“I Had to Buy a New Wardrobe Three Times”

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

Meet Todd J, age 37 from Chadron, NE. He entered The Beachbody Challenge in February 2015 and won $1,000!

Tell us about your life before you started the program. How did you feel about yourself and your body?
Looking back, I felt horrible about myself. I had no energy, and playing with my small children was difficult. I was one of those parents who watched their children play but didn’t do much in the way of playing with them because I couldn’t keep up with them. My body was a total mess. At 300 lbs., my knees always hurt, and I always felt tired. My blood pressure and cholesterol were high. I felt ugly and uninspired. I used to buzz my hair because I didn’t care enough about my appearance to care about how my hair looked. I wore a size XXL shirt and size 42 jeans, even though I really needed a size XXXL and 44 jeans because I didn’t care about my appearance. I hated how I looked and hated how I felt physically, emotionally, and mentally. I knew a heart attack or diabetes was in my near future because my dad developed heart disease at my age and both parents are type two diabetics. Basically, I was a mess and a cardiac event just waiting to happen.

What inspired you to change your life and begin your transformation journey?
On May 25th, 2013, I weighed almost 300 lbs. On the Sunday before Memorial day, I developed severe chest pain and was rushed to the emergency room. It appeared I was having a heart attack. I spent a couple of days in the hospital, including innumerable tests. Luckily, it wasn’t a heart attack but reflux that activated the same symptoms. I also had elevated cholesterol (200+) and pre-hypertension. The day after I got home, I decided that I had to become healthy to be there for my wife and two small children. I started eating better, exercising, and setting goals, and never looked back. After almost two years, I’ve lost over 100lbs, and my cholesterol and blood pressure are optimal not only for my age, but for an athlete!

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 that I faced was that I was obese and high-impact cardio was not feasible due to the beating my joints took. Modern Beachbody programs have modifiers for people who need low-impact exercises. I was able to take advantage of modifiers in programs to get a great workout while keeping my knees and back from taking a beating. Now that I’m no longer overweight, I don’t usually need modifiers, unless I tire out or am coming back after an illness. Another thing I love about Beachbody programs are the nutrition guides. Particularly P90X3. Everything is laid out. You learn which foods to choose, and how much to eat. There is no guesswork. And it simply works! Finally, my Coach, and other Coaches I know, run Challenge Groups which provide emotional support, which for me is critical. I have lead multiple Challenge Groups with my wife to help others to reach their goals.

What in particular did you like about the program you chose?
I have done several programs now. I started with FOCUS T25, then did P90X3, Body Beast, and now INSANITY MAX:30. I’ve also done some of the workouts from COMBAT, 21 Day Fix, and PiYo. When I started with T25, I was obese and very out of shape. T25 offered a comprehensive training and nutrition program with modifiers that I took advantage of to keep pressure off my joints. Shaun T “spoke to me” as well, providing encouragement to get through (at the time) brutal workouts. Body Beast helped me build up my muscles after losing all the fat. P90X3 helped round me out fitness wise, building endurance, flexibility, and composition. Now, Insanity Max: 30 is getting my heart rate up and my body fat down while I battle through those last few pounds. I’ve used several programs and love them all.

Describe the results you achieved with your Beachbody program. Which achievements are you proud of?
First and foremost, I am improving my health. This was my primary goal. The aesthetics are nice as well, but I just want a healthy, vibrant life. I want to be around for my kids to grow up. Now, I have the pulse rate and blood pressure of an athlete. I also have energy. My gosh, do I have energy! Oh, and I can climb the playground equipment with my girls. They love that, and I love that I have the energy, stamina, and strength to play with them on their level. I’ve lost over 100 lbs., dropped several pants sizes, and had to buy a new wardrobe three times. Those are also results worth noting but improved health and vitality are the top reason I took up this challenge. I love doing it! 🙂

How has your life changed since completing your Beachbody program?
I’ve completed multiple programs. T25 twice, P90X3 twice, Body Beast, and now INSANITY MAX:30. They are all wonderful programs; I recommend them highly to anyone willing to listen. Because I have lost all that weight and have kept it off, I am now seen as a “go to guy” for folks looking to make changes in their lives. Although I’m somewhat of an introvert, I love helping those looking to make changes. In regards to my relationship with my wife, we are on this journey together and have grown much closer as a result. Our relationship was okay before, but it is great now! My children and I have grown closer, and they are also making healthy choices in their lives with food and exercise. We are all happy now most of the time. I truly enjoy living life, and share that with others. You have nothing without your health, and I came close to experiencing that firsthand. Luckily, I was able with the help of others to turn that around, and it makes me happy to help others, in turn.

How did your Team Beachbody® Coach support you on your journey?
My Coach, Kari Marks, primarily provided encouragement throughout the process. She also provided insights into workouts, nutrition, and other matters pertaining to the challenge. Overall, she helped provide encouragement more than anything. For me, personally, I was hell-bent on completing my first Challenge Group successfully (had a lot at stake health-wise) that I didn’t need much for accountability, but it was nice to have someone to ask questions from and to get a little bump in the self-esteem department at times.

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 use Shakeology daily. I started a few months into my journey and continue to use it daily. During the weekdays, I have a shake combined with fruit, greens, extra protein, etc. for breakfast. On the weekends, I eat it as a snack at some point in the day. When I travel, I take it with me. I love Shakeology in that it provides a nutrient-dense meal that not only fills in the gaps but frankly makes me feel good. I’ve been using it about 1.5 years now. I can’t digest dairy well, so I use the vegan chocolate formulation. It keeps me feeling satiated longer in the morning.