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
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.
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 ex \�Y[��B�HY�]X�X[\��ۘ[�Z[�[���\��[ۜ�\�]H�Y�[��[��وH�\��HݙB�]HHۙK[ۋ[ۙH][�[ۈ\�[�\�[[Y���H��[Y\�^H�YY�][�H�]�[���\��[ۋ��܈^[\K�[��\�X�H�[�Y�B�^H�ܚ��]��܈H�]��YZ���[HH�X�ݙ\�Y���H^H�X��[��\�K�����Y][Y\�H�[Z[��^\�[�]��H�Y[����\��ܝHY��ܝ�]��\�[��[��[�˂��\�H�\�HH�]�[Y\�\�[��H�[[��H]HY�Y[Z�H�]�[��\�X�]\�HB��\��[�Y��Y\H�܈H�[KH�\��[�[�X\�H[ܛ�[���ܚ��][���Z[���X�[�HY�\���ۈ�Y�[�H�\�\�Y�^H\ؘ[��K�\�[�[��]�\�[���\ܝ�܂�YH\�[��H[�\�H�\��H��[�[���\�Y�HYH��Y\��[��]�[��B��[�H�[�Y��H^�K�H[H��B�ۈH[ܙH�\�Z[�X�H��Y[B�BB�]�]�[��^HY�HH]B�BB��]\��)�[�H[H�[�BB���[���ZY�B���^�[��B�[�P\��ۘ[�Z[�\���[��\�[������]H�[[��H\�ݙ\�H����]�[��Y[Z�HH�[YH\��ۋ��\�[�\�K�^B�[�\��H]�[\���Y�H��ً�H]�H���[���YY��[���܈��\�[�X[�HYX\�ˋ������HݙH�Z[��ۈ��\ˈH[��ݙH]B�����Y[�Y��Y[�[���Y�ܝX�HY�\�B�X]�HX]��Y[^H��K[����ݙ\�[�[�K�۸�&]�]YHܛۙ�H[H��L H[�H[YK[ܙHZ�HNL HوH[YK�H�[�]�H[�[��[Y]�X�H��Y]��]H�]�B�[�����\�[ۘ[K�\���[H[YK��H�\�\�\�]H[H�ۙ�Y[�]�H�[�XZ[�Z[�^H�\�[ˈH]�H�ܚ�Y�X[HX][��[��Y�[\�^\��\�H[��^B�]�\�Y^HY�K�Hۛ��]��[��[[����X�0�K�]]\��YK�]�\�Z�HY��ܝ[��[��[���Y��ۙH[��]\��X[B�[YYH\�XZ�[��[��و^HYX[�]�\�B��[�^H�܈H�YZˈ[���ܚ�[��^\��\�B�[��^H��Y[HZ�H[�H�\�\�[�Y[��\�[\ܝ[����Y][Y\�H�[Z[�^\�[�]���H�Y[���\��ܝHY��ܝ]��\[��[��[�ˈH[H��]^H\��[�Y�Hق���H�]��[Y]�]Hۛ��Y�H�Y\�ܚ�[�\�H�[�H\�H��ۋ�H]�HH�\ܝ�و^H[X^�[���[Z[H[�^H�ۙ\��[��Z[�\��[�Y\YH���\�YB���^�[��H[��\��\ܝ]�B��[Z[K[��Y[�\ؘ[��H[���[�[�[B�[��ZY�B�[�[��HXY�^�[�H�SH�M����B��