21 Day Fix Results: Sophie Transformed Her Body and Mind With Fitness
†Results vary depending on starting point and effort. Sophie is an independent Beachbody Coach.
Meet Sophie, age 26 from Cincinnati, Ohio. She entered The Beachbody Challenge in March 2015 and won $1,000!
Tell us about your life before you started the program. How did you feel about yourself and your body?
My whole life I suffered from depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts, especially in the months leading up to my first encounter with the Beachbody community/programs.1 I felt weak. Defeated. Lifeless. Unwanted. As a person, I felt completely beaten down. I felt my life was always going to be a horror. Always going to be a story of heartache and disappointment. And that’s what I thought I was, a powerless disappointment. Which is what drove me again and again to resolving that the best solution was to end my life. And that’s pretty much when Beachbody came into my life, when this pattern had gotten to its absolute worst and all time low. I had just emptied my bank account, quit my job, moved across the country, and gotten married. Two months into the marriage, my husband told me he was going for an errand. But he never came back. He called three days later to tell me he’d flown away and had decided he did not want to be married. That week I found out I was pregnant…and became dangerously suicidal.
What inspired you to change your life and begin your transformation journey?
I somehow made it through the pregnancy, but four months postpartum I knew that if i did not change things drastically, my daughter would someday be telling the story of how her mother committed suicide. I had played college soccer and knew that physical activity could boost my endorphins and combat the depression to some degree. So I made my move. I searched #transformation on Instagram and found a girl who treated me like a person with a story, not a sale. She was a Beachbody Coach. She helped me dig into the real reasons for sticking to this, which was what I needed, since for me it wasn’t about weight or image. It was literally a matter of life and death, and the future story of my daughter. I wanted to learn lifelong habits that would help keep me in a healthy state of mind. I wanted to be surrounded by people who were moving forward. Because that’s what I needed to do in order to rewrite the way my story was going. I was done playing the victim role in life. I wanted to take back the power.
What is the greatest challenge you faced before beginning the program? How did the program and Beachbody® help you overcome that challenge?
Physically, the greatest challenge i had was that I had a very “complicated” c-section. After 42 weeks of pregnancy, I was induced and had 81 hours of labor ending in a c-section. I then had healing complications.1 My body was completely broken down. My body was weaker than ever. Emotionally, I had less faith in myself than ever before. I thought I could be a wonderful wife, and I felt I’d proven unwanted in that area. I thought I could deliver my child naturally, and I lost that battle. My whole life seemed to be the reiteration that I was a failure. This challenge of taking back my life and body wasn’t just about a number on a scale. This was literally me choosing to say “No! That’s not my story. I have value because I say I am valuable. I can do this, because I’ve determined to do so.” This was a mental and emotional venture.
What in particular did you like about the program you chose?
I loved that it was a mental feat I could tackle. I didn’t feel overwhelmed or defeated upon thought of 21 days, or 30 minutes of activity. It was an attainable challenge for me. And yet still a challenge. And it took me to the next level! All the while with a basis of understanding for how to fuel my body. The 21 Day Fix gave me the grind for ongoing habits and mindsets to use around nutrition. It helped me understand what my body needed. It was the first time I felt capable of making wise choices because it was sustainable. Not a yo-yo fad diet where the weight would come back on.
Describe the results you achieved with your Beachbody program. Which achievements are you proud of?
It’s a year later and just by using the same concepts and principles I learned in those 21 days, I am in better shape than I ever was pre-baby. I’ve never had abs before this! Nor have I known what to do to optimize my body’s performance. I’ve now completed a program that I never dreamed of being able to do.
How has your life changed since completing your Beachbody program?
A simple “health program” is what ushered me into the greatest transformation story of my life. And it’s not just a body transformation. it’s a self-worth transformation. A faith in myself and my ability to stand up after trials come, and to Do Hard Things. I’ve found gold in my story, and inspiration to give to others. It seems silly, but a measly 21 days took my “why I can’t” and turned it into my “why I must.” It’s been the greatest surprise of my life, and anyone who knew me before can tell you that the growth that started in February 2014 when I began those first 21 days has landed me in a place that I only could have dreamed of, given that just months before that I was googling “fastest ways to commit suicide,” “least painful ways to commit suicide,” and “cheapest ways to commit suicide.” Now I thrive. I own my story. I write it every day. And it started with 21 days of figuring out, that I could do just that. I’m forever grateful.
How did a Beachbody Supplement or Nutritional Product or Program support your transformation?
I attribute most of my success to Shakeology, honestly. It’s what kept me from caving to my cravings both within the 21 days and beyond. It was my daily sweet treat go to. I would often be drooling over the thought of cookies or cake and would make a deal with myself. Okay, Sophie, drink your Shakeology first. If you still aren’t satisfied and want your cookie, go for it.” Nine out of ten times, my craving was met, my stomach was full and I’d gotten the nutrition my body was really crying out for. E&E also really helped on the days when I just didn’t think I had it in me.2
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.
1Always consult with your physician about your unique medical needs before commencing any fitness program or nutritional 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.