Team Beachbody Guest

Success story... not quite yet, but my story -about how P90X has already changed my life… yes!
I was blinded by fat, weighing somewhere between 320 and 340 the summer of 2008. I’m not sure of my actual weight because my scale maxed out at 299. Even knowing that, I still didn’t think I was that overweight. I thought that I was just thick and had big muscles. After all, as you can see by my before picture I am blessed with great metabolism! Here’s my story as to how blinded I really was by my weight and the events that led me to purchase P90X and transform myself and my life…
During the summer of 2008, I took my son to an amusement park. I have always loved riding roller coasters and now he does to, so what a perfect place to go! After waiting in line for over 2 hours I had to exit the ride because I couldn’t fit into the rollercoaster cart. I was kind of embarrassed but shrugged it off as usual. I sucked my gut in, pushed my chest out and moved on to the next ride. This time I was looking ahead to see if there were people bigger than me in line (or people that were bigger than me in my own mind anyway). Of course there were because I’m not really that big it was just the ride, right? So, in the back of my mind I figured I’m good to ride this one! Once again, I could not fit into the ride so after the fourth try I gave up. I figured my thighs just had too much muscle in them. I, still blinded by my real weight problem, thought nothing more of it as I spent the rest of the day sitting and watching my son ride rides, without me. Not being able to enjoy this day with my son upset me, but not enough to make me realize that I need to do something about my weight…it wasn’t me it was the roller coaster!
A couple weeks later, my lower back went out and I was bed ridden. There were days that I had to crawl on the floor just to get to the restroom. Must’ve been from all that walking I did at the amusement park a couple of weeks ago right? Because it wasn’t my weight! Like always, I blamed everything but my weight.
I also coach my son’s football team. I had a hard time just getting to the field. It took me so long to walk to the field that I would make my son late for practice. I would get upset that the parking lot was so far away. Everyone must be out of breath after getting to the field, right? During practice it was a struggle to participate in drills or to keep up with my players. And run with my football players? No, I’d watch…because I couldn’t run. I’d stand there watching and wanting to run and participate, but physically I just couldn’t.
My son would constantly get upset with me because I wouldn’t get off the couch and do anything with him. I wanted to, but I just couldn’t. My body hurt too badly and I just didn’t have the energy. So, I’d sit on the couch and watch TV while he played...without me. When I got home from being somewhere, I would plop down on the couch and stay there until morning. I could not even lie on the extremely comfortable bed that I paid high dollars for because I was too heavy to lie down comfortably so I had to sleep sitting up. That darn mattress...I knew I shouldn’t have bought that one!
When I got my football team’s picture back, I noticed how big my face was. I was disgusted with myself… finally! It took this picture to realize how overweight I really was. After all of the things I had gone through and all of the signs I had been given…I finally got it! I need to lose weight!
I started a diet and first just cut out all carbs. This kind of worked… I was finally able to fit into my 3XL shirts and size 46 jeans. I eventually got down to somewhere around 300 pounds. One night sleeping in my chair I woke up with a horrible pain in my chest. I felt a big lump there and it hurt so bad that it brought me to tears. I’m thinking to myself this is it… I’m 31 years old and it’s over. Well, I guess I’ve had a good run. Well, obviously not a physical run as you can see but run at life. As I’m feeling this lump in my chest thinking that my life is ending, a P90X infomercial comes on. I watched it for about a minute, said to myself “yeah right” and turned it off. About 3 weeks later, I had developed another lump in the other side of my chest. So now I have 2 lumps, both very painful. Like usual I was sitting in my chair and low and behold Tony Horton shows up on TV again all excited and full of energy, so I decided to watch the whole thing this time. Ok, really I think I watched the whole thing because I couldn’t get up to reach the remote! After watching the infomercial, I thought to myself you know what maybe this would work. I’m finally starting to realize that if I don’t at least try something I’m not going to be around to see 32. I’m too young for this. I’m too young to feel this miserable. I’m too young to miss out on my son’s life and I’m far too young to die. I’ve got alot to live for, I have people who love me and need me and I’m going to do this! Heck, it even comes with a 30 day money back guarantee! So I will try it and send it back before the 30 days are up. At least I can say I tried, right?
I finally ordered P90X right before Christmas of 2008. I took the fitness test and probably shouldn’t have started but I couldn’t wait. I had my son take my before photo and oh my…I’m huge. Why didn’t I do this years ago? I have flaps...eww! What an eye opener! I started the program January 12, 2009 and that day has forever changed my life. I have never felt better!
To date, I have followed the nutrition plan for the most part, I’ve done all of the daily workouts and drink my recovery drinks. After taking my 30 day picture I was so much more motivated. I highly recommend taking pictures. My back is 99% better, I no longer have the lumps in my chest and most importantly I’m loving life and the new me! I start week 11 on March 23, 2009 and I’m down 60 pounds since the start date. I feel amazing! I can even run and jump now. I’m only 5’ 9” and can even hang on a 9’ rim... thanks plyo! My son loves the new me. I have so much more energy now that my son even has to tell me to settle down. I’m almost in a size 36 pants and continue to reach my weekly goals. My journey is just beginning and I look forward to every step of the way. I know this year I’ll stand proudly in those 2 hour lines at the amusement park and race my son to the football field. I want to thank Beachbody and Tony Horton for changing my life. Thanks for helping me “Bring It”. Update April 19th I’ve dropped 80 lbs in 90 days and now my 36 jeans are getting baggy.