Luz Gonzalez Lost 173 Pounds: ‘My Faith Keeps Me Motivated’
Weight-Loss Win is an original Yahoo series that shares the inspiring stories of people who have shed pounds healthfully.
Luz Gonzalez is 60 and currently weighs 153 pounds. In 2011, after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she decided to lose weight for the sake of her health. This is the story of her weight-loss journey.
The Turning Point
I was always overweight, but it was never due to inactivity. My problem was loving food. If someone is overweight, people assume that they sit around and do nothing all day, but that wasn’t my case. I was fat, but I never let it stop me from swimming, playing basketball with my kids, or dancing. Growing up, I was always active and played sports. Plus, I grew up with 22 male cousins, so I was constantly keeping up with them. Being overweight didn’t cause problems with my self-esteem or my health. In fact, I’ve never had high blood pressure or diabetes.
I do remember my weight seemed to bother others more. A specific incident was when I was riding a crowded bus and was trying to get off at my stop. Someone couldn’t run fast enough to get on the bus and called me “fatso” because he wasn’t able to make it in time because I was trying to leave through the door he was trying to come through.
My turning point was when I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at age 55. I had just graduated law school and sat for the New York bar. I began to notice that I was becoming extremely fatigued and always exhausted, but thought it was due to the pressure of law school, sitting for the bar, and also maintaining a full-time job. I decided to seek medical advice, but ended up being humiliated by five ob-gyn doctors that refused to give me an exam because I was “too fat” — they would go through the motions and make comments as if I were not in the room. “She’s way too fat to do this right” was something I heard constantly. So, after five humiliating experiences, I did not attempt to get an internal exam.
At age 55, I had not had a Pap smear in about six years. I had developed gallstones and found myself at Pocono Medical Center, where I finally found a respectful doctor. After surgery, the doctor advised that I see a gynecologist and referred me to an incredible woman, who diagnosed the reason for my exhaustion and “just not feeling right.” Although it was painful to hear, she informed me that I was lucky to have listened to my body because they were able to catch my ovarian cancer at an early stage (stage I), and we were able to start treatment immediately.
The weight loss didn’t come necessarily as a choice at first, but rather the weight started to drop as a result of the chemo treatment. I took that moment to review my life and decided to join the Retro Fitness club in my office building in Manhattan. I started to enjoy how I looked and the way it felt to be lighter. Especially because I was fighting to stay alive, I wanted to feel in control of something again. Once I started working out, I realized how much healthier I was becoming. I was getting older, and I just wanted to be healthy. I was always a clothes horse, but suddenly, choices were more abundant. Clothes became cheaper, and it felt good to be able to shop again.
The Changes
I knew I had to join a gym. My sons both played sports in school, so I had a whole in-house gym, but I knew I wasn’t disciplined enough to head to the basement every day. I needed to pay for it, because when you invest your money, you force yourself to see that investment through. At first I was just using the machines randomly but really didn’t know what I was doing. I decided to hire a personal trainer, and that’s when I began working with Jonathan Bonilla at Retro Fitness. He is exceptional!
Before we started training, we sat down and had a discussion about my health and fitness goals. He quickly saw that I was capable of doing more than one would expect from someone of my size, and pushed me to work harder. At the same time, I was challenging myself and would often ask him if we could do more — like increase the weight on the next set of reps. I liked the idea that I was in control of something going on with my body.
One of the things that really impressed me with Jonathan was that he took the time to listen to me. He was there when I would get sick while working out, and proactively began reading up on chemo treatment and the effects it has on the body. He made it his business to learn what was going on with my body and what I was going through. He was just as committed as I was.
Food was difficult to handle because I had no appetite. I needed to learn how to eat better, but also had to make sure I was eating enough to handle the stresses of working out and chemo. My doctor was totally against me working out while on chemo, but she could tell that I was a bit stubborn. We made a deal — I would continue to listen to my body, not overexert myself, and take time off if I became exhausted. Quite frankly, except for a couple of “sick” mornings, I felt energized. I continued to struggle with eating, but a good friend of mine introduced me to fruit and veggie smoothies (before they became a trend), and that became my go-to meal. My trainer got me hooked on a peanut-butter-smoothie protein shake. To this day, this is my go-to breakfast: premium protein powder, low-fat Greek yogurt, and a tablespoon of peanut butter with some fruits and/or veggies.
Working out during my chemo treatments was a challenge. In the middle of a few training sessions, Jonathan could tell that I was getting sick and would stop the workout and walk with me as I ran to the bathroom. Afterward, he would ask how I was feeling and have a cold towel ready for me. Once I got myself together, he would always ask, “Are we done, or do you have a little more in you?” Inevitably, he knew my answer was always “Let’s go.” I can’t really say my energy level changed, because I was always active, but faith is probably what kept me focused and strong — faith and my husband. Everyone who knows me will tell you I’m a fighter — it’s just a part of who I am. It’s my character. It was never in my plans to give up. My faith allowed me to surrender everything to God and put my faith in my nurses and doctor. I just asked that they be guided by Him. I knew this was something I had no control over and had to learn to put my faith to work. Of course, there were steps I made on my own to make myself stronger, but I learned to let others around me help and take care of me when I was too weak.
The After
I didn’t really recognize that I had lost so much weight, but everyone else did. It hit me when I reached the 100-pound weight-loss mark and realized how far I’d come. While my knees sometimes bother me from carrying so much weight all those years, I’ve never let it stop me from accomplishing specific goals and accepting more physical challenges. The first fitness challenge I tackled was the Avon 2015 walk, where I completed 39.3 miles over two days. This year, I am walking again and hope to beat my time. Most recently, I finished a 5K for the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition, which I completed in 27.8 minutes! That would’ve been impossible for the old me to accomplish.
What surprised me the most was how much people thought I had changed. No matter how much weight I lose, I’m still the same person I’ve always been. I’m just healthier.
The Maintenance
Breakfast is always the same protein shake: premium protein powder, low-fat Greek yogurt, fruit, and a tablespoon of peanut butter. I eat to fuel my body, rather than just blindly eating like I did in the past. My stomach has shrunk a lot with my transformation. Instead of three hefty meals daily, I have eight or nine smaller meals throughout the day.
I continue to make time for myself and work out six days a week. I always make time for cardio no matter the type — it can be spinning, the rower, swimming, or circuit training. I begin my day with a morning stretch and add in my first set of planks — all before I even brush my teeth. I recently discovered Pilates, and I love it.
My faith keeps me motivated. Everyone has a mission in life. Through my journey, I’ve come to see that mine is to help other women become advocates for themselves. You have to know your body, take care of it, and stick up for it when no one else will. I wouldn’t have gotten the help I needed if I let the five doctors that turned me down for an exam discourage my spirit. I knew something was wrong with my body, and I kept after it.
Because of my experience, I opted to pursue an LLM [master of laws] in health care law and policy so that I can help set standards of ethics. No one should be shamed from getting an exam that they know is necessary. Furthermore, no one should be shamed out of taking care of themselves. I want to make sure that no other woman gets turned down for being overweight.
Not many people know about ovarian cancer, so I’ve been attending events and sharing my story to help educate others. So many people have approached me and told me that because of my story they have started to work out and have taken serious steps toward a healthier life. Seeing the impact my story has made on others is very fulfilling. For instance, I recently attended a Pink and Teal event for ovarian cancer. It focused on celebrating life and was comprised of many survivors, myself included, as well as women who were recently diagnosed or in the middle of their fight. After the event, several women reached out to me — their husbands included — seeking hope and encouragement on their journey ahead. I always make time for others. Hope is what people need in order to look ahead and keep fighting.
The Struggles
I never have enough time. Between my job (which is very demanding), the master’s program in law, and balancing my health and family, I’m always wishing for more time. My day begins at 3 a.m. and ends at 11 p.m. My husband always jokes that if there were more hours in the day, my days would start earlier and end later.
Advice
You can’t really give anyone advice. Each person has their individual “why” or motivating factor that they hang on to. What triggers one person might not trigger another. You have to want to do it for yourself. Everyone knows what to do to lose weight — work out, eat well — but unless you are committed to making a change, no one can really motivate you. Something has to happen internally. No one can do it for you. You need to love yourself enough to know it is up to you to make it happen.
Need more inspiration? Read about our other weight-loss winners!
Weight-Loss Win is authored by Andie Mitchell, who underwent a transformative 135-pound weight loss of her own.
Have a weight loss or beauty story you’d like to share with us? We want to hear it! Email [email protected].
