FOCUS T25 Helped Me Become A Playful, Active Parent
Results vary depending on starting point and effort. Sarah is an independent Beachbody Coach.
Sarah B, age 29 from Santa Fe, NM, lost 50 lbs with FOCUS T25. She entered her 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 have struggled my whole life with weight. I have yo-yo’d massively since I was a teenager, gaining and losing 30-50 pounds many, many times over. Four babies in five years added to the extreme weight swings. Until after my last baby, I just couldn’t lose the weight. I tried all the things that had “worked” (temporally, anyway) in the past but this time was different. I wasn’t making any progress and I was in the darkest place I’ve ever been. I was obese, sad, exhausted, in pain due to a herniated disc in my back from lack of ab support. I was disgusted with myself and emotionally feeling defeated. In late 2014, I spent two scary months going through a battery of tests including thyroid biopsies, MRIs, countless EKGs, and a transesophageal scope. I was ultimately diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Hashimoto’s hypothyroiditis. I was put on Armour Thyroid in November 2014 and three days before the New Year, I committed to changing my life and took my health into my own hands.1
What inspired you to change your life and begin your transformation journey?
I couldn’t believe I wasn’t even 30 and I was sitting in a cardiologist’s office talking about potentially needing surgery. I have four babies that depend on me and I was letting them down. I was letting my husband down. Instead of being his helper, I was becoming a burden to him. Someone else he had to care for. It was a harsh reality check that I couldn’t keep abusing my body and expect that I wouldn’t suffer the consequences. I’d always hidden behind the idea that I was healthy despite being overweight. All of my bloodwork and levels were normal and I always felt fine…until I didn’t. It was the rude awakening I needed to focus on weight loss for my health instead of just for aesthetics. It gave me a definite sense of urgency. It wasn’t merely a want for the future or a dream that I could start “tomorrow.” It became an unquestionable, immediate need.
What is the greatest challenge you faced before beginning the program?
Having Hashimoto’s, fatigue was a major problem I had to overcome. The other challenge I face is having four kids under seven and a paramedic firefighter hubby who is on shift more than half the week and working full-time outside of the home.
What in particular did you like about the program you chose?
What I love about T25, and the other Beachbody programs I have used, is that it makes working out totally possible for moms like me. It makes it possible for anyone with a busy life (so everyone!). Everyone can find 25 minutes a day to work out. You don’t have to leave your house or find a sitter or even have equipment and you don’t have to block off huge chunks of time. It is doable. It is so doable. And not only do you get a workout in in 25 minutes, you get a great workout in.
Describe the results you achieved with your Beachbody program. Which achievements are you proud of?
I have lost 50 pounds so far with Beachbody programs. My body has changed dramatically. The pain in my back has diminished as my core has grown stronger. My knees don’t hurt because, instead of jogging miles and miles, I do a 25-minute modified workout that gets more noticeable results. I’m so much stronger and there isn’t a part of life these changes are positively impacting. I am most proud of the dedication and discipline I’ve been able to find while doing Beachbody. Because the workouts are only 25 minutes a day and set up for a specific number of weeks, it makes it easier to commit and to see it through.
How has your life changed since completing your Beachbody program?
I’m just generally happier, stronger, more confident, and more productive. I am able to be a playful, active parent. I’m intentionally setting a healthy example for my children. I’m willing to be in photos with my children again. I have been able to help others who have seen my body changing and want to make changes for themselves as well. My marriage has seen the benefits of the endorphins from regular exercise as well as from the energy from Shakeology2 and from my new-found confidence in my body. I have learned to make my workouts and nutrition a priority without mommy guilt because my health and mood have massive, far-reaching impacts on the well-being of my family. I have learned to love my body for its strength and capabilities, instead of the number on a tag or scale. I have learned that I can push, I can Dig Deeper, and that I am strong and capable of amazing things.
How did participating in a Challenge Group help you reach your goals? How did your group support you and keep you accountable?
Our Challenge Group gives me a safe place to share victories and setbacks with like-minded people on the same path. It was motivational to see other people’s progress and success and even for a little friendly competition. The best thing about having a community of support from a Challenge Group is the sense of consistency it helps provide. Everyday, people are active in there so even on days I felt like I’d fallen off, my group was still going. They were still pushing forward and that motivated me to keep going. It helped put my slip-ups and missed workouts into proper perspective: that of a long-term lifestyle change rather than allowing myself to get caught in the disappointment of my momentary failures. Their persistence helped me refocus and get back on track. Not to mention all the informative answers, motivational quotes, and inspirational photos.
How did your Team Beachbody Coach support you on your journey?
My Coach encouraged me to try Shakeology and helped me work through plateaus. She has served as an accountability partner. She was always available for questions on nutrition or workouts. She was a resounding voice of encouragement and praise for victories and a soft kick in the pants when excuses and old habits started to rear their heads. She noticed when I was inactive in the group and she would reach out to me. She takes a genuine interest in my success. She believes in me and that means a lot.
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, digestion/regularity?
Shakeology has helped me hugely with my sweet tooth and sugar cravings.2 I was a skeptic at first, but after three months of consistent use, I skipped three days and was noticeably experiencing cravings by mid-afternoon. I feel like my energy levels are steadier throughout the day as well, and I don’t have that 3 PM lull.2 I struggle with getting in enough vegetables and variety, so I like that Shakeology includes superfoods and helps fill in the nutritional gaps in my regular diet.
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.
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.