“I Used Something Tragic in My Life to Create Something Good”

^†Results vary depending on starting point and effort. Katelyn is an independent Beachbody Coach.

Meet Katelyn S.! She participated in The Beachbody Challenge and won the $500 Daily Prize for January 5th!

Tell us about your life before you started the program. How did you feel about yourself and your body?
Life was all about everyone around me, never about me. I was a mom, wife, and daughter and those titles got put first. I had decided that my family genes weren’t going to ever allow me to be healthy the way I had wanted. And neither was the rest of society with the processed foods, fast foods, and quick fixes. I overindulged to reward myself when I could, but I also emotionally ate my way through a lot of things. I was completely unhappy but figured there was very little I could do about it.

What inspired you to change your life and begin your transformation journey?
In July 2013 my older brother unexpectedly passed away, just one week shy of his 32nd birthday. I watched in horror what it did to my parents, so I planned his funeral, spent day after day caring for my parents, and eating my emotions deep down with all the food that was being brought to us. One day I looked at a picture of myself at my one year old’s baptism, two months after Adam’s death. It was an eye opening moment, looking at myself, I was forced to admit that my weight was out of control. I knew that if I didn’t change, I’d be in an early grave too. I couldn’t do that to my son, my husband, or my parents. Something snapped. I knew that in order to be better for everyone in my life that I had to start with myself first. And it was the perfect way to honor my late brother, who was a chef. I started with baby steps last summer canning, freezing, cooking things from scratch and learning clean eating.

What is the greatest challenge you faced before beginning the program? How did the program and Beachbody® help you overcome that challenge?
My own self-doubt is the biggest culprit. I can talk myself out of just about anything. I’ve failed at so many things I’ve tried. I have the ‘why bother’ mentality some days. Beachbody eased me in to a whole new life. Not just a new body. I began feeling uplifted by being a part of my very first challenge group. When that was over, I started another. When I finished Focus T25, I stepped WAY outside my comfort zone and did INSANITY with my husband. Along the way, I proved to myself that I did have the motivation and drive to do this. I was doing it. Now, a year later, I’m 14 pounds from my overall goal and there’s no stopping me. Friends and family have begun seeking my advice and help on how to break habits or start exercising. My next goal is to help my parents do what I did. And the first place I’m starting is becoming a Beachbody Coach!

Describe the results you achieved with your Beachbody program. Which achievements are you proud of?
I’m still in shock that I was able to do it. I’m still surprised when I step on the scale less and less because my body feels wonderful, and I don’t need the scale like I used to. My results have blown me away. I’m down 106 pounds and the last 14 are in sight to a healthy BMI. I’m proud that I’m healthy for my family. Just by changing our eating habits, my husband watched 35 pounds melt away! And maybe what I’m most proud of, my parents have begun those steps towards healthier eating and my mom is doing the 21 Day Fix on my challenge group!

How has your life changed since completing your Beachbody program?
My first reaction is to say that I’m a new person. But that’s not true, nor do I want to be. I’m the same scarred and hurt me that I was last year. Only now, I’ve learned how to use those scars and tears to make myself better. I used something tragic in my life to create a new life, to create something good. That was what my brother was all about. He never thought twice, dove right in, and lived and loved life to the fullest. So that’s what I’m doing now. I still have days where I eat everything in sight ,and I don’t feel like working out. But I remember in those moments the hurt from last year. The hurt I felt when I lost my brother, and the hurt I felt when it became clear that if I didn’t change, I’d be next to find an early grave. Now, I’m standing tall and doing all I can to make myself remember that and to keep pushing forward.

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.