Team Beachbody Guest

I am 42 years old and for most of my life I didn't have weight issues. I had maintained a weight of 150 pounds in my thirties and I felt like that was good for my height.

Over the course of the five years after I quit smoking I put on 53 pounds to reach my highest weight of 203 pounds. I was wearing size 18's and 1x's. I just had to do something about my weight. I didn't want to keep buying larger clothes. My ankles and feet hurt all the time plus I realized that as I got older the risk to my health would be greater if I didn't adopt a healthier lifestyle and try to lose the weight.

So I learned how to eat. I learned about good carbs and bad carbs. I started eating more fruits and vegetables. I started avoiding sugar, flour, white rice and potatoes. I started eating whole wheat, brown rice, and other whole grains. I started eating more fish, chicken, and turkey. I didn't have beef that often and I stopped eating fast food. And when eating out I learned what healthy food choices were available in restaurants and would order them. I started skipping the bread and ordering unsweetened iced tea with lemon, instead of ordering a sugary soda. I tried to avoid processed foods as much as I can, instead I tried to choose whole unprocessed foods.

I started exercising 3 or 4 days a week. After I lost the first 20 pounds my feet and ankles didn't hurt anymore. I felt so much better. It took me about one year to lose the 53 pounds. After I reached my goal weight of 150 pounds I got complacent. I stopped going to the gym because I got bored with it. I didn't try to find a replacement for going to the gym, so I basically stopped exercising. I stopped being as choosy about what I ate, so over a year I gained back 11 pounds.

In April 2007 I ordered Hip Hop Abs and started pressing play 6 days a week. My primary program was Hip Hip Abs. The
results I achieved were fabulous. I felt great and had lost the 11 lbs I put on by not exercising. I lost 9 inches.

In July 2007 I signed up to be a coach. So as my quest for fitness and health continues I also help others reach their fitness goals.

On September 10, 2007 I began a round of P90X. I completed 60 days of P90X. This is an intense workout program. The workouts are hard, but they made me stronger and more fit. I follow what Tony Horton says "Do your best and forget the rest" I push myself as far as I can. I have more definition in my arms and my legs are stronger and are more toned.

In January 2008 I went back to HHA. That is my first Beachbody love.
Shaun T has such great energy, He makes working out fun.

On May 2, 2008 I started Power Half hour. I really like Tony's style. He pushes you to do your best. I really like that he really motivates without making you feel like a failure if you are unable to get a certain move down.

For the last quarter of 2008 my workouts consisted mostly of Power Half Hour and Hip Hop Abs.


I absolutely love the programs put out by Beachbody, so far I have tried Hip Hop Abs, Yoga Booty Ballet, Turbo Jam, Fast 10, P90X and Power Half Hour, and am now doing a round of ChaLEAN Extreme.

I still can't get over that I look forward to exercising.(I was never really into physical fitness before, in fact I tended to avoid it). When I was younger I had good metabolism which seemed to end when I quit smoking. I can actually feel that I am getting stronger too. The Beachbody programs make it easy for me to get the exercise I need to reach and maintain my goals. I can't wait to try more programs.


The great thing about Beachbody exercise DVDs is that there is so much variety. Sometimes I feel like doing P90X (my favorite workout is Back and Biceps) or if I am pinched for time I can grab Fast 10 or 10 Minute Trainer. It makes it easy for me to incorporate exercise into my routine, even when life gets busy.

In 2008 I really struggled and let my weight get back up to 171 pounds. I realized that I am a comfort eater and night time snacking is a real struggle for me. And needless to say I had been giving into night time snacking! But I have continued to exercise so my muscle tone is still very good.
So as 2009 began I recommitted myself to eating clean and working out. I started a round of ChaLEAN Extreme on January 5, 2009. My thinking was that doing this program would be a very good start to the New Year.

During the Burn Phase of ChaLEAN Extreme I lost 5 pounds and 1" off my waist.

At the end of the Push Phase and I had lost a total 8 pounds. At this time noticed that I was getting stronger and my clothes were fitting better.

On March 2, 2009 I started the Lean Phase. I could only do 1 week of the Lean Phase and than I had to get a procedure done, so I took a break from working out for a week. I worked really hard prior to the procedure so I could be in tip top shape. After a week of recovery following the procedure I started walking as my workout. I did my walking for 2 weeks after the procedure. Last week I started the Lean for Life phase of ChaLEAN Extreme. I am using 5 and 8 pound weights and will gradually increase them up to what I was using before the surgery. I plan to do this for 1 month and than begin another round of ChaLEAN Extreme.

I feel really positive about the changes and the weight loss I had with ChaLEAN Extreme. I am seeing more definition in my arms and my legs feel more toned and stronger. I lost a total of 10 pounds, 2% body fat and 2 inches off my waist.
I think my original assessment that ChaLEAN Extreme would be a very good start to the New Year was absolutely correct and I am very glad that I decided to do ChaLEAN Extreme.