Team Beachbody Guest

One day, a little over 12 weeks ago, I looked in the mirror and hated what I saw. I didn’t like the way I physically looked, and I definitely didn’t like the way I felt! Even though I worked out regularly, I realized that I had allowed myself to get into a rut — eating and drinking things that were totally unhealthy for my body.

As an entrepreneur, my ability to focus on my business is critical. Having an unhealthy body and lifestyle began to seriously affect my ability to successfully handle the daily challenges of being a business owner. Issues with my business partner created even more stress in my life, causing me to practice even unhealthier eating habits. It became a vicious cycle that affected everything, from my career to my social and family life. I knew that I had lost control, and I desperately needed to get it back.

I first learned about the Body for LIFE Challenge when I entered it back in 1999. At that time, I finished the program in the top 5%. Even though I did well the first time and had continued to work out since then, I was not well educated regarding nutrition. This time around, I was determined to change that. I did extensive research on maintaining a proper diet, and hired a qualified nutritionist to help me. I also hired a physical trainer to assist me in managing my exercise program.

Once I hired the proper professionals and gained the required knowledge, I still needed to be truly committed to the Challenge. I needed to prove to myself that I could start something and give it 100% of my effort until the very end. Among other lifestyle changes, this commitment required me to cut out late nights and alcohol so I could totally focus on getting back to looking and feeling my best — both mentally and physically.

Now that I have achieved my own goals, I am determined to do everything I can to share my success with others. My goal for the beginning of 2009 is to get at least two of my friends to commit to entering the Challenge. I know that will be a great benefit for them, and will also help me to stay motivated.

My long-term goal is to build and develop a successful personal training business, and I am currently in the process of acquiring my certification. Ultimately, I want to spend my life educating, training and motivating others to eat and work out properly, so they can embrace a healthy lifestyle.