Her weight has been a life-long challenge for Maria Ruby Rodriguez-Aquino, but rather than let it hold her back, the bubbly 43-year-old decided to celebrate her look in her chosen profession of actress and TV host. "I made money out of it because I looked different from all the other TV hosts out there," she says. "I used it as my ticket for getting jobs when I was younger."
Growing trouble
In recent years though, mum-of-two Ruby says that her weight has started to trouble her more and more. "My greatest fear has always been losing a dear one,” says Ruby, “but because of my heavy weight, it has been playing on my mind that perhaps it is more likely that I will be the one that leaves my loved ones early."
Ruby says that her weight has been affecting her career lately too saying, "Because I work in the entertainment industry, I am sometimes asked to take part in dance formations. This involves wearing some sexy-looking outfits and I often feel embarrassed.
“I know that my kids and my husband love me, but some of my friends tease me about my size and all I can do is smile even though it hurts me.” To try and lose weight, Ruby auditioned for The Biggest Loser Asia. After missing out on being selected as one of the final 16 contestants, she signed up with The Biggest Loser Club Asia and has already seen great results.
Getting with the plan
Prior to her eating and exercise plan, Ruby would regularly skip meals. Her busy schedule of rehearsing and filming involves long working hours and Ruby routinely ate nothing for the entire 12 hours that she was at work. She would then finish the day with a huge meal. Ruby says, "I love rice and traditional Philippine-style foods and some of the dishes are really oily. I enjoy vegetables, which I know are good for me, but I used to eat tons of them and everything was drowned in oily shrimp paste and other fatty flavourings.”
But no more, because soon after exploring The Club and getting to know her individual plan, Ruby realised how much damage her meal skipping was doing. She downsized her portion sizes and now eats regularly. Ruby says, "I put everything into my online diary. I have always known that I am a stress eater as I find comfort with food. Now I am with The Club I know that even if I crave a particular food I can have it, but I do make sure that the portions are kept under control.”
Plus with three meals per day and two or three snacks daily, Ruby doesn’t feel over hungry and this helps her to stay in control; she no longer feels weakened by her willpower.
New to exercise
Before following her Club plan Ruby didn’t exercise at all, but this is another part of her life that has changed hugely. She works out regularly at her local gym and a session typically comprises of circuit and cross training. Ruby reveals, “Group exercises are great and my favourite is Body Jam, a kind of dance workout. I even did a two hour session recently and it was awesome!
“Exercising is such a fun part of my life; it gives me energy and I don't feel tired physically or mentally. I feel so much better about the way I look and how I carry myself. Right now, I am enjoying the challenge and the rewards that my Club plan is bringing me.”
Already 10kg down
Ruby started her Club challenge at 96.3kg; she has already lost 10.4kg and now weighs in at 85.9kg. Her starting successes are just the beginning of the story for Ruby, though. She explains, “I am determined to prove people wrong about me. I can succeed at this challenge and I will show them. My family love the way I look now and even my work friends are noticing the changes – one guy actually recommended that another colleague start following what he called ‘Ruby’s diet’.”