cover story capacity . My husband encouraged me to go for it , so I did . Best . Decision . Ever .
As a result of the challenge , I lost 10.74 % body fat in 12 weeks and made some incredible lifestyle changes . Looking back , I would say the key to my success was weight lifting , nutrition , and pure determination . In the past , I avoided weight lifting like the plague because I found it so incredibly boring . After some personal training sessions , and a strong desire to win the contest , I embraced lifting . Now , I love the way it makes me feel and how my body looks different from when just did cardio . What I ate also played a huge role in my loss . I would always loosely follow an eating plan , but once I became diligent about what I ate , the weight just started to fall off . Jen always told me it came down to diet . I love the saying , “ You can ’ t out exercise a bad diet .” There are no truer words ! My desire to win was also a huge factor in my success . I really wanted to win the challenge . It didn ’ t have anything to do with beating anybody else , I just wanted to prove to myself that I could work hard and achieve my goal .
Sometimes I remind myself that how I feel now is worth the effort that goes into planning .
This challenge was also the first time I had tried personal training at HAC . Before , Jen had only trained me for running , at which she was great . She was even there on the day of the Rehoboth Marathon to calm my nerves and cheer me on at the end , running with me for the last half mile until I reached the chute . The first experience I had with actual personal training sessions was at the beginning of the contest . I love it ! The one-on-one attention is unparalleled . She could adapt to my needs at any given session . For example , Jen was able to modify my workouts for a few weeks while I recovered from my back injury .
There were a few times during the challenge that I did feel like giving up because I just wanted to sleep ! For a while , I was doing an early morning workout and coming back in the afternoon to lift and I was tired . My husband , Tom , was an unwavering support for me during the entire contest . He would encourage me to keep going even when I wanted to be lazy . I am now on a more sustainable schedule that fits into my life a little better … and I am still losing weight !
Now that the challenge is over , I do not even feel like the same person . Seriously . My energy level is through the roof . I have not enjoyed shopping for clothes in many years ... now , I love trying on clothes . I also love that I do not feel stuffed and uncomfortable after I eat . I eat to fuel my body , and not to overindulge . Don ’ t get me wrong , I am not 100 % all the time , more like 80-90 % of the time . I still have an unbelievable sweet tooth that I give into occasionally , just not all the time .
The best part is that I am confident that I can maintain my results . I have worked healthy eating and regular exercise into my everyday life . I know that sounds almost cliché , but it is true . It does take effort and planning , though . One thing that has really helped me is making most of my meals every Sunday for the week . Also , working exercise into my schedule like any other appointment is important . Sometimes I remind myself that how I feel now is worth the effort that goes into planning . I am not at my percentage of body fat goal yet , but I know if I keep working hard , I will be there soon . I have the support of my amazing family and my wonderful trainer to help keep me focused !
Suzanne and HAC Personal Trainer , Jen Besten
Suzanne and her supportive family , including husband Tom and children Lily and Gaige enhance magazine | JULY 2016 25