Team Beachbody ¡preestreno!Español Guest

I began this program in June ’07 and haven’t looked back since. (Except at my before pictures of course.) I really began my journey at the beginning of this year, New Years Day to be exact. I quit my tobacco habit after 23 years. I knew that to get healthy I would have to get rid of that crutch, along with many others, however I would need to start there. So I did. That first couple of days were CRAZY, I was probably a little crabby too. Then a few days turned into a week which turned into a few weeks then viola, I was cured! I can tell you that I hate the tobacco companies, because I still get “nic” fits to this day. Not many mind you but there are times like after a meal that I think “wouldn’t a ‘%$*!’ be nice”, thankfully the craving goes away just as fast and mysterious as it appeared.

Not too long into the new year, I was basking on my sofa with a bag of Doritos (which used to be a food group to themselves) and I caught part of an infomercial with Tony doing some crazy push-ups. I now know them very well from the plyometric disk. Being a former athlete this intrigued me. As I was dipping a chip I thought this guy is nuts but I like it. It was probably the next weekend that I was channel surfing again with my usual 3 C’s, chips, cookies and a coke when I happen to come across these same fit people, this time doing “wacky jacks”. I had a thought, “wouldn’t it be nice to look like they do”. Then I resumed my attack on the bag of chips.

Some more time went by and finally after the snow was gone for good, my kids and I were at the park. I have two beautiful children; an 11 y/o daddy’s girl/tom-boy, and an 9 y/o head-in-the clouds boy who’s only care is when can he watch television or how much longer until he can play the next video game. Of course, they always want to put me through my paces on the jungle-gym sets and wear my cookie-butt out. Since they are getting older now, they like to compare themselves to me. On this fine spring day, they had a thought “let’s race dad”. I think they were really conspiring to see “how can we hurt dad”. So we set up a mock start/finish line and took off. About 6 steps into it they were still beside me so I decided to kick it up a notch and show them what the “ole man” can still do. I then proceeded to pull my left hamstring and right quad as I nosed them out at the finish line twenty yards away. As they jogged off laughing and probably mentally measuring their athletic growth against my prowess, I was out of breath and in major pain. It was at this time that I had an epiphany…I gotta get in shape.

Here I was a former athlete, probably 50 lbs overweight, pre-diabetic, pre-heart disease, terrible eating habits and children that I want to see grow up and have kids. I knew it was time. As it turned out, I made a temporary job move to Texas so my energies were put to a different use. A couple of months later, fortunately they have infomercials in Texas too, I saw the same extreme people doing these wild exercise routines and called up to order my very own P90X. My journey would now take on a new twist. I set a goal to get fit and I knew that this program would be the ticket to take me there.

I have to tell you that I was so excited to start the program that when the UPS driver pulled up, I ran out the door and met him at his truck. It felt like Christmas when I was a kid. Initially, I received the work out program, the nutritional info and vitamins. Since then I’ve ordered the pull-up bar, which is totally invaluable. You can’t be all you can be without doing the zillions of pull-ups that Tony does. I’m not in his league yet but I’m catching up. Soon I’ll order the recovery drink, I hear it’s awesome.

Recently, I just finished my first round of P90X! The evidence shows that I lost 20 lbs, 16 inches off my body, raised all my scores on the fitness test, and lowered my resting heartbeat to 62 bpm. What it doesn’t illustrate is what it has done for me mentally. Because I look and feel better and have more energy, I have become more productive all the way around. I’m better with my work, kids, and relationships. It’s probably because I feel better about myself and have increased self-esteem. I owe it all to Million Dollar Body, Beach Body, Tony Horton and everyone involved from the nutritionists to all the peeps!

My personal coach, Yamille, has taught me a ton as well. My biggest hurdle was probably the nutrition aspect of this. Not only has she been an inspiration through her own transformation, her knowledge in the dietary realm has been invaluable. She put me on the right path from the beginning and if I ever have a question, she gives me the accurate information that I’m searching for. Check out her thread, she’s got wonderful recipes and thoughtful insights.

I’m now almost 2 weeks into my second round of the “X” and loving every minute of it. I’m doing doubles now as I’m training to get back into the Army Reserves and I’m not quite in the condition that I want to be. I’ve a friend in Tampa and in Kansas City that have seen my results from the first round and they are doing this round with me. We are looking forward to getting into the best shape of our lives. Good luck to all of you in your healthy journey…I’m not going to satisfied until I’m RIPPED!