Team Beachbody ¡preestreno!Español Guest

Hello fellow fitness enthusiasts. My name is Edward Rufolo and I live in Rahway, NJ. I have always been active in sports, martial arts, weightlifting, and basically anything that kept me enjoying life. I never gave up the opportunity to play one sport or the other. If a friend called for a game of tennis, an indoor soccer match, or a session of Judo practice I was there. I always prided myself on being in shape. Sure, I do like to eat (being Italian) but a few pounds added over the holidays was always removed just as quick.
Now, each day I sit and wonder when my headaches will go away. Allow me to explain. On October 15th of last year I was running in the park (part of my training for a half marathon) when all of a sudden I got this thunderclap headache. Never in my life did I ever get headaches so I immediately took this pain as something seriously wrong. Somehow I got myself home and had my wife bring me to the hospital. A few hours later I found myself being strapped to a table for a procedure called a cerebral angiography (to determine if I had experienced an aneurysm or possibly a ruptured tumor - due to a small collection of blood found on a CAT scan test).
The good news was that aside from a small non-cancerous growth on my pituitary gland (which has been theorized as the source of my bleed) my brain was fine. The bad news was that the collection of blood that remained in the subarachnoid space (sorry for the medical terms) would cause me to have tremendous headaches and dizziness 24/7 for months. The first three days out of the hospital I could not sleep due to the tremendous pain. My wife explained it as if she was caring for a newborn baby. Only after 4 months, the dizziness tapered off but the headaches remained. Try to imagine waking up and being dizzy all day with pressure beyond belief with no medication that helped. My only saving grace was the knit hat and earmuffs I wore around the house because for some reason it helped with the pain. I looked like a crazy person but the pain was very intense.
Well, a year later, the pressure behind my eyes is still there but not as severe. Everyday, morning till night, I feel as if my head is in a vice. Not surprisingly, I went from being in great shape to very poor shape. I have been greatly depressed as well as driving my wife nuts with my constant complaining. The headaches are all day long so eating and drinking became a way of suppressing my pain and bad mood. It was not long before my muscle size and tone disappeared only to be replaced by fat and flab.
I am not the type of person to feel sorry for myself so after 8 months I told my wife it was time to ignore these headaches and start getting back in shape. My doctor told me from the beginning, my prognosis was good but it could take at least 4 months to a year before I felt better. After all, he said, 50% of people who have a bleed as I did do not live to tell about it. And the ones that do survive may have reoccurring headaches in the future.
I only paid attention to the fact that I was alive and willing to do whatever necessary to get back in shape. Then, like a gift from heaven the infomercial for P90X came on the television. In the past, I was always very skeptical about infomercials (with false claims, ridiculous exercise equipment, or calorie reduction diets – like not eating carbs). However, this exercise program struck me as very “to the point” and “no nonsense.” You simply had to “BRING IT” which meant it was up to you and your actions (exercise and eating properly) that would determine your future health and physique.
I immediately went to the BEACHBODY website and inquired further. When I read about “muscle confusion” I said to myself that this guy (Tony Horton) really has the right idea and does not attempt to sell anything other than the truth. There is no medication, surgery, or piece of equipment that substitutes for a sound eating regimen and exercise program. I felt that if I followed his advice I would achieve the results I desperately needed – so I bought the program.
I started the program on Monday, June 4th 2007 and finished my first round in September. Now, I can not be happier. I even feel some improvement with my headaches. My goal now after having completed the program is to continue on with a positive attitude. Maybe even win the ultimate prize of $250,000 and buy my wife a nice home. After all, she deserves it having put up with me this last year. I hope my words are helpful for many of you. Whether you just need to get back in shape, looking to get to that next level or want to jump start a stagnant lifestyle, BeachBody has the program for you. I am convinced that Carl Daikeler, CEO of BeachBody.com and MillionDollarBody.com, and his dedicated experts really do care about my fitness. Find the program that fits you, dedicate yourself to it, and you WILL become a much happier person – and live longer too!
The way I see it, Tony saved my life. If I did not happen by chance to be watching TV that day and see P90X I am not sure where my depression would have taken me. I now use Exercise as my cure-all for many problems. If I get stressed out at work, have a bad day, or just feel down I pop in a DVD and press play. "Pressing play is the only way."
Stay healthy everyone, continue to press play and "BRING IT." Oh, and continue to visit the websites because Tony and the others have the best advice. I have read dozens of fitness books, used numerous workout schedules and cardio workouts, and spoke with many trainers but nothing impressed me more than Tony’s blog on “who are you.” Everyone is so afraid to tell the truth while Tony brings you reality. Thank you again Tony. One day I would like to shake your hand - for saving MY life, and many others as well I’m sure.

Edward Rufolo