. Teaching kids that fitness is healthy and positive is important to start at a young age. I don’t want my children to grow up like I did,” Dabney said.
Mommy and Me Time Fitness offers boot camp, Zumba, Pilates and yoga classes for mothers and their children and allows participants to exercise at their own pace.
Instructors offer high and low impact moves to assist the fitness levels that participants can safely meet.
The main goal of the group is to allow mothers, fathers, grandfathers, grandmothers, singles and children to interact in a positive atmosphere while teaching children and adults that exercising is a positive thing.
“My son Jonathan, who’s 3, and my daughter Julia, who’s 5, come with me to most of my classes, and I enjoy creating a special bond and lifelong memories with them,” Dabney said.
Besides being the main instructor at Mommy and Me Time Fitness alongside owner Stacey Jernigan, Dabney served on the Shades Valley YMCA Board of Directors for the past three years. In addition, she acted as chair for the Strong Kids Campaign.
“The Strong Kids Campaign raises money to help provide funds for underprivileged youth to partake in YMCA services like swimming lessons and childcare,” Dabney said. “We gathered donations from the community and area businesses and truly made a difference in the lives of area youth.”
Looking back on her journey, Dabney reflected on her choice to make a new life for herself and smiled.
“Through the blood, sweat and tears, I made it. By making the decision I made, I gave my children a longer life with their mommy, lost 120 pounds and gave my children an example of how hard work and determination can change lives,” she said.
She advised people looking to lose weight to continue to push through plateaus and to never back down from goals.
“God and exercise changed my life,” said Dabney. “I hope to save a life in my service and ministry and I want people to know that no goal is unreachable with the help of God.”
The Dabney family attends Dawson Church and St. Elias Maronite Church and is active in the Homewood community.
For more information on Mommy and Me Time Fitness, visit mommyandmetime.com or call 356-0374.