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I have long suffered from poor self esteem related to my body. At times, I hated my body so much I just wished I could trade out! My husband told me for years that I am beautiful and that he adored me no matter what I looked like, but it took me years and years to ever believe him! It wasn’t until I understood how much value God places on me that I was able to believe my husband.

I am convinced that my outward transformation began only because my inward transformation was so strong. That is not to say that you cannot change your body without an inward change--you certainly can—but as my inner hunger was fully met I was then free to enjoy the discipline of daily exercise and eating clean. Before, when I had hated my appearance so vehemently, exercise became an obsession and I sabotaged my hard work with eating sweets. Now I am able to handle sweets in a controlled way knowing that even if I eat more than I should, my value does not suddenly get washed away! What a freedom!

My journey with Team Beachbody began after I had buried my last child, Oskar, in December 2006. This had been my 5th pregnancy (I had a set of twins earlier) and I delivered him weighing in at 200 pounds! Oskar’s death was sudden and completely unexpected and it devastated me. I lost 40 pounds without even thinking about it due to the emotional and physical trauma I was going through. All I wanted was to be able to wear my wedding rings for his funeral. My body was in terrible shape but quite frankly the least of my concerns.

In my darkest grief, I had the insight to keep working out. I used a spattering of videos and although I was moving my body, I wasn’t getting any results. I watched a Beachbody infomercial mesmerized at the changes people were getting. Could they really be real?! I was skeptical of ordering something from a company I knew nothing about so I waited. One day at a garage sale I found Slim in 6--I snatched it up and figured for $3 I could stick to the 6 weeks and see what might happen.

I signed up for a free membership and started posting on Team Beachbody threads and meeting people. It is because of the friendships I made that I was able to last those whole six weeks. I had been faithfully working out 3-4 times a week for years but without seeing results and now I knew why! I wasn't working HARD enough!! I loved that the program has a schedule and having a virtual trainer tell me what to do in order to get results! And boy did the results come! I lost a mere 2 pounds on the scale but dropped 10 1/2 inches!! I was SOLD! Getting results like this became a bright spot in my life and was part of my emotional healing from the death of our son.

After my Slim in 6 success, I ordered P90 Master Series and used it for a combined 5 months. During this time I dropped 13 more pounds and 6 more inches! People kept telling me I looked great and I really felt great! One day I was at a friend's house and I caught sight of myself in a mirror. I did I double take. "That's ME?!?" I could hardly believe it. There is nothing like the motivation that comes when you see YOURSELF change!!

I entered the WOWY gym daily and during my time with the Master Series I was shocked to learn that I won $300! People really win these prizes!? No way! I used my money to buy P90X and felt like a kid on Christmas morning when it arrived!! I completed my first round with the X in March of 2008. I followed the Lean plan and did my best to eat well, but after about 3 weeks I lost my focus and was eating whatever I wanted by the last phase. And as Tony says, if you eat poor fuel, you’ll be fit but you won’t look it. That was me. I was happy to have completed the 13 weeks, but I really felt I had wasted my hard work!

As I set out to do the Classic X for my second round, I stumbled on to a community message board thread “Throwing Down the Gauntlet” that challenged me to be accountable daily for everything I put in my mouth. Rules were laid out and I was asked if I would join them! I really didn’t think I could…I’d only ever failed when trying to eat according to a plan. They welcomed me in anyway and I found yet another surprise: I can stick to a healthy eating plan! Maybe I can’t follow a “diet”, but I can follow guidelines! Another message board thread challenged me to eat off the top two tiers of Michi’s Ladder and I used my Club membership to access this and to get meal ideas from Thin Kitchen and my own meal planner. What valueable tools! I had no idea I could eat oatmeal without sugar and be happy!! (Blueberries in oatmeal is one of my favorite foods now!)

As I learned about the coaching opportunity, I simply had to do it! Earn money doing what I love? Yes!! In addition to extra income, I find more accountability in being a coach. I’m signed into this company, bearing its name and representing healthy living to others--that means that I had better keep myself focused! I have also learned that the ups and downs I have experienced in my own journey actually help me to be a more empathetic coach with my own customers. What a joy to be able to love people, encourage them to discover their personal best and get paid at the same time!! So few people get that kind of rewarding experience in life!

I have been remarkably changed by Team Beachbody: personal advice and encouragement from my own coach (the fabulous Traci Morrow!), the workouts, tools, the club and all my friends in the community. I am now able to run and play and have fun with my kids rather than sit watching them from the house. My zest for life has returned and I feel younger than I did when I was actually younger! Not to mention that I have gained incredible fitness, strength and have gone from a size 12/14 to a size 6! Thanks Team Beachbody! You’ve got a customer for life!

UPDATE: Just gave birth to a beautiful, healthy little girl on May 28, 2009!! My body is in recovery mode and I am going to work hard to regain the fit body I had before starting this pregnancy. I've remeasured and weighed and I've got my work cut out for me!!

Feb 1, 2012 Update: Wow. What a journey this has been! I am so blessed and grateful for all I have learned and how Beachbody has changed my life. I am now doing P90X2 and LOVING IT!! I am leaning toward a more vegan diet and absolutely amazed at how much better I feel. Life is awesome! :)