She Created Her Own Treadmill Workout for Weight Loss—and Lost 270 Pounds at Home
Susanna went from a size 30 to a size 0 without crash diets or grueling gym routines
Key Takeaways
- Daily treadmill walks helped Susanna lose 270 pounds from home naturally.
- Treadmill walking workouts are a powerful tool that can include speed changes and inclines.
- Small daily habits like morning walks can lead to life-changing health benefits.
Susanna Takacs had tried everything to lose weight—diets, gastric bypass surgery, endless yo-yo cycles that left her feeling defeated. But at 50, she discovered something that finally worked: using a simple treadmill in her own home. Walking just one hour every morning, she lost an incredible 270 pounds and learned to love herself again. “I had butterflies—like I felt when I fell in love with my husband.” If you’ve been searching for a weight-loss solution that feels doable, Susanna’s inspiring at-home journey proves that consistency and self-compassion can change everything. Here’s how she used treadmill workouts for weight loss—and how you can too.”
How Susanna got started with treadmill workouts for weight loss
Susanna was bullied for her weight since childhood. In 2003, she even underwent gastric bypass surgery, but it didn’t work long term. She got pregnant with her third child and life happened: divorce, going back to school, remarriage. “The weight was spiraling up again and I was terrified.”
In March 2020, Susanna made the decision to take her life back. She’d always struggled with consistency, made excuses and easily gave up. This time, she said, “I needed to be ready.” Without a coach, she became “the Googling queen, asking lots of questions.” One of her initial searches was simple: “How do you lose 200 pounds?” One answer: consistent walking. But where and how to do it? That’s when Susanna had her breakthrough.
Woman's World Answers
Why treadmill workouts changed everything
Instead of relying on a gym or out in public—where she felt judged by others—Susanna bought a NordicTrack treadmill to use at home. “It was hard. I had no desire to work out, but I started.” On the plus side, she recalls, “No one was watching me walk on my treadmill at home.”
With the “where” question answered—at home, in private—Susanna had to decide “when” to schedule her treadmill workouts into her daily routine. She set a goal to walk first thing in the morning. “I always hated that feeling, always hovering over me all day, that I’d need to exercise after work.” This time around, she woke up early, sometimes as early as 4:30 AM, to walk at home. “It jump-started my morning,” she found. “It became an important part of maintaining both my physical and mental strength.”
Having a treadmill at home became a game-changer for Susanna. It helped her:
- Work out without feeling judged or anxious
- Build a sustainable, convenient morning routine she could stick with
- Exercise in the comfort and privacy of her own space
4 tips that helped her lose weight during her treadmill workouts
Check out Susanna’s insider advice for successful weight loss during treadmill workouts:
Stay inspired—consistency beats intensity
Susanna started doing simple walking sessions at a low pace to jumpstart her calorie burn. As her mobility and fitness level improved, she used the iFit app to stream workout videos. (She paid around $15 a month.) Trainers guided her through routines, sometimes using inclines or walk/jog intervals to get her heart rate up. Other times she followed walking tours of locations around the world. Her goal: 10,000 steps daily. Making steady progress, the miles racked up and the pounds melted. The walking workouts changed slightly from day to day, but one thing that never changed: “I walked one hour every day!”
Tune into (and celebrate) your body’s changes
Susanna quickly saw and felt differences in her body. She even lost 12 pounds in one month. But something beyond the scale was happening: It was a deep intuition that she was on the right path. She says, “I didn’t just lose the weight; I learned to live in this body after a lifetime of struggle.”
Keep moving forward with encouraging nudges
“Part of what kept me grounded, motivated and truly dedicated were small reminders—whether it was iFit acknowledging my progress or my Apple Watch nudging me to keep moving. They were quiet affirmations that the work was adding up, even on days when it didn’t always feel that way.” Here’s more encouragement to keep moving: Women who walk have a 49 percent lower risk of death than inactive women, finds a study in PLOS Medicine.
Fuel walking workouts with energizing meals
Susanna found her eating rhythm, too, by following a moderate (not strict) keto lifestyle. She repeated the same meals, like Wasa crackers with avocado and chicken salad, turkey burgers and air fryer tilapia with Brussels sprouts. She also practiced intermittent fasting between 8 PM and noon the next day. Much like her treadmill workouts, eating on a set routine made things simpler.
Susanna’s dedication to treadmill workouts transformed her life
A consistent fitness routine literally reshaped Susanna’s body. In all, she lost 27 belly inches and 270 pounds. Last year she burned 173,343 calories while walking 1,460 miles. But the numbers only tell part of the story. The change in her strength and mobility is “truly life-changing.” She says, “I feel significantly more energized and more capable in ways I never thought possible!”
Now, when Susanna sees her reflection in a storefront window, she’s stunned it’s really her. But she has deep gratitude for her younger self, who struggled for so many years with diets and bullies. “I had to love myself. I’m learning that now,” she says. “That person got me to where I am today.” Her advice to other women looking to lose weight: “Don’t ever be ashamed. You can be strong enough to change your life!”
Ready to start your own treadmill workout for weight loss? Here’s how
Susanna shares this insider advice:
• Start slow: Susanna walked steadily, working up to 4+ miles per hour.
• Boost incline: As her stamina grew, she gradually increased the incline—between 8 and 12 degrees—for an added challenge.
• Try intervals: For heart health, she added short jogs to her routine, running for 1 minute, then walking for a few. Brisk walking can work, too, if you’re not ready for jogging yet.
• Entertain yourself: When walking on a treadmill, Susanna watched TV. “It kept my mind engaged and made the time go by much faster, which helped with consistency.”
• Use music: When walking outside, she listened to her favorite country music tunes. “It kept me relaxed, motivated and in a positive mindset.”
• Try fasted walks: She walked on an empty stomach, a move shown to boost the body’s ability to burn fat as fuel.
• Add strength training breaks: She used 2-lb. hand weights. “After each mile, I paused and completed three sets of 10 reps of push-ups and tricep dips.”
• Upgrade your shoes: She wore ASICS Gel Cumulus sneakers, which helped prevent foot pain that could derail her treadmill workouts.
Consistency is key with a treadmill workout for weight loss
Susanna’s dedication to her daily treadmill walks wasn’t just about willpower—science was on her side too. Research shows the power of commitment during weight-loss journeys. Consider this: Dieters who eat the same meals day after day lose 37 percent more weight than those who mix up their menus, report scientists in Health Psychology.
Being a creature of habit pays off with exercise too. Why? Consistency builds forward momentum without any mental setbacks from “decision fatigue.” It also lowers stress, which allows your body to burn fat easier. “When a person maintains consistent habits around movement and nutrition, it helps regulate blood sugar and metabolism,” explains Wesley Buckle, ND, a naturopathic doctor who focuses on weight loss. “It also helps with hormones that influence hunger and energy.”
“Consistency is everything,” reiterates obesity-medicine specialist Jessica Duncan, MD. “It’s what separates short-term results from lasting ones.”
The inspiring bottom line
Susanna’s story proves that transformation doesn’t require expensive gym memberships, complicated programs or perfect conditions. It can be as simple as starting a consistent walking routine. So dust off an old machine today (or buy one at a yard sale). You’re just a few steps away from a healthy habit that can transform your life!
A version of this story originally appeared in the June 1, 2026 issue of Woman’s World.
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