“I Am Stronger, Leaner, and Healthier Than I Have Ever Been!”

Meet Kevin C., age 55 from Watertown, NY.
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 have struggled with my weight for a major portion of my life. My poor self esteem, due to my obesity, led me into some very dark places in my life. My 20 year struggle with drugs, alcohol, and tobacco can be pretty much traced back to my poor self image, due to my lack of fitness. Thank God I made my way out of that mess, and today it has been almost 35 years since I quit drinking, 24 years I have been completely drug free, and 21 years since I quit smoking. Even though I had managed to escape that lifestyle by the grace of God, I still had huge problems with my obesity due to my awful diet. I felt that I would never be able to overcome my weight problem, and was very unhappy with how far I had let myself go. I first became aware of Beachbody back in 2003 when I bought Power 90. I had modest success losing some weight, but I never changed my eating habits. Any progress was short lived, as I always packed the weight back on. This cycle continued until April of 2014.

What inspired you to change your life and begin your transformation journey?
By April of 2014, I was gaining weight again, back in tight, size 38, jeans, and feeling miserable. Then one morning, when I got out of work, I happened to see an infomercial for Focus T25. I think I saw that infomercial 5 days in a row before I made the decision that I’d had enough, and needed to change. I ordered T25, and the advanced Gamma workout too. I told myself that this time I would do whatever it took to lose the weight, and finally get fit and healthy. I also made the decision that this time I was going to get a Coach, and ask for help with changing my eating habits and nutrition. I knew this time I had to learn how to eat healthy and clean. I was willing to do whatever that Coach told me I needed to do! I was deparate to change!

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 was to overcome the mindset that I had carried with me for so very many years. I was 55 and had struggled with obesity since I was around 12 years old. The old habits were deeply engrained, but I desperately wanted to change, and thought that maybe I would succeed this time. The biggest thing that helped me was that the infomercial explained how T25 was only 25 minutes a day. I said “I can do this – I need to do this”. I started doing T25 and it was very hard for me at first, but I modified and hung in there. I got a Coach, Jason Diebold, and was able to call him, and ask for his advice anytime of the day. His help, advice, and genuine concern for me made all the difference in the world. I ditched the junk-food and processed foods. I got on Shakeology. I stopped doing all the things that were helping to keep me fat. I was willing to do whatever was necessary to change, and it didnt take long for my transformation to begin!

What in particular did you like about the program you chose?
I loved the fact that I could workout in my living room, and that Focus T25 only took 25 minutes a day! I liked the fact that there was someone I could follow doing modified moves. I was so very out of shape when I started, but I could make it through the workout following Tania. It wasn’t long before I began to be able to do more and more of the workout without modifying. My progress really came quite fast. I gave everything I had to this workout. It was never easy, but nothing really worthwhile ever is. There were times when I would be yelling at Shaun T during the workout-“I can do this! I want this more than anything!” My wife heard me a few times and didn’t know what to make of it. But I worked hard, and the weight started to melt off. I started getting stronger. My clothes started getting looser. Finally, I was beginning to be happy in my own skin. The Shakeology really helped me to transform. It absolutely crushes my hunger, and gives me a great shot of nutrition to start my day!

Describe the results you achieved with your Beachbody program. Which achievements are you proud of?
I have quite literally become a new man because of the great Beachbody programs and Shakeology! I have lost 55 pounds of fat, and gone down 3 pants sizes. I am wearing size 32 jeans for the first time in over 40 years! I am stronger, leaner, and healthier than I have ever been in my life! My wife watched me do the workouts for the first few weeks, then decide to do it too. She has also transformed her life thanks to Beachbody! It is such a joyful thing to look into the mirror and like what you see. When you feel good about how you look, the joy just radiates into every area of your life! It is so nice to be able to shop for clothes now in all the stores I could never shop in previously, because I was so big. It took a while to get used to all the compliments I received when people started to notice me getting thinner and fitter. It certainly is nice to hear when people acknowledge your hard work! My sense of accomplishment is very fulfilling!

How has your life changed since completing your Beachbody program?
Everything is so much better now. I have tons of energy; I am more active now than I have ever been. I don’t let life pass me by sitting on a couch taking up space. I started walking 2 miles a day, and that turned into a walk/run everyday. I couldn’t run 100 feet before without feeling like I was going to have a heart attack. Now I can easily run up to a mile. That just amazes me! I may never be a distance runner, but I enjoy being able to get out and run for the first time in my life! My wife has slimmed down almost to where she was when we met 30 years ago! She was inspired by seeing me change for the better. That’s when I decided I wanted to help others feel the same joy I have now found by becoming a Beachbody Coach. I am now getting the chance to help others change their lives, just as I changed mine. It is such a positive life affirming thing! I look forward to every day now. Each new day is a chance to be better than I was the day before!

How did participating in a Challenge Group help you reach your goals? How did your group support you and keep you accountable?
While I did not participate in a Challenge Group for my 2 rounds of T25, I did participate in one for P90. It is so helpful to see daily posts of others who are doing the same workout. It always helps to get encouragement from other folks and to give encouragement too! We all posted every single day of our 90 days doing P90, and it was immensely helpful to talk with others who were day for day doing the same workouts! No one is an island. It always helps to have others who understand your struggles as you make your way through your fitness journey! A couple times, I got very sick (others too), and had to stop working out for a few days. That is especially when the sincere concern of others in the group helps out. They help keep you motivated during those times when its difficult to exercise for one reason or another. Its always a good feeling to acknowledge others hard work, and help support and motivate them too. I would recommend Challenge Groups to anyone who is doing a Beachbody program!

How did your Team Beachbody® Coach support you on your journey?
My Coach Jason has always been there for me, anytime of of the day I needed his advice, or just wanted to talk. I am lucky to have one of the top Beachbody Coaches. He works with many people but always has time to offer advice and motivation. I do not think that I could have achieved the progress that I have without his advice, help, and motivation. Not only is he my Coach and mentor, but he is also my friend! When I hit my goals by the end of my first round of T25, Jason flew out to Las Vegas to meet my wife and I (we we there for our 30th anniversary). I had the chance to meet, listen, and learn from a 15 star Diamond Coach who took time out of his busy schedule to celebrate with us and provide some in person motivation. It means a lot to have Jason believe in me. I hope to emulate his example with all my current and future Coaches. He continues to work with me to help me grow my Beachbody business. I am truly grateful for all his help, and am proud to have him as a friend.

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 love Shakeology! I have been using it from the start of my fitness journey in April of 2014. It helped me control my cravings for all the junky food I eliminated from my diet. I have had people compliment me on how good my skin and hair look (believe me, this didn’t happen before using Shakeology). My energy level is naturally high now, not a false short term energy like when I was using “energy” drinks. I notice that since I have been using Shakeology, I sleep much sounder now, and wake up feeling truly rested. I never did before. I was always tired no matter how much I slept. Its amazing how much better you feel when you give your body the proper nutrition! I wish I had come to this realization long ago, but better now than never! I will always use Shakeology as an important part of my daily nutrition. Thanks for such a great product!

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.