Suzy went from traveling the world to connecting to it virtually

Suzy and her husband were poised for a year of traveling Europe and Africa in 2020. They had donated all their things, sold their cars, and gave up their apartment before heading to Morocco to begin their year-long journey. Only six weeks into their trip, COVID-19 started to take hold, forcing them to quickly adapt.

The couple almost got trapped in Spain as flights to the US were being canceled. They managed to get a flight to the UK just in time to catch one of the last flights back to the US before almost all air traffic stopped in March.

“It was crazy coming back to the Houston area not having a place to live in the middle of the pandemic. And we couldn’t stay with family or friends because we didn’t know if we were carriers. Thankfully former neighbors offered us their home since they were gone for a while. We were able to quarantine there until we could get our own. It was a bit like living Survivor and The Amazing Race all in one. We were just one step ahead of this ‘avalanche!’”

When Suzy isn’t traveling or in a GetSetUp class, she volunteers at a local community center teaching computer skills. Despite using a Mac at home, she teaches on PCs, demonstrating her adaptability and commitment to helping others. Recently, she assisted a young family who lost everything in a home fire, coordinating with friends to furnish their new home and provide essential supplies.

“It’s good to have good friends who are willing to help!”

Suzy, a retired corporate professional, has always been an avid traveler and learner. Her corporate travel routine contributed to weight gain due to the unhealthy food options available.

“I think I’ve flown more than some flight attendants. When you eat out on business every week your weight balloons. No matter how good you are trying to be, you are going to gain weight because restaurants use a lot of salt, sugar, and fat. No matter what I did I couldn’t lose weight. I probably put on more weight than I should have but I never had a weight problem until I hit a certain age. And every time we go on a vacation of course we eat and drink. Then I feel guilty I put on weight. In the pandemic I thought maybe this is a time we focus on our health, eating right, and exercise.”

Health and Wellness Benefits

During the pandemic, Suzy and her husband focused on improving their health by adding more vegetables to their diet and exercising. This commitment led to Suzy losing 25 pounds. Inspired by her success, she now leads the Ambassador Led Discussion Interest Group: Stay Fit & Trim and Lose Weight.

“I discovered GetSetUp through our church when the pandemic hit. I didn’t know about Zoom before that. Our church had a Zoom class and it was Wade who taught it. He talked about GetSetUp, so a few weeks after I checked it out. GetSetUp has a lot of good stuff on a variety of topics. Anyone can go on and find something that appeals to them!”

Suzy first sparked her interest in health after watching “Code Blue” and “Forks Over Knives.” Her doctor had recommended cholesterol meds prior to their trip, and while the meds helped, she wanted to manage her health naturally. The pandemic provided an opportunity to focus on her health, resulting in a significant drop in her cholesterol levels and weight loss.

“It’s amazing what my health journey has done. My energy levels are back to where they had always been in the past. So I wanted to give back through the GetSetUp Ambassador program. It’s right up my alley to talk about my journey.”

Digital Literacy Benefits

Suzy started by taking tech classes with Wade and some of Scott’s photography classes, which enhanced her digital literacy. She also enjoyed Donna’s classes on travel and museum tours and Deb’s cooking classes.

“I like being a life learner. I’m always curious and learning something new is always a good thing. Plus the instructors are marvelous. Even the people attending the classes you learn from them too! People are sharing ideas and stories. It’s a good way to share and learn.”

Sharing and Community

At Suzy’s first Ambassador Led Interest group: Stay Fit & Trim and Lose Weight, 28 people signed up. The group discussed weight loss components and planned to focus on SMART goals and motivation in future sessions.

“Motivation was part of my problem for a long time. I just didn’t have the mindset to do it. I didn’t want to give up wine, either.”

Suzy used Cronometer to track her diet, consulted a nutritionist, and discovered several food sensitivities that impacted her health. This holistic approach to her diet and exercise helped her achieve her health goals.

Suzy strives to make the Stay Fit & Trim and Lose Weight group proactive, setting weekly challenges to encourage continuous progress towards personal health goals.

“I tried other classes and I like GetSetUp best because they have many classes and a large variety of topics. GetSetUp instructors are superb which makes these classes a great experience. For instance, Wade teaches technology classes where everyone can understand it and, at the same time, keep the interest of those who are at a higher level.”

Suzy enjoys Deb’s cooking classes and appreciates the sense of community and shared learning experiences on the platform.

“When I talk to people about GetSetUp I ask, ‘Do you like to continue to learn things?’ Most people say yes. So I explain that GetSetUp is a great way to learn things and meet new people. Lots of people are single, some have lost spouses, and are maybe lonely. This is a great way to meet people. You see some of the same people in classes and the same instructors, so you naturally develop a relationship over Zoom.”

Join Suzy and other engaged learners in interest groups like hers to spark your passion and achieve your goals!