David's New Years Resolution Paid Off -- Literally.

^†Results vary depending on starting point and effort.

David Cope, age 45 from Springfield, MO, lost 42 lbs. with P90X3 and INSANITY. He entered his results into The Beachbody Challenge and won $1,500!

Tell us about your life before you started the program. How did you feel about yourself and your body?
I felt like crap. Period. I was overweight, unhealthy, unhappy, on daily medication, not sleeping well, and the list goes on.³ My jeans had gone from a loose 32-inch waistline to a tight 36 inches. I kept wearing looser and looser fitting clothing to hide my gut. I was embarrassed and ashamed of how far I had let myself go, and worse, how long I had been stuck there. I woke up almost every single day with a headache. I also had poor digestion, a horrible diet, and always got sick. I carried around tons of guilt for my weight, because of how it had affected my marriage (my wife Kelly always picked up my slack), for not being able to keep up with my kids, and for the bad example I was giving them.

What inspired you to change your life and begin your transformation journey?
For a New Year’s resolution, I told my wife this would be the year I would finally get back in shape before our family summer vacation to the beach. By the third week in January, I had not done a thing to change and my wife showed me a picture of her friend’s husband’s “before” and “after” pictures from his Challenge Group. The pictures were unbelievable but I knew this guy; he was my old friend, Chris Pinkston. I was envious, jealous, skeptical, and then also upset and ashamed, and my wife immediately apologized for showing me his success. Well, that was it for me. There I sat with my wife trying to convince me that I looked okay and I didn’t need to do anything drastic. Nothing could have been further from the truth. I could see it in her eyes. I wanted to dig a hole and crawl into it. I texted my friend Chris that minute and told him that whatever he did, I wanted in, and no matter what happened or what excuse I made, to not give up on me.

What is the greatest challenge you faced before beginning the program? How did the program and Beachbody help you overcome that challenge?
Before Beachbody, I had given up. When I got married in 2000, I weighed 160 pounds. After 15 years of marriage, four kids, a business failure, and some difficult financial times, I found myself almost 50 pounds heavier, in terrible health, with no motivation, and depressed. Even my wife was beginning to lose faith in me ever doing anything more than just getting by. I had become accountable to no one. Beachbody saved my life. My Coach and good friend Chris Pinkston helped me turn it all around. Chris kept me accountable to myself and my goals. I put my P90X3 workout calendar on my wall and started making “X’s” for every workout. I printed out clean eating and Shakeology recipes from my Coach, and taped them up in my kitchen. I weighed in once a week, and for the first time in over 15 years, I finally saw the numbers on the scale going down.

What in particular did you like about the program you chose?
I started with P90X3 — and Tony Horton is the man. I love his wit and humor. I could not believe his age when he would be doing as many pull-ups as the younger guys, and then look at the camera and say, “I believe I am 55 and they are 30.” That always kept me going since I am 45 and believed lately that I was past my prime, never to get back in shape again. My second Challenge Group was INSANITY, with Shaun T — he is an animal. I was always impressed that he would not just lead the workout, but do it all with us. I rarely kept up, but always enjoyed the challenge of trying to put as much energy into the workout as Shaun would.

Describe the results you achieved with your Beachbody program. Which achievements are you proud of?
What do they say, a picture is worth a thousand words? Did you see the guy in the “before” photo? I have a lot more of them — at the lake, the park, all with the same tired expression. I had sore knees, a weak back and core, headaches, and would catch every little bug the kids brought home. I was always trying to just survive the day’s activities rather than enjoy them. I am a whole new man now. A phoenix has risen from the ashes! I feel great, have more energy, am more confident, and happier. Complete strangers smile back at me rather than look away. I just enrolled for class this fall at MSU to finish my degree. On my 45th birthday in April, I ran 45 kilometers (about 28 miles) — it took me almost 6 hours nonstop, but I finished just to prove to myself that I wasn’t past my prime or giving up on life. All of this is great, but the single greatest achievement, the one that means most to me, the only one that matters, is how my wife, Kelly, looks at me. I know I’ve made her proud.

How has your life changed since completing your Beachbody program?
My friends and family are all beside themselves. I can’t go to work, church, or anywhere without seeing someone and getting the “Holy cow!” and “Dude!” and “How did you do it?” responses. I gotta say, it feels really good to hear and see everyone’s reactions. I am married with four kids; the oldest, my son Mitchell, is 14 and has already outgrown me. He used to shoot hoops alone in the backyard while I laid on the couch. Now, he has a hard time keeping up with me as we go one-on-one. My wife and I take our four young kids on hikes rather than sit around the house watching TV or staring at our devices (iPhones). I feel like someone could take a snapshot of my life right now and create a Norman Rockwell painting.

How did participating in a Challenge Group help you reach your goals? How did your group support you and keep you accountable?
I love the Challenge Groups! I tried INSANITY without a Challenge Group a couple of years ago, and lasted two weeks before I told myself that it was too hard, I was past my prime, and that I could never be in the same shape as the people in the video. I immediately put back on the few pounds I had lost and more. I recently completed my second Challenge Group. My first was P90X3 for 90 days, and then I did the original INSANITY for the last 60 days. I loved checking in with everyone daily — getting motivation and tips from my Coach, and being inspired to keep up with it as I saw everyone else’s progress. I have made so many new friends in just the last few months from just these two Challenge Groups.

How did your Team Beachbody Coach support you on your journey?
It is not possible to over-praise my Coach, Chris. I have tried to work out, get in shape, and lose weight on my own for years, and I even tried a Beachbody program in the past on my own but with little to no success. The only reason I signed up for a Challenge Group with Beachbody was because I saw an incredible “before” and “after” transformation on social media, and then I realized that the guy in the pictures was a friend of mine. I have always wondered if the photos you see online are legitimate transformations, but knowing that my friend had just completed it, I knew it was possible for me too. My Coach, Chris, was constantly there to help, answer questions, give support and guidance, pick me up after I fell off my clean eating wagon, and encourage and push me to be the absolute best that I can. I would not have lasted a week without him. I owe the 20 or more years that I’ve added to my life all to him.

How did a Beachbody supplement, 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, or digestion/regularity?
I am sure everyone says this, but Shakeology is the best. I have always used protein powder shakes and supplements, and I have shopped at places like GNC since high school, but nothing has given me the boost I got from Shakeology. My favorite thing now is just a simple chocolate Shakeology with ice, 1/4 cup oatmeal, half a banana, and a splash of skim milk.²

You can change your life, too. Take the Beachbody Challenge for the tools you need to Decide, Commit, and Succeed! Complete any Beachbody program, and enter your results for a free gift and a chance to win cash and prizes.

³Always consult with your physician about your unique medical needs before starting any fitness program or nutrition product.
²These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.