“Loving the Lifestyle I’m Living”

^†Results vary depending on starting point and effort.

Meet Daniel R., age 26, from Plano, TX. He entered The Beachbody Challenge in November 2014 and won a Daily Prize of $500 + a Monthly prize of $1,000!

Tell us about your life before you started the program. How did you feel about yourself and your body?
The life I lived before is very similar to the lifestyle I live now, but not one that I am proud of. From the first moments of the day I was eating, and not the proteins, fruit, and whole grains I eat now. I caved into my urges of greasy, fatty, and salty foods that would constantly drain my energy. By lunchtime, I was already tired and depressed. When I would get home, I would be drained, have no energy, and continue the cycle of binge eating and inactivity (unless you count picking up the remote). It was a vicious cycle because of how I looked and felt. I would not want to go out and do any sort of activities because I felt ashamed of what I had become, and in turn it was just feeding into my eating addiction. The only thing that made me feel better was eating and I hated it. What was once justifiable in my teenage years now became a sad excuse for living. My self esteem was at its lowest, and my self worth was non-existent. I needed to change, and I needed to do it now!

What inspired you to change your life and begin your transformation journey?
There are several moments during my worst days that created sparks. My first spark when I had to ask for a table because I couldn’t fit into the booth of a restaurant. Another spark occurred when I looked at all my friends and family and could tell they felt sorry for how I looked and felt. Even though they would tell me they love me no matter what, I still felt embarrassed for them to be around me. The spark that started the fire in me for my transformation occurred at an Amusement Park. Being someone that has always liked to have fun and go fast, I wanted to go on a roller coaster. When the ride attendant had to get a 2nd employee to help lock the safety harness into place because of my size, I knew I had to change. No longer did I want to be the center of the joke, or the one ordering twice as much food. I wanted to be the one that inspired others to be healthy. I wanted to be the one that people were proud of, not ashamed. I wanted to walk up to a mirror with confidence, not fear!

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 before beginning the program was my fear of failure. So many times had I tried to cut out certain foods, attempted a diet/exercise regiment, or started a program. Every time I would get excited for the thought of success, only to fall back into my same habits. Beachbody helped me overcome this challenge because of how many people saw positive results. When you see people’s stories you can see in their eyes that they were not happy with themselves. I know this because it’s the same look I used to give. I wanted to see their eyes in the after pictures-that feeling of accomplishment, that feeling of success, and that feeling of making those around you proud. Beachbody also helped me overcome this challenge with support. A strong network of people dedicated to helping others and real, non-actor individuals that had a goal and a story. If they could do it, so could I. This time I couldn’t just put my foot in the water, I had to jump in, and I’m swimming in the results.

What in particular did you like about the program you chose?
The challenges that P90X, P90X3 and Focus T25 threw at me were nothing that I had ever experienced before. The series of workouts that are in the program were difficult but also educational. I would have never thought, a large guy such as myself, on the floor doing yoga every week, but it worked and it made it that much more rewarding. Tony Horton was such a great coach, and even though he was just on a TV, I felt like we were in the same room. During the workouts, he had the perfect timing for chiming in to keep pushing and encouraging you. The moments where I was sweating all over the living room floor, feeling like I needed to give up or throw in the towel, I would hear a “only a few more left, I know you can do it!” I couldn’t be that lethargic over weight guy anymore who waited around expecting someone to motivate me. The program empowered me to do good, it gave me drive, and once I was passed those first 30 days, I was flying full speed. Nothing could slow me down.

Describe the results you achieved with your Beachbody program. Which achievements are you proud of?
There are many successes in my journey with P90X, P90X3, Focus T25, and all of them a sense of fulfillment. One of them was being able to finish a whole 90 days, an unstoppable force of athleticism and being so excited of the results I wanted to do a whole other round! What propelled me to continue with P90X was how the fat would shed off and clothes didn’t seem like such an obstacle anymore. Walking in to retail stores and not being afraid of shopping for a new self was all of a sudden fun, and I was showing off in a casual outfit rather than hiding away in the corner in my uniform from work. A second achievement was actually loving a new lifestyle I once loathed. Being able to wake up everyday and follow a strict schedule of working out is completely reverse of how I used to live. Pull ups and push ups were no longer a joke, they were my goal and I became immersed in learning every single one out there. No longer was I maxing out in yoga in the first 30 min but making it all the way to the end.

How has your life changed since completing your Beachbody program?
My whole outlook on life has completely changed, who would have thought that I would be able to enjoy eating healthy when everyone around me indulged in all of the nasty junk food I once found comfort. I began to have that head in the game approach, not just for my workouts but in life. Instead of hearing those poisonous thoughts in my head, saying you can’t do it, it has never worked before, give up; I am now able to inspire myself and other people. People now approach me and ask for my advice on how to create a lifestyle I have created for myself. My daily routine isn’t such a struggle anymore, I have energy to work through my whole day and I can sleep so much better, without snoring off my wife’s ear! My confidence turned “beast mode” and no longer am I the one guy sitting on the bench too embarrassed to jump in. I am now embracing the new found energy I have and loving the lifestyle I’m living.

How did participating in a Challenge Group help you reach your goals? How did your group support you and keep you accountable?
As challenging as the program is, the group was there to encourage myself and the others. The motivation was constant, and everyone in the group was going through the same struggles I was so we all had that personal first hand experience. The group showered me with compliments, even if it was as simple as being able to do one pull up. Everyone is apart of a daily check in, just to make sure no one was slipping. The group is what helped fuel myself to keep going. There were times where it seemed so easy to just throw in the towel and walk away, but someone would share a success story and I was immediately thrown back into the ring.

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 shirt and a chance to win cash & prizes.