Personal Success Stories

Patricia Martinez, Pueblo of Laguna

In 2014, I was working with the Pueblo of Laguna Public Library as a library aide. I was suffering from health issues–being overweight, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, hypothyroid, stress, anxiety, panic attacks–and my lab results were not good. My doctor advised me to start exercising and to see a nutritionist. The doctor told me, "When I see you at your next appointment, and everything is still the same or higher, I will be placing you on medication." In 2014, I was not only going through health issues, but I let life get the best of me. I was going through a divorce, and I found myself hurt, mad, depressed, and eating for comfort. I was practically eating my feelings. I stopped at fast-food places, bought chips and candy, and drank sweet tea and regular soda.

I went back to work at the library and decided I can do this. Don't carry cash, so you won't buy from vendors, eat when you're happy, start taking walks, get involved at the gym, eat right, and avoid fast food. I went from size 24 to 12. My highest weight was 230lbs, and I got down to 180lbs. I also started talking about my issues and joined a small group. In 2015, I decided to leave my job at the library. I was so sad, but I needed to find myself, because I had children and they didn't need a broken mom. I needed to fix myself.

In 2018, I thought I just had a bad sore throat, but I didn't have normal symptoms; it affected my stomach, as if I'd eaten something bad. I went to urgent care, and they did an EKG on my heart, and rushed me to downtown Presbyterian in Albuquerque, NM. I suffered a rare heart condition, myocarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle. If I had gone another day, I would have had a heart attack or worse. I had to stay in the hospital for a week. During this time, I gained water weight. I went from size 12 to 16, 180lbs to 205lbs. My weight went back up, but I was feeling good.

In late 2018, I decided to return to working with the Pueblo of Laguna as a receptionist on-call. It was a foot in the door. In 2019, I worked in various departments and became a mail clerk. I started delivering the mail to the local sports and wellness center. I was interested in what they were doing and started asking questions about working in their department. They advised me that I need to get certified as a personal trainer. I was determined to get into this field, and I began to really exercise, but things were different. My weight was 205lbs, and I lost 15lbs. In 2020, with strength and determination, I was hired in the Sports and Wellness Department as a Wellness Coordinator and have coordinated ten wellness challenges, 20 walks and runs, and collaborated with other departments such as the health center, local schools, and the senior center.

— Patricia Martinez is from the Pueblo of Laguna and works with her local sports and wellness department as a certified personal trainer, medical conditions and exercise coach, nutrition coach, and youth mental health first aide trainer. She was awarded first place in the 2025 American Heart Association New Mexico Go Red for Women Red Dress Award.