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I stayed pretty healthy up to my middle twenties. I never had a weight problem and was pretty healthy. I had started to take on some bad habits though and that was where things started to go down hill. I started smoking in my early twenties and was a full time 1 to 2 pack a day smoker by the time I was 25. My eating habits went down hill also. I have a family history of high cholesterol and heart problems and I was next in line. I joined the army around that time which got me back into shape. The smoking did not stop though. Weight issues did not happen until I left the service 3 years later.

So we fast forward to 2008. At this time I was 35 years old. I still smoked about a pack to 2 packs a day. Since I started driving truck my eating habits were terrible. I reached about 200 pounds and that is not too bad for my height. I really only needed to drop about 30 pounds, but that was not the problem. Between my smoking and my eating supper high fat foods, my cholesterol was way over 200 and my triglycerides were over 500! these numbers should be under 150 so these were very dangerous levels. We are talking heart problem levels. When my doctor saw these numbers she almost could not pull out her book out fast enough to right me a prescription. I refused. I saw my grandparents die a slow death on drugs and this is where it started. I knew I had to do something and do it fast and I did not want drugs to do it for me. So I convinced her to let me try some things on my own first. If I could not get them down on my own I would come in and get a prescription.

I found P90X through a friend on Myspace and really liked what I saw. I ordered it and started my changes. Now, did it all come together nicely and smoothly....not one bit!! There were definite struggles. At the time, I still liked to smoke...yes I know it is bad but I had not come to hate it yet. I still loved sweets and greasy food. But I had to do something. I started with the smoking. I got a drug...yes I got a little help on this one....called Chantix. I quit five weeks later and was off the drug a month later. No side affects and was smoke free. It was a struggle at times but the pill did help and I highly recommend talking to a doctor about it if you have smoking habits. During my quitting process I started P90X. The diet took awhile though because as a truck driver I had to really think ahead and pack my lunches. It took a little imagination but I got it to work.

So here I am, end of 2008, smoke free and eating a lot better. My numbers have come back and they are great!!! I brought my cholesterol and triglycerides under 100!!!! When I found out my results on my exam I could not believe it. My doctor was amazed and so was I. I have a family history of this and it really made me feel like I broke the chain of heart problems in my family. The weight that lifted that day....well..I can't describe it.

Now, do I struggle still...yes...but not near as bad. I still have a craving now and again for something sweet but I have taught myself how to take small portions. I still have lots of room to grow in my progress and I am so thankful for the friends and family and Beachbody for all that they have done for me. I am sure this story will continue so I will leave it at that for now........