Team Beachbody Guest

I want to celebrate!!! I am not sure whether to say I want to celebrate to an old me or to a NEW me. I have not been fully myself in years as I have let depression get to me and with that, apathy, weight gain, fatigue, self-concept issues, & more. I am very happy to be saying “No More!” I made a decision back in March of 2007 that I was going to make a change, a permanent change to a healthier, happier lifestyle once again. From March 2007 to March 2008, I was down 50 lbs, 29.75 inches, and 7-8% body fat. I am pleased to say I went from an extremely tight size 18 to now a comfortably fitting size 12. I've been on a small yo-yo of about 20 lbs with some major stressors in my personal life with family, starting back to school towards my PhD, and life in general. No worries, I'm back on track for 2009. The target remaines the same to get to between 145-155 lbs to be in my “happy weight” range and a size 10 again. So no, I am NOT done yet!!!

Years ago I was an athlete, full of energy and passion for life. Towards the end of my undergraduate years I began battling depression and let my health deteriorate. Sure I have pressed on and pressed through these past 10 years, but I really let other things slide along the way. The top three things affected were my health, fitness, & well-being. With a family history of heart disease and my own father having is first heart attack at the young age of 40; this was not putting the odds in my favor. I was headed down that path as well with being ‘obese’ & already having high cholesterol by age 29. Now steadily moving forward with the help of Team Beachbody, I am so excited to say I am becoming the ‘old me’ again! A healthy, fit, and passion-for-life Julie!

I have many people asking me now, well how did I do it? It really has not been that complicated or as hard as I guess I might have felt it would be. It has taken some time for me to relearn about my body and my needs now that I am not a college athlete and a 30-something professinoal. I have relied on the the Team Beachbody message boards and my WOWY success buddies for support. I have used the MDB Club to learn more about my fitness and nutritional needs. I have been using the Beachbody Supplements and Programs on a regular basis. I am happy to say I have completed Slim in 6, Slim Series Express, & Power 90. I've tried a few of the other programs such as HHA & YBB as well. I've even tried P90X, but it wasn't quite for me just yet. I'm back on the tried and true SI6 for now. I’m excited to be continuing to make progress towards my fitness goals and model good health for those around me.

Okay, so how did I get started? What did I do? Well when I hit an all time high weight for myself and all-time emotional low in March 2007, I finally snapped to and realized I needed to do something for myself and DECIDED to make a change. I had to COMMIT to myself that I was worth it. I have always been a go-getter, but not for “me” per se. I am usually out to please others whatever the cost. It was time to make time for ME and that I DID matter. How could I expect others to love me if I didn’t love me??? I was desperate to regain control of my health & life again.

Well watching a bit of late night TV (which I never do), I saw the infomercial for Yoga Booty Ballet. Well when it was all said and done I actually ordered 4 of the Beachbody programs! It was an impulse shopping spree, but one of the BEST choices of my life. Among those DVDs I ordered was Slim in 6 – that was really got me started and what I contribute to a lot of my success. It was the perfect program at my point in life, at my current fitness level, and for my mind set. I need something challenging, but do-able. I needed something that would allow me to focus for a short amount of time (6 weeks) and experience SUCCESS. Slim in 6 did that for me!!! THANKS DEBBIE!!!

I have been with the Beachbody programs for almost two years now and even have became a Team Beachbody Coach. I am truly loving the experience, the community, and what I have done for myself. I am so pleased that I can be an example for others as well as what they can do. I want to celebrate with anyone and everyone willing to recognize that we are all worth it and that we deserve it. Taking care of ourselves and loving ourselves enables us to love others that much more and get so much more out of life.

I also want to say, no matter what life throws your way, you can still be successful. During this past two years I have moved states, changed jobs, worked multiple jobs at once, had a serious long-term relationship end, started back to grad school myself, watched my mother fight cancer, yet I have still pushed forward. Consistency is the key, not perfection. Be true to yourself and the rewards will come. A few rewards I've experienced have been better self-efficacy, the elimination of prescription medications that I had been on, better health, and even the blessing of meeting someone new who has been a wonderful addition to my life!

The entire Beachbody experience has really given me the opportunity to make that permanent change in my health & fitness which I desired so much. I feel like it was made for me! I am very happy with my progress this far, but I want to assure you I am not done yet. I have more progress to make to reach my ultimate goals and then it will be on to the maintenance phase and staying on track for life.

The athlete that was always happy, social, & energized will be back! I am finally making that change in my health, fitness, & personal wellness – a permanent change! I am regaining control, treating my depression, pushing play daily, taking my supplements, networking with others on the boards, WOWY, & other fitness forums, & eating clean!!!

BIG THANK YOUs to Beachbody, my Coach Wendy, my accountability partner Tricia, Tina and Anna two of my many inspirations, & so many others who I met so far on this journey! I look forward to what the future holds!