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Born and raised in the USA. I was a very active person throughout my elementary, high school, and college years. I played all kinds of sports several times a week and did not have a thought of, or felt the need to watch my weight. All that changed when I started to work in Japan.

When I came to Japan I suddenly became very seditary. The opportunity to do sports almost disappeared and the

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Born and raised in the USA. I was a very active person throughout my elementary, high school, and college years. I played all kinds of sports several times a week and did not have a thought of, or felt the need to watch my weight. All that changed when I started to work in Japan.

When I came to Japan I suddenly became very seditary. The opportunity to do sports almost disappeared and the extreme heat durning the summer and extreme cold in the winter limited my outdoor activity. Coupled with living next to an active volcano which blows ash into the air, outdoor activity was very minimal. After a little over a year of no activity, I started to really push the barriers of holes on my belt, so I got a membership at the public gym and started working out a few times a week on there universal machines. One day at the gym, I really over did it and re-aggrivated a back injury I had sustained working at summer camp on the work crew stacking wood. But this time I couldn't walk for almost a week. Needless to say, no more gym and no more exercise.

Fast forward two years. I got married and my wife is an incredible cook. With back problems still haunting me and now a great cook for a wife, you know what that spells! In Japanese we call it "SHI-A-WA-SE BUTORI" which mean "Happy fat". I really packed it on then. At my peak I was close to 200 lbs. but at 5'6, I think I hid it pretty well, or so I thought. I tried to go back to the gym, but just didn't feel motivated so that died. Then I went on the BLUE SCREEN BINGE. I trid different TV machines. I tried the "Ab Buster" I tried the "Body Blade" I tried the "Lateral Thigh Trainer" which I actually liked and continued for about 18 months. In that time though, I broke three machines. The only thing that was relatively consistant was cycling. I had a mountain bike that I mainly rode on good weather/no ash days. That was great except for when the body position I was forced to ride it started paying its toll on my back. I couldn't continue riding in that position. My brother introduced me to the "recumbent" style of bike. I got one and still ride when I can.

By 2004 my weight had plateaued at about 180 lbs. My back was in constant pain. I couldn't walk more than 20 yards without bending over to stretch my aching back. Playing with my, by then, two wonderful kids, for long periods of time before the pain in my back became too much to take.

In the winter of 2007 we moved into a new house. The Christmas of 2007 I was diagnosed with Meniere's Disease. Again, the exercise and activity stopped. In the late spring of 2008, my sister in law asked me record some workout DVDs for her. They were DVDs of Billy's Bootcamp. I had never been remotly interested in excercising with a DVD, but this particular set of DVDs was a huge hit in Japan and was selling like hotcakes. Friends, colleagues, and students who tried it said it was really good, but very hard to get through. I love a challenge... So, just on a whim, I tried it. I just wanted to see if I would get through it. I started the first video and about 20 minutes in, my wife needed me so I had to stop. But I was motivated a little to try it again and finish it. The next day, I started the DVD and again about 30 minutes in, I was needed and had to stop. I was not happy because I really wanted to see if I could get through the workout. Finally, the third try, I was able to make it all the way through the first DVD. Then, I made it through the second DVD, just barely. But by that time, I WAS HOOKED!!! I bought TAE BO DVDs like crazy and did them all for a little over a year. Then, my sister, in the summer of 2009, introduced me to P90X. I was ready for a change so I got that system and went through it. I WANTED MORE! So I got, "10 minute trainer", then I got "INSANITY" then "REV ABS" and finally "Chalean EXTREME" I friend gave me Power 90 and Turbo Jam. I very much want to try Turbo Fire and Asylum, but for Asylum I just don't have the room to do the workouts, so I will have to pass. Now, I am a loyal customer of Beachbody. Through all that, I have lost 26 lbs. My goal is still a ways away, but I know I will make it and stay there with your help, Beachbody! My goal is to lose and keep off 10 lbs. I want to maintain a weight between 145 and 150 lbs. Which is rated to be the ideal weight for my height of 5'6.5.

Sorry it took me so long to get this up. Please let me know if you actually take the time to read my story. I would appreciate it very much to know what you think.

See you at the gym!

Oh, on a more personal note, I am in my early 40's, am married to a wonderful woman who is still an awesome cook. I have two children, my son who is turning 14 in a few days, and my daughter who is 10. I have been teaching English at a small private universtiy in southern Japan for 14 years. Please feel free to friend me on facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1203406903

Cheers,

Christopher / WingsMediaGuy

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