Team Beachbody Guest

I have been small and I have been larger. Always aerobically fit but never lean and toned. I can say I was never interested enough in strength training to work at it more than a week or so. I just couldn’t commit to weight training, I thought it was too boring!

Memorial Day Weekend 2006 things in my stratosphere changed dramatically, my mother who was just 64 years old was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. It was a complete shock to her and our family. My mother, while overweight, has always been active. She was a retired teamster, had horses that she took care of, was outside running around, had many friends, and just on the go all the time. She was very rarely ill. When she called from the hospital, (because she was immediately admitted after an MRI – she was having back and neck pain), I flew to be with her and spent the next two months between staying with her in rural Illinois and trying to take care of my family in Connecticut. It was the hardest two months I have ever experienced, my mother’s illness accelerated and each day became a painful challenge for her. I felt helpless trying to keep her comfortable and all the while encouraging her through her Chemo/Radiation treatments, although it was clear from the doctor’s faces and progress reports things were just getting worse. Two days before she passed away, all treatment was stopped and hospice was called in. I was with her the day she passed, July 30, 2006 – it is something I can’t even explain but am happy I was there with her.

After she passed away came the task of cleaning out her house and belongings, taking care of all those things. I noticed she had ordered a DVD from Beach Body – Debbie Siebers’ Slim in 6 series. I put it with the things I was taking with me and forgot about it for a time. I ran across the DVD again in late 2006. Through all outward appearances I was doing great dealing with the stresses of losing a parent, but inside and physically I was a train wreck. My weight had gone up again, hovering around 152 pounds – I was back in my larger clothes and just felt terrible about myself. I started doing the DVD workout as a distraction. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I made - Debbie was awesome and encouraging. I started to look forward to working out again everyday. I felt more centered and in control which I hadn’t felt in a long time. I did 12 weeks with Debbie and then decided to kick it up a notch by ordering P90X with Tony Horton. In March 2007, when I first received Tony’s DVD set I weighed 140 pounds – I knew I needed to become committed to a program that incorporated strength training if I ever wanted to reach my goals. I remember the first few weeks of his P90X program, it was so hard, but I was determined to stick with it. I was like pushups and pull ups – what, are you kidding me?

Fast forward to today and I am in my second round of P90X and weigh in at 125. I still have strength goals I am trying to achieve and I will continue work hard to reach them. Tony and P90X is and will always be challenging – I just keep pushing play. I keep a photo of my mom in my workout journal and when I look at it each day, I am subject to many emotions, but I also get strength and smile about what a full life she lead and how caring she was with her friends, family and animals. She just left us too early.

I know how important it is keep healthy and to be in tune with your body. I will never again take my health or anyone else’s for granted. This cannot be a causal commitment, it has to be a priority.

When people ask me what I have been doing to make such a difference in how I look and feel, I am a Beach Body cheerleader. I have converted one friend over already and I keep looking for more volunteers. Thank you so much BEACHBODY, Debbie Siebers and especially Tony Horton and P90X. You ROCK!