For most of her life, Denisse Girard Rubio battled with her weight. From growing up in Oahu surrounded by hearty, home-cooked meals to juggling life as a mother of six and grandmother of seven, food had always been at the center of her life.
At one point, she weighed 298 pounds. “I told myself I was not going to reach 300,” she said. “My husband didn’t believe I could do it. But I did.”
Her story is one of perseverance, faith, and the quiet power of deciding that enough is enough. After years of yo-yo dieting, medical setbacks, and emotional loss, Denisse finally found the balance that changed her life for good.
The Turning Point
Denisse had tried to lose weight for more than two decades, attending Weight Watchers meetings on and off and even losing 100 pounds once before. But after her father and mother died unexpectedly, she was very sad.
She remembered, “My weight slowly went back up, and in the end, I gained back the 100 pounds plus more.“
Her doctor soon gave her a wake-up call. She was borderline diabetic and at risk for heart complications. “I was prescribed Ozempic, Jardiance, and Metformin, even though I didn’t have diabetes. I felt so bad taking them because I knew there were people who actually needed those medications.”
After months of discomfort, a new primary care doctor asked a simple question that changed everything: “Why are you on these medications if you’re not diabetic?”
That moment shifted her life. Her doctor told her she could reverse her risk naturally with a strict diet, discipline, and consistency. “She told me it would get worse before it got better.”
Denisse said. “She was right. I gained 20 pounds at first, but I didn’t give up.”
Learning to Heal Without Medication
Denisse embraced her doctor’s advice and built a new routine around food and self-care. “I cut out white carbs and sugar and started eating more vegetables and protein,” she said. “I wasn’t a vegetable eater before, but I made myself learn to love them.”
It wasn’t easy. The cravings, fatigue, and fear were real. But every little victory made her more determined. She drank a lot of water, about 120 ounces a day and stuck to her plan even when it was hard to see any progress.
Over the next year, her hard work began to show. Her A1C levels normalized, her bloodwork came back healthy, and her cardiologist confirmed that a previously clogged artery had cleared. “I even stopped one of my blood pressure medications,” she said.
READ ALSO: Paula’s 170lb Weight Loss Journey: A Life-Changing Transformation
Finding Fabulous50s and Building Strength
Exercise had never been part of Denisse’s routine. “I hated it,” she said. But her daughter, Danilyn, encouraged her to try Fabulous50s workouts on YouTube. “She told me, ‘Mom, go at your own pace.’ So I did. I couldn’t even do five minutes at first, but now I do 15 to 30 minutes of fat burn five days a week and strength training four times a week.”
She started with chair workouts while on breaks at work and slowly built endurance. Even with a bad knee, she kept moving using braces and wraps when needed.
“I’ve lost 15 more inches off my body since adding strength training,” she said. “And I love the balance and brain workouts, they’ve helped me catch myself from falling a few times!”
Today, Denisse gets between 7,000 and 10,000 steps a day. She watches her two-year-old grandson full-time and says the weight loss made that possible. “If I hadn’t lost the weight, I wouldn’t be able to chase him around. Now, I can go on the floor and play with him and get up by myself!”
The Emotional Shift
Denisse admits the journey wasn’t just physical, it was deeply emotional. “My husband didn’t believe in me. He said I could never lose the weight,” she said. “But I showed him.”
She’s been married for 40 years and says her transformation has brought new energy into her life. “He’s supportive now,” she said. “But I did it for me, for my health, for my grandchildren, and for my future.”
Her weekly Weight Watchers meetings continue to keep her accountable. “It helps to be around people who understand the same struggles,” she shared. “They tell me I inspire them and that makes me feel so good. I even tell them about Fabulous50s. I say, you can do sitting exercises too! That’s how I started.”
READ ALSO: A Journey of Strength, Weight Loss, and Love: Debra & Phoebe’s Story
What Keeps Her Going
Now 59, Denisse’s goal is to reach her target weight by her 60th birthday. “God willing,” she said, “I’ll get there.” Her biggest lesson is that it’s never too late to take control.
“I feel better than ever,” she said. “I breathe easier, I move freely, and I’m proud of the way I eat now. Once in a while, I’ll have sugar or carbs, but only on special occasions. Because when I go off too much, I don’t feel good anymore.”
What truly keeps Denisse going is her family. She’s been married for 40 years, with six children, five grandchildren, and two bonus grandchildren. Her home is full of energy and love. “My life has been hard, but I am blessed,” she said. “My children have always supported me. Even my husband didn’t believe I could lose the weight, he told me I’d never do it. But I showed him! He’s supportive now and proud of me.”
For Denisse, this journey is about more than the scale. “I did it for myself and my health,” she said. “I wanted to be able to play with my grandchildren, get on the floor with them, and stand up on my own. And that’s exactly what I can do now.”
Her transformation has given her not just health, but the freedom to live, move, and love without limits.
A New Chapter
Denisse’s story is one of resilience and quiet strength. From the heartbreak of losing her parents to the fear of health decline and the courage to take her life back, she stands as proof that transformation doesn’t require perfection, just persistence.
“I did it for my health and my family,” she said. “I wanted to live long, play with my grandkids, and feel good again. And that’s exactly what I’m doing.”
READ ALSO: Sharon Osbourne’s Weight Loss Journey: What Women Over 50 Can Learn from Her Struggles and Success
Denisse’s Message to Anyone Who Feels Stuck
If you’re feeling stuck or unsure where to begin, Denisse wants you to know that change starts with one small step. “Just do it,” she says. “Start slow and work your way up. You can do it and I’m living proof of that.”
When she began, she could only manage five minutes of seated workouts three times a week. Gradually, she increased to 15, then 20 minutes, and added strength training a few times a week. Today, she trains for 15 to 30 minutes daily, including four to five days of strength work.
Her dedication has paid off. Over the past year, she’s lost another 15 inches from her body and built strength, balance, and confidence. “I love the balance and brain exercises, they’ve helped me so much. I’ve even caught myself from falling a few times!”
For Denisse, fitness is no longer a chore. It’s a joyful part of her life. “These workouts are doable, and there’s something for everyone,” she says. “You go at your own pace, it’s you challenging you. And that’s where the magic happens.”
Denisse’s journey shows what happens when determination meets faith. She’s proof that no matter how long you’ve struggled, you can turn your health around with discipline, self-belief, and love for life. Her story reminds us it’s never too late to start again and thrive.
Struggling with fatigue, stubborn weight gain, or reduced mobility after 50? The Fabulous 14-Day Glow Up Challenge is designed to help you get fit, lose weight, balance hormones and regain your vitality in just 14 days!
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Your Transformation Starts With You
At Fabulous50s, we believe in showing what’s possible when effort meets the right plan. Every result we share is a reflection of commitment, discipline, and consistency—not quick fixes or shortcuts.
| ✅ We celebrate real success. The women you see in our programs didn’t just wish for change, they put in the work, stayed consistent, and earned their results. ✅ We share stories of dedication, not excuses. Progress comes from showing up, following the plan, and making every effort count. ✅ Your journey is your own. No two bodies are the same, and no two transformations will look alike. Your best results will come from what you put in, not from comparing yourself to others. ✅ The effort you invest determines the outcome. Time spent following the plan, consistency in workouts, discipline with nutrition, and a willingness to push through challenges, these are the things that create real change. ✅ Starting from the bottom? That’s an advantage. Women who begin with lower fitness levels often see the most dramatic improvements. The further you have to go, the more rewarding the journey. ✅ We provide the tools, you create the results. A program alone won’t change your life. What makes the difference is your commitment to taking action, step by step, every single day. ✅ We guide you, but you take the steps. We offer expert workouts, structured plans, and motivation to keep you on track. But at the end of the day, your transformation is in your hands. |
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