P90X Results: Stephen Lost 71 Pounds and Got Ripped!

Stephen Varga, age 22, lost 71 lbs in 1 year with P90X. He entered his results into The Beachbody Challenge and won $1,000!

Tell us about your life before you started the program. How did you feel about yourself and your body?
I had always struggled with my weight growing up. I was a bigger kid, despite getting plenty of exercise while working on our family farm and playing sports such as wrestling and football (I was not lazy). Upon reaching high school, I began lifting weights and working out on a regular basis, but I still struggled with my weight. I went to college and tried extremely hard to lose weight by working out daily and eating healthy, but still I could not make any significant progress. I was extremely self-conscious about how I looked, constantly spending large periods of time putting on shirts that did not make me look like I had a large belly. I would never let myself be seen without a shirt on, even by my family. In fact, that is the reason I only have a single set of pictures without me wearing a shirt. Sadly, I would attend pool parties with my friends and never even go swimming to avoid being seen without a shirt. The bottom line is I was miserably uncomfortable with myself.

What inspired you to change your life and begin your transformation journey?
My journey was prompted by a combination of two circumstances. I had just finished my junior year at Ohio State University and had recently taken an anatomy class. One of the cadavers we examined had died of a heart attack at the age of 56. The individual was over-weight. I remember seeing excess adipose tissue all over the individual, but it was most striking to see how much internal fat he had. Fast-forward several weeks later to our family trip to the beach and the rare occurrence of me taking a family picture in a bathing suit. That night, I was looking through the pictures and the one with my brothers and mom came up. The realization hit me like a rock and this is why I have included that picture. I thought of that cadaver, and the man dying from a heart attack. I realized that could be me one day if I did not make a lifestyle change to improve my health while I was young. If I ever wanted a chance at a long and healthy life with the rest of my family, I had to make a change.

What is the greatest challenge you faced before beginning the program? How did the program and Beachbody® help you overcome that challenge?
The biggest obstacle I faced was actually finding a method for losing weight that worked. I had spent years weight lifting to build muscle mass, but never lost any fat. I had tried jogging, using an elliptical, using a stair stepper, but received no results. I tried eating healthy and using weight-loss supplements, but I did not get any results and spent money wastefully. Then I tried P90X, and it was the Holy Grail I had been searching for. Instead of ordering new supplements, I saved my money and purchased P90X. The high intensity workouts provided dynamic exercises to burn calories and train every part of my body. Secondly, the P90X nutrition plan provided me with corrections in my diet that allowed me to get the nutrients I needed while eliminating excess calories. The P90X protein bars quickly became one of my favorite healthy snacks, and the P90X Results and Recovery Formula allowed me to bounce back quickly after the intense workout sessions like never before.

What in particular did you like about the program you chose?
I need more than 1000 characters to describe all of the exceptional qualities of P90X. First and foremost, the program works. You not only see it work when looking in the mirror, but you can feel it work from your first chest exercise on Day 1. It is also the perfect combination of cardio and muscle building exercises. Every day you are working out a different part of your body, building muscle and burning fat in that area. Running causes you to perform the same, repetitive, high-impact motion to simply get your heart target heart rate. However with P90X, it is causing you to burn calories in targeted areas while still helping to get your heart rate to your target zone. The key is you are always switching up the exercises and the muscles you use on a daily basis. Another benefit is the fact that you do not need to go to a gym, or have a lot of equipment to do this workout plan. Lastly, this plan converges all of these benefits into short, time saving sessions that anyone has time for.

Describe the results you achieved with your Beachbody program. Which achievements are you proud of?
P90X was the single, most important tool in accomplishing my goals. I was able to get physically fit and lose the excess weight I had since I was I child. Growing up, one of my dreams was to one day have a six pack like I had seen so many times on television. Reaching this lifelong goal was perhaps my greatest achievement because I had tried to get one for so long but never had abs until now (Ab Ripper X is exceptional). Another achievement I have become proud of is the flexibility I have gained. I never intended to improve my flexibility, but P90X sure did the job. I was very inflexible before the program and could not even touch my toes. Now I find it easy to move in ways I never could before. Lastly, and most importantly is that I have now developed a healthy lifestyle because of the P90X nutrition plan. I know how to eat properly and manage my diet to stay lean and fit so that I can avoid a future weight problem.

How has your life changed since completing your Beachbody program?
The most incredible part of this transformation is how much better I feel about myself. My self-confidence has gone through the roof, but not because I think I look better. I used to care about what people thought when they looked at me. It is not that I do not have to worry about looking unflattering now; it is the fact that I simply do not worry about how others think I look anymore. I have worked extremely hard to accomplish my personal goals, and regardless of what anyone thinks of me, I take pride in my accomplishments. I am at a healthy weight now, and I have improved my quality of health for decades to come. When I look at how far I have come with the help of P90X it gives me a sense of pride that is indescribable. Comparing the photos of where I was a year ago to myself now shows me that I am in control of my future, and I can accomplish any goal with hard work and dedication. I started P90X to achieve a physical transformation, but I received an even greater emotional one.

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?
The P90X nutritional program was a major part in my transformation. The program clearly instructed me on how to eat healthier foods, while receiving all of the nutrients I needed. The P90X protein bars tasted excellent and I used them in place of unhealthy snacks like ice cream and potato chips. The P90X recovery formula also helped me recover faster after the intense work outs of the program. Overall, the nutrition plan has educated me on what foods to eat and when to eat them and with this knowledge, I can maintain the progress I have achieved for years to come. Upon eating healthier, my mood had improved and I had more energy. In fact, I found myself drinking less coffee in the afternoons to stay awake. This nutritional program is incredible.

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. What program are you committing to next?

^†Results vary depending on starting point, goals, and effort.