“My Challenge Group Has Made All the Difference”
†Results vary depending on starting point and effort. Paul is an independent Beachbody Coach.
Meet Paul N., age 40 from Miltona, MN.
He entered The Beachbody Challenge in January 2015 and won $1,000!
Tell us about your life before you started the program. How did you feel about yourself and your body?
I work as a sales representative for a large food distributor in Minnesota. I enjoy working with restaurant owners and chefs to help create tasty meals. The job requires that I taste all of the food that I sell. Unfortunately, I wasn’t very good at self-regulating. Things got out of control, and my weight skyrocketed to over 300 lbs! I wasn’t unhappy being big; however, I was very unhealthy carrying that much weight around. I began running short of breath, I was getting sick more often, and I couldn’t enjoy simple things with my kids. We went to the local amusement park, and I was too large to go on the rides with them. Moreover, I was usually too tired to take them to the park, go on a walk or even for a bike ride. I was missing out on a big part of their lives, and I was beginning to get concerned I wouldn’t be around long enough to enjoy the things I love to do with my family.
What inspired you to change your life and begin your transformation journey?
My family was a huge reason to make a change. I wanted to have the energy to be actively involved with my children’s activities as they grow up; but the main reason was for my health. I was feeling miserable, wasn’t sleeping well at night due to developing sleep apnea, and was snoring like a freight train. I would often wake up with heartburn and had a chronic cough. I was short of breath, my knees were buckling under my weight, and my back hurt every day.1 I was a mess, and I knew deep down that something needed to change. I woke up one morning in January and said that’s it, I’m done, I’m starting right now. I already had P90X, and I just needed to press play, right? So it began, I did push play, every day, all the way through two rounds of P90X. At that point, I had lost 60 lbs and a lot of inches, but I decided I wasn’t done yet. The Team Beachbody Coaching opportunity inspired me to do more. I became a Coach, purchased P90X3 and continued to press play.
What is the greatest challenge you faced before beginning the program? How did the program and Beachbody® help you overcome that challenge?
The biggest challenge starting P90X3 was knowing that in order to pack it all into 30 minutes, this program was going to be intense and I needed to prepare my mindset to match that intensity. The How to Accelerate Video was huge in helping me prepare for what was coming. The video helped to explain what to expect for the 90 day challenge ahead of me. I was ready. With the help and support of my fellow Coaches and challengers, I was prepared to take my fitness to the next level. Team Boom and Coach Angie Heckman were right there any time I needed advice and support, or even just for a kick in the shorts from time to time. With their help, I got through the program and here I am today, now 90 lbs lighter and in the best shape of my life.
What in particular did you like about the program you chose?
I love the workouts, the intensity, and the fact that the workouts were only 30 minutes. This allowed it fit into my schedule which gave me no excuses to not get it done. Another thing was the fact that each day seemed to compliment the last. I learned to trust that no matter how sore I was, the next day’s workout would have something in it to help me stretch out the sore spots. As long as I followed the schedule, I knew I would get the results the program was meant to deliver.
Describe the results you achieved with your Beachbody program. Which achievements are you proud of?
I have lost 90 lbs since I started the Beachbody programs! I’ve lost 16 inches around my waist. I can follow along with all of the workouts without any modification, I’m stronger and I have more energy. I’m able to do everything with my family that I was previously unable to do. The Shakeology has really helped with the energy level as well. I have started my own Challenge Croup – Game Changers Nutrition and Fitness, that has over 50 members that now have a place to stay accountable as well. Beachbody has changed my life.
How has your life changed since completing your Beachbody program?
My lifestyle is completely different than a year ago. The network of people that I am in contact now care about their health and fitness, and have adopted that lifestyle as well. I am able to challenge my body to do things I have not done since I was in my 20s. I have an overall sense of well-being and a drive to continue growing in my fitness. I have made many friends through my Challenge Groups, and I am currently helping many others to achieve their goals. I would not have been able to do this without a rock solid program like P90X3, and the support that Team Beachbody brings.
How did participating in a Challenge Group help you reach your goals? How did your group support you and keep you accountable?
My Coach, and the other members of Team Boom, have given me a place to keep motivated and hold me accountable to ensure success in the future. By joining their Challenge Group, posting in the Workout of the Day daily, and participating in all the other fun adventures and challenges, this journey has been a fun and motivating experience. They have inspired me to create my own Challenge Group to help me stay accountable, which has made all the difference in ensuring I am a success. The things they have done as individuals, and together as a team, have really inspired me to push even harder to obtain my goals.
How did your Team Beachbody® Coach support you on your journey?
Angie helped me keep going and inspired me to think bigger with my fitness goals. After watching her, and the other Coaches, running Challenge Groups, doing amazing spartan races, mud runs, burpee and plank challenges; I became inspired to drive harder, be present, and share my experience every day.
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?
I use Shakeology everyday and cannot wait to try some of the other products as well! I have been recommending it to everyone I know, and giving away the sample packs. It works so well as a smoothie, that I had to ask for a new blender for my birthday, and I have blending up shakeo smoothies everyday since then. Strawberry is my favorite! I use it as a meal replacement, and it has done wonders to help keep me on track with my nutrition. I can’t help but think of all the good things that are going into my body every time I drink it. I have also started venturing out, following the recipes that come with the packets to make things like cookies – something I thought was off the list since I have been diligently following a nutrition program to achieve the best results.
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. 
1Always consult with your physician about your unique medical needs before commencing any fitness program or nutritional product.