Beachbody Results: Stephanie Lost 169 Pounds

Meet independent Beachbody Coach Stephanie T., age 42 from Tallahassee, FL.
She entered The Beachbody Challenge in May 2015 and won $1,500!

Tell us about your life before you started the program. How did you feel about yourself and your body?
I have always had a struggle with my weight. In school, I can remember kids making up a song about me, and they would sing it every time I would walk by – “BBT…bye bye tree.” It was their way of calling me “big butt.” From the time I was young, I had people continuously tell me that I wasn’t good enough. And I believed them. I let those voices define my life, so I buried myself under baggy clothes and continued to gain weight into my adult life. My life was on cruise control, but no one was behind the wheel. I was tired and sluggish all the time. After a meal, I would often have to go lay down for awhile. Going back to graduate school in my late 30’s just added to the mix of stress and life issues. Sleep was a luxury. Sometimes I would forget to eat, and then when I did eat, it was just whatever I could find to stuff in my face at the time. My hair was starting to fall out in clumps from stress and poor nutrition – at age 39, I was going bald, and I was miserable.

What inspired you to change your life and begin your transformation journey?
I was tired of always being the fat friend. I was tired of feeling like all eyes were on me when I ate. I was tired of never having any energy to do things. I had a friend ask me to go kayaking with her, which is something that I have always wanted to do, but I knew that I couldn’t go because the kayaks wouldn’t hold my weight. I felt like I died a little inside that day. I realized that I was letting my weight control me, the stress take over. My 40th birthday was approaching, and I knew it was time to take control of my body. I wanted to prove all the voices wrong – all those who told me throughout my life that I wasn’t good enough or that I wouldn’t amount to anything. It was time to reclaim and re-energize my life. This was my time to stop burying my true self beneath all this weight and let my light shine. I was ready to make a change and was willing to step up to do whatever I needed to do to make it happen.

What is the greatest challenge you faced before beginning the program? How did the program and Beachbody® help you overcome that challenge?
My greatest challenge was my self-esteem and energy to exercise. I had convinced myself over a long period of time that I was never going to be active again, and so when I did exercise, I gave up really quickly. My self-esteem was so low, that I hated having photos taken. I couldn’t stand to look at myself. Finding Beachbody changed that. Beachbody programs brought me mentally/spiritually/physically to an entirely different level – one that is much more centered and confident. The energy of the music and the spirit of the trainers made me want to push play every day…regardless of what was going on outside “my time” (my workout time). Going through dissolving a marriage, finishing graduate school, and piecing life back together…Beachbody has given me the strength to move forward and reach for the possibilities held in tomorrow’s sunrise.

What in particular did you like about the program you chose?
Beachbody programs challenged me in all ways – physically, spiritually, and mentally. The music used in the program is fantastic and keeps me going, and I simply just love the energy of the team of trainers. I love the strength and endurance I get from this workout program, not to mention that I feel so athletic doing it. I’ve always wanted to feel and look like an athlete. Beachbody is making that a reality for me. It was so cool to put on a tank top the other day and watch as my friend’s jaw hit the floor and hear her say “Wow! You look so athletic!”

Describe the results you achieved with your Beachbody program. Which achievements are you proud of?
I love feeling and looking like an athlete. I feel stronger, inside and out. And I am so proud of the fact that I can now look at myself in the mirror and smile. I see those little bones right below my neck. I see curves in my shoulders and all my muscles taking shape. I love the compliments that I receive. Someone said, “You look like an entirely different person!” The thing is, I feel like an entirely different person! I am not the same person who started this program back in December 2012. I have muscles. I have definition. I have confidence. I am more aware of how my body operates and what it takes to make it change for the better. And defeating those burpees – that in and of itself is a milestone of an accomplishment! The first time I completed every burpee in a workout, I can’t tell you how happy that made me! At 42 yrs of age, I feel better now than I have ever felt in my life.

How has your life changed since completing your Beachbody program?
I have become addicted to fitness. I can’t wait to push play. I believe when they say if you think you’re tough, you probably will be tough. I feel tougher. I am thankful every single day that I get to keep changing my body and my spirit. I’ve come a long way, but every day, every round, I challenge myself to master something new. I feel like I can take on any and all obstacles that stand in my path because I now have the confidence to make change happen. Working with Beachbody opened the door to becoming a Coach. I love being able to give to others what this journey of fitness has given to me. I just started Round 14! Beachbody programs are my energy, heart, and soul therapy! That warrior-spirit is awake in me, and I feel alive again!

How did participating in a Challenge Group help you reach your goals? How did your group support you and keep you accountable?
The Challenge Group keeps me focused. The group members have been my rock and my family. When I feel like the world is crushing down around me, my group lifts me up and keeps me going. And when they have bad days, I am able to give back to them what they have given to me. We give each other hope. Having a Challenge Group has kept me motivated. I know that I am responsible to check in with them every day. So good days or bad days, I know that I cannot let my team down – I must push play and keep moving forward.

How did your Team Beachbody® Coach support you on your journey?
Christina is an amazing woman and Coach. She’s very encouraging and incredibly genuine in her desire to see each member of her team succeed with their programs. She always leaves small notes of encouragement in my inbox on Facebook or on our team pages. Each day, she keeps encouraging us to reach our goals. I am grateful for having met Christina and becoming a part of her Beachbody team. She has become my good friend, my hero, and mentor. She has seen the potential in me, even when I haven’t been able to see it. I cannot thank her enough for believing in me. In the times when I didn’t or couldn’t believe in myself, Christina believed for me. She reached out to me in a time of need and lifted me up.

How did a Beachbody Supplement or Nutritional Product or Program (such as Shakeology® or Beachbody Ultimate Reset®) support your transformation? What are the greatest benefits you gained? Did you see benefits to your energy, sleep, mood/mental clarity, digestion/regularity?
Shakeology has become a part of my life – daily. I crave my daily dose of nutrition every morning. It makes me feel like I’m doing something great for my body, for my health. It has helped reduce my junk food cravings, and it has helped me change the way I eat because my body wants healthy foods now. I also use Energy and Endurance and Results and Recovery for my workouts, and I can say that both of these products have helped me dig deeper and push through the longer workouts when my body normally would say no more. I love that these all of these products are natural because I know I’m doing something good for myself every time I use them. My body thanks me, too. Then came this 3-Day Refresh program… holy canolis, batman! What an amazing program! The first day was grueling, but as time passed, I felt healthier and lighter. It made me feel like my body was working to full capacity again. I will definitely be revisiting 3DR in the future.

†Results vary based on starting point and effort.