This Busy Mom Lost 59 Pounds and Four Dress Sizes!

Jasmin Watkins lost 59 lbs. with FOCUS T25 and Ultimate Reset. She entered her results into the Beachbody Challenge, and won $1,500!

Tell us about your life before you started the program. How did you feel about yourself and your body?
Prior to my journey, I was repulsed by my body. I had just given birth to twin sons, and while I loved being a mother, I hated the fact that I still looked pregnant months later. Nothing fit, and I was depressed. I wouldn’t go shopping, and I avoided mirrors at all costs. I didn’t even want to take pictures, because I was so embarrassed about my body, especially my stomach. I have a condition called diastasis recti, and was told the only way to lose the stomach fat was to get cosmetic surgery. That made me even more depressed. People would always tell me how fat I had gotten, and it hurt me so deeply. To think an experience that was supposed to be so positive made me feel so unattractive and disgusted. I was jealous of all of my friends, and I never wanted to be seen in public. I just wanted to hide.

What inspired you to change your life and begin your transformation journey?
I had lost weight right before I got pregnant with my twins, and I knew I could do it. I was tired of being jealous of all of my friends. I was tired of wondering whether my husband could possibly be attracted to me knowing that I was about 90 pounds heavier than when we met. I wanted to be in shape. I wanted to be able to play with my twin sons, and run after them without running out of breath. I just wanted to be a better me. I wanted better health, but I also wanted to look good in my clothes. My confidence was almost nonexistent. One day, a coworker came up to me and told me in front of everyone that I let myself go. At first, I was embarrassed, then enraged, and then motivated. Deep down inside I knew she was right. I no longer could blame the twins for my look nine months later. I was inspired to try something different.

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 I faced was finding the time to work out with two newborn sons. I was breastfeeding at the time, and they were also very needy. I also had a nine-year-old daughter in fourth grade that needed assistance. In addition, I was juggling being a wife and a full-time teacher. I also coached dance. It seemed almost impossible at times. With T25 only being 25 minutes, it was perfect for me. It’s easy to find 25 minutes during their naptime. Sometimes when the music would come on, they would start to dance. Indirectly, I felt as though they were cheering me on. I felt a new sense of motivation. Nutrition was also a challenge as well. It’s hard to cook healthy meals for yourself while cooking other tasty meals for everyone else. I followed the meal guide and used recipes posted in my Challenge Group, which helped me to overcome my challenges. Not to mention, the meals were so tasty, the entire family loved them; it made the process so much easier.

What in particular did you like about the program you chose?
I loved that there was a modifier, because I struggle with jumping. I used to tell people that running and jumping were against my religious beliefs. I hated it that much. The modifier allowed me to keep up, yet I was still drenched in sweat by the time I was done. I loved the moves as well, because it felt like dancing sometimes. What I love most about the program is Shaun T. I love his spirit and positive energy. I love how he is so charismatic. I love how he encourages you, and for a minute, you truly feel as though you are not alone. I truly felt that Shaun T really cared about the people watching the video. He wanted us to be and do our best. He motivated me through a television screen better than trainers at the gym were doing and for a lot less money.

Describe the results you achieved with your Beachbody program. Which achievements are you proud of?
I lost four dress sizes and 59 pounds with FOCUS T25. I feel incredible. I feel lighter; I’m sleeping and breathing better; I am not as tired; my energy has skyrocketed; and I’m overall just a happier person. Prior to T25, I never thought I could complete an exercise program. I hated exercise. I only liked exercise if it was dance-related. If there wasn’t dancing, I wanted nothing to do with it. When I tried T25, I never thought I would actually finish it. The achievements that I am most proud of are finishing the program twice and that my results have inspired others. That makes me so proud, because it’s something that I never thought I could do.

How has your life changed since completing your Beachbody program?
Since completing the program, the biggest change I’ve made is my attitude. I don’t approach things with an attitude of doubt. I am always positive and always smiling. If a situation seems unattainable, I think of ways to conquer it. I don’t have a defeatist attitude anymore. I don’t sit down, cry, and drown myself in ice cream and chicken wings. If someone makes me mad, I work out and take my aggression out on the workout. I also don’t feel powerless. I realize that I have more control over life than I would like to admit. It’s easy to sit and complain about being overweight, but do nothing about it. Since Beachbody, I realize that I will only be as fat as I allow myself to be. If I don’t like being fat, I have the power to change that with help. I truly feel like there is nothing I can’t accomplish thanks to FOCUS T25 and Beachbody. I am so grateful for everything.

How did participating in a Challenge Group help you reach your goals? How did your group support you and keep you accountable?
Checking in daily encouraged me to work out, even when I didn’t want to. There were so many nights, being a mom of three, that it would be 10 PM and I still hadn’t worked out. Normally, I would simply make an excuse, but the challengers and my Coach wouldn’t allow it. I often did things out of a sense of loyalty to the other challengers. I never wanted to let anyone down, and I knew that we were all in the struggle together. If I messed up with a food choice, I felt encouraged, not defeated. I was also often given healthy alternatives to the unhealthy food I loved, which made healthy nutrition more appealing to me. When I didn’t want to work out, my Challenge Group partners encouraged me to work out. They held me accountable. I also tried to inspire others while in this process, and that made me more motivated, because I had to practice what I was preaching. We became a mini-sisterhood.

How did your Team Beachbody Coach support you on your journey?
My Coach is amazing. She posts motivational quotes, recipes, sayings, pictures, and things that made us just want to continue to press play. She empowered us, and didn’t allow us to make ourselves feel helpless. She is very transparent, and allowed us into her personal journey. She was very vocal about her challenges and struggles, and that helped us to see that this is a difficult journey for everyone. No one is born with a six-pack. She allows us to see her hard work and be inspired by her strength, resilience, and tenacity. She would check in with people when they became quiet. It was never about the commission for Crystal. She truly was invested in everyone’s journey. She knew our “whys,” and reminded us of them when we needed to hear them to keep going. She supported us through our struggles, and pushed us to be better with each passing day.

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?
Shakeology was perfect for me. I often skipped meals, and as a result, my metabolism was so slow. I hated breakfast, because I found healthy breakfast to be so boring. For me, I would love bacon and Belgian waffles every day. If I couldn’t have that, I didn’t want to eat breakfast. Shakeology allowed me to eat on- the-go, and provided me with energy. It allowed me to not skip breakfast, and I never felt slighted because it was so delicious. I felt as though I was cheating with a chocolate milkshake, and my cravings disappeared. I also did the Ultimate Reset, and I found the entire experience to be life-changing. It helped me to be more aware of food triggers. I had to acknowledge all of the emotional eating that I was doing rather than eating to live. It also made me feel as though I was purging both physically and mentally. When I was done, my mind was clear, I was breathing and sleeping better, and I just felt better overall. I had a renewed appreciation for life.

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.

*Results vary depending on starting point, goals, and effort.