“I Am the Person I Have Longed to be for Years Now”
Meet Cynthia G.! She participated in The Beachbody Challenge and won the $500 Daily Prize for August 21st!
Tell us about your life before you started the program. How did you feel about yourself and your body?
My husband and I got married in 2009, and I was almost 200 lbs. I got pregnant a couple of months later, and put on 35 lbs. I dropped down to 205 lbs pretty quickly due to the stress of our daughter being in the NICU for 2 months. My husband deployed shortly after. I got pregnant with our son shortly after he came home. When I left the hospital, I was 264 lbs, the heaviest I had ever been. I was miserable. I always cropped pictures above the waist. I was embarrassed to say the least. I bought big clothes so my body would be hidden. I knew I needed a change, and INSANITY was it for me. Go big or go home, right? I had 6 weeks of recovery from my emergency c-section, so I took that time to get my nutrition on track and prepare to start INSANITY.
What inspired you to change your life and begin your transformation journey?
I wanted to better myself physically and mentally! I was depressed. I was a homebody because I was ashamed of my appearance. My kids and husband were a huge inspiration to me. My husband was set to deploy soon, and I was bound and determined to shock him with the “new,” fit me when he came home! I wanted to be the best me I could possibly be. My asthma was out of control. I was on a daily maintenance inhaler, and using my rescue inhaler more than recommended. I was out of breath just bringing the groceries in the house. Being an Army wife, there are times when I am on my own with the kids for months. My kids needed me healthy. I didn’t want them to find me passed out on the floor from an asthma attack.
What is the greatest challenge you faced before beginning the program? How did the program and Beachbody® help you overcome that challenge?
Having two kids did a number on my body. Having high risk pregnancies really put a lot of stress on my body. Dealing with a post pregnancy body was such a challenge. INSANITY and Shaun T. gave me that extra boost and confidence I needed. I am so proud of myself and the person I have become!! I have not been at this weight since 9th grade. INSANITY has truly transformed me inside and out. I have given it everything I have, and I am nowhere near stopping. There is always room for improvement, and I will keep improving myself everyday. It wasn’t just about losing weight, it was about getting healthy in all aspects of my life: family, nutrition, fitness, physically, and mentally. I committed myself! It has been worth every sore muscle and every drop of sweat.
Describe the results you achieved with your Beachbody program. Which achievements are you proud of?
A month into INSANITY, I found out my daughter had significant hearing loss. She began speech therapy. She was later diagnosed with Autism, ADHD, and a speech and language delay. At this point I had finished up my first round of INSANITY where I lost 30 lbs. I started focus T25 after my daughter had to have tubes, tonsillectomy, and adenoids removed. In the middle of Focus T25 I found out my son needed a small procedure, so we were set for another surgery while my husband was still deployed. I completed Focus T25 and lost 18 lbs. I have continued with INSANITY/Focus T25! I made it my goal to be 170 by the time my husband came home from deployment in November, and I was 166 lbs. He hadn’t seen more than my face, so he was absolutely shocked. I have lost 111 lbs, went from a size 22-8, and lost over 50 inches since February 2013. I lost 73 lbs from April 2013 to March 2014 with INSANITY. I have maintained my weight loss, and I am on my third round of INSANITY to build muscle!
How has your life changed since completing your Beachbody program?
My life has had a complete turn around. I am more knowledgeable about nutrition, and it has been a complete lifestyle change for me. I love fitness, and incorporate it into my daily life. I have an entirely new level of confidence that I haven’t seen in about 10 years or so. I can walk into a store now and know that I will have no problem finding clothes. To me that is a big deal. I no longer find myself hiding underneath baggy clothing! I can truly say that if it weren’t for Beachbody and Shaun T. I would not be where I am today. I am so much stronger. I believe in myself more than I ever have. For the first time in a long time, I am truly proud of my accomplishments! Beachbody has given me my life back. I am the person I have longed to be for years now. It gave my kids the healthy mom that they deserve. I have a huge support group through my fellow Beachbody coaches who have become my friends.
You can change your life, too. Take the Beachbody Challenge, for the ultimate motivation to get fit! Select any Beachbody program and once you complete it, share your results for your chance to win cash and prizes.