Team Beachbody Guest

My first transformation story began on May 17, 1985 when in an instant, I
went from a super healthy, very accomplished runner winning races or always
being in contention to barely being able to run. On that evening, I hit a van
that had pulled in front of me, broadside, at 40 mph. Surviving virtually
unscathed was my greatest blessing, but seeing 13 doctors over the next 3
years to try to determine why I was getting repeated sinus infections, my
strength and energy were gone and at my worst, could not walk up a flight of
stairs, proved fruitless. That is until a dentist determined that as a result of
the accident, I had incurred a hairline fracture in a tooth, had an infection in
my jawbone and a cyst had formed in my sinus.


The infection was surgically treated and the cyst removed in separate
operations, but the latter operation (since shown to be a bad option), left my
sinus surgically altered and never able to function normally again. That, in
combination with the countless prescriptions for antibiotics that I was given
over those three years, virtually ended my competitive running career and
contributed to a diagnosis of CFIDS - Chronic Fatigue Immune Deficiency
Syndrome - meaning my immune system was compromised and I would get
sick repeatedly over the next 23 years.


Although my super health was gone and there was an ache in my heart
because I could not run the way that I used to, my spirit remained. I was
forced to leave my job managing a woodworking company because I couldn't
tolerate the fumes and dust or do the physical labor. I realized my situation
and the opportunity that I had to help others facing similar situations to mine
and became a personal trainer focusing on the importance and benefits of
health and wellness. I also began coaching runners so that I could continue
to be involved with running. Finally, I started my Howtobefit.com website to
spread the gospel of fitness on the Internet and began selling Polar heart rate
monitors to augment my income.


My second transformation began at the end of December 2006 when I heard
about Million Dollar Body and on January 8, 2007 when I became a Million
Dollar Body Coach. Over the next 11 months, through determination and,
frankly, divine intervention, I made the transition from full time e-commerce
to full time MDB coaching and it was the best thing that I have ever done. It
was a struggle, though, breaking my patterns and habits and although I was
using BeachBody products and doing P90X, I continued to focus on running
and recreating the past. That I know now, was a mistake.


Beginning in 2008, I fully committed to P90X as my primary fitness activity
and made running secondary. The combination of the overall fitness that I
have now and the low stress career of being a full time Beachbody
Independent Coach promoting and living a healthy lifestyle that advocates
positive change and successful living, I am now in a prolonged stretch of
excellent health. I also now have the productive life back that I once took for
granted and so treasure as one of my greatest gifts.

As of mid July 2008, I continue to enjoy the health that eluded me for so
many years and have settled into the life that I have always wanted of helping
other people achieve their goals, doing what I love to do and most
importantly, spending unlimited time with my family.

Although I knew in my heart for 7 years that it was inevitable, the last few months have seen the end days of my marriage. It is now mid October and even with all of the stress of trying to shelter my beautiful girls from the
heartbreak of change, they and I have stayed healthy by staying active and eating nutritiously. We are now a family of three, all living the healthy Beachbody way.

Well, God works in mysterious ways and it is now mid January 2009 and I am still enjoying perfect health and my wife and I are still rejoicing two weeks after salvaging our marriage. Miracles do happen and she and the girls and I are happy beyond words that could really convey how full of joy and thankful we are.

Although my health is great, I have put the cart of life ahead of the horse of fitness, which is a huge mistake. I can now, however, put the focus I need to on getting very strong and very fit again with a supportive and loving family behind me!

March 2009 Update - I've achieved a balance in my life that is unprecedented. I am able to be a stay at home Dad and husband, work at home Dad, full time Team Beachbody Coach and once again have achieved a high level of fitness because of this balance. Beachbody has given me the kind of success that you can only pray for.