Each week, Healthy Bridgeport features a "Healthy Face." Today, we feature Bridgeport's Dominique Spatafore. Learn about her and her health & fitness journey here:
Hi! First, thank you for choosing me as a “Healthy Face!” Here is a little about me: I am married to Joe Spatafore and we have two children: Trey who is a 5th grader at Johnson Elementary and Luca who is 4 years old and attends Cubby’s Daycare, as well as two dogs: Romee, a Great Pyrenees, and Juliet, a Pomeranian.
I am employed as the Marketing and Community Relations Specialist for the City of Clarksburg. I also serve as Administrator of the non-profit group Clarksburg Uptown, which works to revitalize and promote economic and social potential and growth of Clarksburg. I am a proud member of Clarksburg Kiwanis, Clarksburg League for Service and am a member of the North Central WV Parkinson’s Support Group which was started by my grandfather, Dominick Policano over 25 years ago.
I was born and raised in Clarksburg and currently reside in Bridgeport, so my whole life!
I am an avid walker. I enjoy walking our many parks and trails. You can find me walking the Veterans Park Trail in Clarksburg on my lunch breaks. My goal is 15,000 steps per day. I like listening to Podcasts on my walks. I have to admit my favorite one is “Crime Junkie” (eeks), but I have learned a lot from it in regards to protecting myself and they are quite interesting! My advice is if you are going to listen to a podcast or music, etc., don’t keep it too loud. You want to be cognizant and hear what is going on around you. Safety first.
What is your favorite self-help book? "Welcoming the Unwelcome" by Pema Chodron. I also enjoy listening to her podcasts.
What's your favorite healthy meal? Easy - I love salads: Spring mix, tomatoes, grilled chicken, croutons and peppers. (See left!)
What about your favorite workout? I like to mix it up. In addition to walking, I enjoy HIIT workouts and spinning. Before the pandemic, I attended both Main Street Fitness & Rival and look forward to going back once the pandemic eases up. I have added strength training and Pilates to my routine and have noticed a change in my body since introducing them. I can finally do push-ups off my knees!
What is your favorite motivational quote? I have so many. I actually save them to the “notes” section of my phone when I find one that resonates with me. Here are a few: “The power isn’t out there, it’s in you;" “One of our greatest strengths as humans is that we can change and redirect our thoughts, thereby changing our reality” and finally “When you stop trying to be liked, you magically become more likeable.”
Your health is your greatest wealth. My fitness journey did not begin until approximately 10 years ago, when I was 30. I noticed that so many diseases can be attributed to lifestyle. If you can move a little every day, it improves your mind, body and spirit. Movement really is medicine.