Beachbody Results: This Dad Lost 149 Pounds and Won $7,500!
Jerry Geter, age 47, lost 149 lbs. with a variety of Beachbody fitness programs, Shakeology, and the Beachbody Performance supplements. He entered his results into the The Beachbody Challenge, and won $7,500!
Tell us about your life before you started the program. How did you feel about yourself and your body?
At age 42 in 2010, I had already had a heart attack. I wore a size 54 pants and a 5XL shirt. After the heart attack, I tried but weight just kept me down. I was miserable on the inside, but I pretended to be the “happy, jolly big guy.” I was really hurting. I was upset with my body, I disliked the way I looked, and since I had the heart attack, I knew there had to be a change. I thought change was not possible as just moving made me tired. But I knew I took years to get to where I was, and a change was not going to occur overnight.
What inspired you to change your life and begin your transformation journey?
My biggest inspiration is my daughter (now 12). But at the time of my heart attack in 2010 she was six, and I knew I needed to make a change for her.3 Change was hard, because I was so big. But in 2013, I had another heart scare and all I could think about was my daughter. That is when I realized she needed me, and I needed to be there for her as a single parent with full custody. I realized I am not able to do things with my daughter that she wants. Being as big as I am, if I remained this way, I may not even be around for her. I was just another heart attack waiting to happen. She was my inspiration. This is when I decided I needed a change, and I knew that change was going to be a hard one.
What is the greatest challenge you faced before beginning the program? How did the program and Beachbody help you overcome that challenge?
The greatest challenge was getting up and moving. I was afraid of exercise. I knew that being so big, it was going to be difficult. Being self-conscious about my weight and size was already an issue. Going to a gym (there are limited gyms where I live anyway) and having people stare at the big, fat guy was not something I wanted. So moving and the gym intimidation were big for me. After all, you always see the Internet videos of people making fun of the struggling big guy, and I didn’t want that to be me. Beachbody was the solution. Being able to do the Beachbody programs in my own home, at my own pace, gave me ability to do the work and not be seen by anyone.
What in particular did you like about the program you chose?
I have tried, and might I say failed, at a few Beachbody programs. When I was big, INSANITY and P90X, even with modifiers, hurt and I usually gave up. Forty-five to 60 minutes was long for a big guy. Then came 21 Day Fix. With this, it made the meal plan simple: fill a container and that’s what you get to eat. I loved the simple meal preps. 21 Day Fix made the workouts 30 minutes with great modifiers. Next came CIZE; it got me going and moving, and Shaun T is the man. He made all the moves and modifiers fun. I did a few rounds to get my cardio in shape. Once I completed CIZE, next was The Master’s Hammer and Chisel. Sagi and Autumn got me toned, and it added the muscle I needed to start the fat-burning process. I have followed that up with Tony and 22 Minute Hard Corps, and love getting in a 22-minute workout and being done.
Describe the results you achieved with your Beachbody program. Which achievements are you proud of?
The results I have achieved are crazy. Prior to starting the program, I had to modify push-ups and the weights I used were very light. I had no arm tone and was flabby. Now at the completion, I can do 25-plus push-ups unmodified, I have tone to my arms, and people have commented on muscles I never knew I had. I have gone from 10- to 15-pound weights to 35 to 40 pounds, and lifting is so much easier. I have seen significant improvement in all blood work, and I’m no longer concerned about diabetes.
How has your life changed since completing your Beachbody program?
First off, I am now an avid Beachbody workout person. I stream different programs and continue to do mash-ups from all the videos I do have. One big item that has changed for me is I am now an INSANITY LIVE Instructor. Going from 388 to an INSANITY Instructor is something I would have never imagined I would do.
How did participating in a Challenge Group help you reach your goals? How did your group support you and keep you accountable?
The Challenge Group helped by having everyone support each other. We all encourage each other to not give up and to keep going even when we felt we couldn’t. Encouragement along the way is also so helpful, and the Challenge Group offered that.
How did your Team Beachbody Coach support you on your journey?
She was always there to give suggestions, provide tips on how to use the foods in the plan with different prep ideas, and made sure we were following the program workouts. She made herself available to be contacted if we started to struggle and provided the encouragement needed when the program started to get hard.
How did a Beachbody supplement, 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, or digestion/regularity?
I’ve used three supplements during my transformation journey. Shakeology, of course, and then Energize and Recovery. Shakeology helps reduce cravings.2 I drink it for breakfast to get going in the morning, since I wouldn’t consider myself a morning person. Energize gives me the boost that really helps me get through my workouts, specifically now where I am starting to push more. Recovery is the drink I look forward to most (it tastes like chocolate milk!). It’s great after the intense, hard workout, when your muscles are sore, and you just need that extra boost to feel better. It allows me to have confidence that I can push myself during cardio and squeeze harder, but not crash and burn and be sore the next day.
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.
3Always consult with your physician about your unique medical needs before starting any fitness program or nutrition product.
2These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.