Team Beachbody ¡preestreno!Español Guest

I was reluctant to write my transformation story because I do not believe anyone’s story is ever truly completed. Throughout our lives, we write and rewrite our own mini novels, which are then stored in our book of life. At this stage in my life, I have chosen to go off the beaten path, it is no longer littered with fast food and empty promises to myself; promises that I will change and make myself healthier when in reality I am secretly thinking about which artery- clogging meal I will have next.
I have always been a bigger person than all of my friends. I sky- rocked up to 6’ tall before I reached high school. Being tall and fat made for a bad combination in my adolescence. I had very bad self-esteem problems and never really went to any social functions in high school. Luckily, I found an outlet in track. I was naturally a strong person so the events of shot put and discus were perfect for me. I was awarded for being bigger and stronger than everyone else and it felt great. I think this false sense of acceptance for being overweight helped me stay that way.
College was an interesting time for me. I went away to Utah State University for 2 years and in which time I gained over 50 pounds. I was depressed and felt very alone. I had no family in Utah. This depression affected my throwing and my scholarship was taken away. I came back home in despair, food was my comfort. I ended up going to Fresno Pacific University, which was my emotional and spiritual saving grace. The people there brought me back from the darkness and showed me the beauty of living. My weight however was still increasing. By the time I graduated in May 2008, I was weighing 325 pounds.
Beachbody came into my life when my brother came over to tell us about a competition at his work. I honestly did not believe he would stick to it. For a year periodically he would come over and I would be amazed at how much smaller he was until I finally could not take it anymore. I was going to the heaviest person in my family. This terrified me. At first, I was scared to start the program so I opted to go to the gym and workout on the elliptical. I dropped about 8 pounds. This was not working! I promised my brother that I would start P90 in June. It was extremely hard in the beginning but I stayed with it because I am a competitive person and my brother was not going to win.
My eating habits transformed radically. I no longer drank soda which in the beginning I was finishing a 24 pack in a day and a half. I was cooking all my meals and staying away from fast food all together. Chicken became my best friend. I was fuller longer and no longer craved cereal in the middle of the night. I did not berate myself if I had a slip up because I no longer looked at this as a diet but a way of life and I do not put a time- frame on that.
After 90 days was up, I had lost 20 pounds and 10 inches all around my body. I needed a more difficult challenge but I did not think I was ready for P90X yet so I chose P90 Master Series. I quickly became accustomed to the workouts and within a month, I was ready to move on. P90X was next. I am entering into my sixth month with Beachbody and feeling more hopeful about success that I have ever felt in my life. I am at 277 pounds and going down, I have lost 29 inches around my entire body and I am now training for the 2012 Olympics in the shotput. My transformation story has just begun….stay tuned. God Bless.