RP:  What specific aspects of your life, or your lifestyle do you want to change to reach your goal?

Ruby:  I am going to have to change the way I eat, I am going to have to exercise more and change the way I even think!  I am really still learning all of this.  But, this time, I am going to the experts and letting them tell me how to do all of this so I can learn and everyone else can learn along with me!

RP:  What is your support system? Who is in it?

Ruby:  My support system consists of my family and friends, my family doctor, an expert on obesity, my trainer, nutritionist, therapist and my new family at The Style Network and GRP productions.  

RP:  What’s the link between God and this journey?

Ruby:  God has always been on my journey but this is about bringing everything together and examining those parts of my life, all the parts of my life, including the spiritual …

RP:  How is your diet and new lifestyle a spiritual journey? 

Ruby:  Because I could never do this without God and the prayers of my family and friends.  I have to get control spiritually of what has taken control of me. Only God truly knows my heart soul and mind.  He is the only one who truly can direct me on my journey and bring the right people into my life.

RP:  How have you experienced God in your life?

Ruby:  I am still alive and that I can even get around; that I am here; I have not died and the power of God, faith in God, I cannot explain it… God is for real. There is a God. Because of God I have the strength never to give up.

RP:  How do you get your body to go with your spirit?

Ruby:  A great question. I think what I am finding is that my spirit wants this change so much; it is about discipline. On this road I am finding out for the first time how to make the body and spirit meet; the hardest thing to do. Like Paul says in Romans 7:24:  “Christ acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind but I am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.” (The Bible in Contemporary Language, Peterson.) The very thing I want in life is the very thing I stop myself from having because I can’t get control of it; I have to find a way for the spirit to lead the body. This is the why of the television show.

RP:  How would you articulate your end goal of this journey?

Ruby:  This life that I have is not the dream I had for my life.  I love being outside, you’ll see this in the television show, I want to ride a bike, to sit on the ground, to take a bubble bath. So my end goal of this journey is to beat the beast once and for all!  And, to be able to look someone else in the eye and say "You can do it!!"

RP:  How do you see yourself a year from now? 

Ruby:  Stronger and healthier and doing things I never ever have before.  And my biggest dream is helping many others cross over to a healthy lifestyle.  We will all be on this journey and we will be winners.

RP:  Finally, what would be the one thing you would share with others in the faith community who are challenged with weight problems? 

Ruby:  Do not give up no matter what.  Trust God and believe again in the impossible.  And no matter how many times you have failed, start over and try again.  Live your life! Go out and enjoy times with your family and friends.  Have people pray with you.  Do not stay alone and do not keep your addiction to yourself because that is when it becomes bigger and controls you! No matter what, there are people out there that care.  Do not let your obesity or whatever you battle with define who you are.


An online microsite, www.mystyle.com/ruby will follow Ruby’s journey with blogs and vlogs (video blogs).  You can also visit www.Rubysjourney.com.