Susan Rubio: Taking Weight Loss One Step at a Time
Susan Rubio's Best Life Stats
Starting date/weight - July 3, 2007 at 156 pounds
Pounds lost - 17
Goal weight - 125
Best Life Status - Phase 3/Activity Level 2
It took a while for the 30 excess pounds to add up on Susan Rubio's 5-foot-1 frame. She had always been an emotional eater, but regular exercise had kept her fairly trim. But when she stopped her formal exercise program about four years ago after she found herself constantly on the road for work, she got caught in the trap of feeling too tired to exercise even though she knew exercising would make her feel less tired! That's when the pounds threatened to become permanent.
After a weekend of watching repeats of The Biggest Loser, the 50-year-old technology manager for a Massachusetts healthcare company had a realization. "I emotionally connected with those contestants, admitting for probably the first time in my life that I ate for all of the wrong reasons. I saw the determination and commitment they had, and I saw no reason why I couldn't do it, too. I should be able to lose 31 pounds!" Susan had heard Bob Greene on XM 156 and saw him on Oprah, so she knew about the Best Life Web site. She decided that this would be the healthiest and best way to achieve her goals.
"When I signed that contract with myself, I knew I had to hold up my end of the bargain." In a little more than four months on the program, Susan has dropped 16 pounds. "It's slow and steady progress, but I remind myself I didn't gain this weight overnight, and I won't lose it that way either."
Becoming a More Mindful Eater
"In the first few weeks I had to think long and hard about what I was eating and why. Once I got used to paying attention to my hunger by using the hunger scale, it was much easier. I also became aware of the emotional 'red flags' that trigger the urge to eat--when I'm overly tired, aggravated or upset. I've spent my entire life acting on these emotions, and I realize it got me nowhere."
A Regular on the Site
Susan logs onto TheBestLife.com daily; she finds it helps keep her accountable. "I enjoy Bob's daily message on the homepage and I use the food log every day, which has been a great help. I especially enjoy monitoring the nutritional information. It's a great checks-and-balances look at the day or week." Although she doesn't specifically follow the menu plan, Susan makes and enjoys many of the recipes. Her favorite Best Life food? Kashi GoLean cereal mix. "I spent the summer hooked on it! I took a large zipped bag with me on many trips this summer."
Susan is also a big fan of the Best Life message boards. "They're a great place to converse with others going through the same things as you. Sometimes I need the pep talk, and other times I am shaking the pom-poms helping my online friends believe in themselves and the goals they are trying to accomplish. We are all in this together."
Working it Out
Susan's exercise program consists of 20 minutes on the elliptical three days a week, and 35 minutes at Curves three days a week. She also wears a pedometer every day to get an idea of the amount of walking she does, and it does vary: "On an average work day I log only about 4,000 to 6,000 steps (I spend a lot of time at my desk at work). But it's not uncommon for me to get in 10,000 steps a day on the weekend, and my high was 14,000. On days when my step numbers are lower and I haven't worked out, I find ways to get in some extra steps, like taking the dogs for a walk. I like wearing the pedometer because it helps me gauge how active I have--or haven't--been during the day. As Bob says, 'Exercise is not an option.'"
Reaping the Rewards
People are starting to notice Susan's weight loss. But, "more importantly, I am responding to myself differently--with the respect I deserve. The best thing about getting my eating under control is how it has changed my attitude about food and exercise," she says. "In the past, I would try to get by on 1,000 calories a day to lose weight. That worked when I was in my 20s, but it does nothing for me now. I understand I need to fuel my body and work out in order to be healthy. I never would have thought I could eat 1500-plus calories a day and lose a pound a week. But I have!"
"Additionally, my exercise routine is not backbreaking or difficult; it's low- to no-impact, and still, the results have been amazing," she says. "I didn't think my metabolism would ever kick into gear. And I've actually got muscle tone again."
Weight-Loss Wisdom
Susan's advice to Best Life members: "Don't give up. Take it one day at a time, and take care of you," she says. "You deserve this--you deserve a Best Life. Consistently meeting my Best Life goals has made me happier, calmer and healthier. Not to mention, I'm now sleeping better. I don't ever want to go back to my old eating habits. It's time to be my 'best'."
www.thebestlife.com
Starting date/weight - July 3, 2007 at 156 pounds
Pounds lost - 17
Goal weight - 125
Best Life Status - Phase 3/Activity Level 2
It took a while for the 30 excess pounds to add up on Susan Rubio's 5-foot-1 frame. She had always been an emotional eater, but regular exercise had kept her fairly trim. But when she stopped her formal exercise program about four years ago after she found herself constantly on the road for work, she got caught in the trap of feeling too tired to exercise even though she knew exercising would make her feel less tired! That's when the pounds threatened to become permanent.
After a weekend of watching repeats of The Biggest Loser, the 50-year-old technology manager for a Massachusetts healthcare company had a realization. "I emotionally connected with those contestants, admitting for probably the first time in my life that I ate for all of the wrong reasons. I saw the determination and commitment they had, and I saw no reason why I couldn't do it, too. I should be able to lose 31 pounds!" Susan had heard Bob Greene on XM 156 and saw him on Oprah, so she knew about the Best Life Web site. She decided that this would be the healthiest and best way to achieve her goals.
"When I signed that contract with myself, I knew I had to hold up my end of the bargain." In a little more than four months on the program, Susan has dropped 16 pounds. "It's slow and steady progress, but I remind myself I didn't gain this weight overnight, and I won't lose it that way either."
Becoming a More Mindful Eater
"In the first few weeks I had to think long and hard about what I was eating and why. Once I got used to paying attention to my hunger by using the hunger scale, it was much easier. I also became aware of the emotional 'red flags' that trigger the urge to eat--when I'm overly tired, aggravated or upset. I've spent my entire life acting on these emotions, and I realize it got me nowhere."
A Regular on the Site
Susan logs onto TheBestLife.com daily; she finds it helps keep her accountable. "I enjoy Bob's daily message on the homepage and I use the food log every day, which has been a great help. I especially enjoy monitoring the nutritional information. It's a great checks-and-balances look at the day or week." Although she doesn't specifically follow the menu plan, Susan makes and enjoys many of the recipes. Her favorite Best Life food? Kashi GoLean cereal mix. "I spent the summer hooked on it! I took a large zipped bag with me on many trips this summer."
Susan is also a big fan of the Best Life message boards. "They're a great place to converse with others going through the same things as you. Sometimes I need the pep talk, and other times I am shaking the pom-poms helping my online friends believe in themselves and the goals they are trying to accomplish. We are all in this together."
Working it Out
Susan's exercise program consists of 20 minutes on the elliptical three days a week, and 35 minutes at Curves three days a week. She also wears a pedometer every day to get an idea of the amount of walking she does, and it does vary: "On an average work day I log only about 4,000 to 6,000 steps (I spend a lot of time at my desk at work). But it's not uncommon for me to get in 10,000 steps a day on the weekend, and my high was 14,000. On days when my step numbers are lower and I haven't worked out, I find ways to get in some extra steps, like taking the dogs for a walk. I like wearing the pedometer because it helps me gauge how active I have--or haven't--been during the day. As Bob says, 'Exercise is not an option.'"
Reaping the Rewards
People are starting to notice Susan's weight loss. But, "more importantly, I am responding to myself differently--with the respect I deserve. The best thing about getting my eating under control is how it has changed my attitude about food and exercise," she says. "In the past, I would try to get by on 1,000 calories a day to lose weight. That worked when I was in my 20s, but it does nothing for me now. I understand I need to fuel my body and work out in order to be healthy. I never would have thought I could eat 1500-plus calories a day and lose a pound a week. But I have!"
"Additionally, my exercise routine is not backbreaking or difficult; it's low- to no-impact, and still, the results have been amazing," she says. "I didn't think my metabolism would ever kick into gear. And I've actually got muscle tone again."
Weight-Loss Wisdom
Susan's advice to Best Life members: "Don't give up. Take it one day at a time, and take care of you," she says. "You deserve this--you deserve a Best Life. Consistently meeting my Best Life goals has made me happier, calmer and healthier. Not to mention, I'm now sleeping better. I don't ever want to go back to my old eating habits. It's time to be my 'best'."
www.thebestlife.com
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