Team Beachbody Guest

My transformation story starts with tears on Christmas morning 2007. It was
in that moment I realized how much I missed my best friend and my parents.
How did I end up crying on Christmas? I have never cried on that day. As an
athlete in high school and college I was always trim and in shape. Some
would say buff or even lithe. Then life marched on and my exercise stopped
and my weight slowing began to rise. I went up and then down, up and then
down. However, each time it went up it did not go down as much. My job
kept me active in the growth phase, but slowly my physical demands at work
became less and less and the weight was more and more. In 2005 my
parents moved from down the road to out of state and shortly after my best
friend followed. I wasn’t alone, but I had a huge hole in my heart, and
apparently, an equally large hole for a mouth. I began a quest for the perfect
cheeseburger, onion and chocolate shake combo. It was epic. It could even
be called a crusade. I also was searching for the perfect IPA, or India Pale
Ale. IPAs are so hoppy, so rich and so delicious. Also, very fattening when
consumed in mass. My weight went from a college weight of 185 to 271. My
largest stretch pants cut into my waist so painfully that I unbuttoned or took
them off when ever possible. I did not know myself in the mirror. My wife…
tolerated me. On that Christmas morning she gave me tickets to go see my
parents and best friend, who strangely live only 90 minutes from each other.
I knew then I had been filling a void and my mouth. I had to change.

I began in mid-January by watching what I ate, not drinking as much beer and
started walking. I wasn’t trying hard, but was conscience of the effort. In late
March I was down to 261. In April I joined a local “no frills” gym and weighed
253. It was time to get serious and I was on my way. I had goals and a 40th
birthday on the horizon. In May I was 234 and for a birthday gift to myself I
bought P90X. Those damn commercials haunted me in my sleep and I finally
gave in to the magic of Tony. Sort of (I didn’t start the program until almost
five months after I bought it!). It truly scared me. I knew I could not keep up
and I was going to be traveling most of the summer and could not give it the
90 day commitment.

Along with the X, I got an angel, my coach Monica Ward. She understood that
I could not commit. I did not give up though. I continued to workout, walk
and even run throughout the summer. I was getting in shape so I could
really get in shape! I had hit a plateau at the end of the summer and knew it
was time to decide, commit and succeed. I did the 90 days and was amazed
with my results. I went from 30+% body fat to 19% body fat and I am down
to 214 lbs. I traded my keg for a six-pack. I have muscles that I haven’t
seen in 20 years. Actually, I have more muscles than ever. I am currently on
my second round of the X. I still watch the same P90X commercials to get
that “first time” feel. I have goals and rewards. I have carrots and I have
sticks to get me there. I am motivated and inspired to continue and share my
good fortune with everyone who asks me, “Wow, what have you been doing?”
I am still transforming. I owe it to myself, my wife, my coach and all of my
friends on the X web who support me everyday. Thanks to you all, I am a
new man!