Beachbody Results: Justin Lost 164 lbs. and Won $106,500!
Meet Justin Wells, age 35 from Frenchburg, Kentucky. He lost 164 lbs with Beachbody’s system of fitness, nutrition, and support, and your votes helped him win a total of $106,500 in the Beachbody Challenge!
Results achieved with 21 Day Fix, 21 Day Fix Extreme, INSANITY MAX:30, P90X3, and Shakeology. See his story…
Tell us about your life before you started the program. How did you feel about yourself and your body?
I was disgusted by what I saw and full of self-loathing for letting myself get that badly overweight and out of shape. I knew that I was slowly killing myself with my terrible diet and lack of activity. I often isolated myself from others because I could never seem to shake the feeling that I was being judged every time I got around anyone else. It always seemed that all eyes were on me and my size. I hated the way I looked to the point that I felt things had become essentially hopeless for me to ever change anything about myself. Food was my only source of comfort more often than not, and I developed such a sense of shame that I continually went back to this comfort source. This cycle repeated itself so many times it was my crippling “normal.” I hoped things would get better, but I honestly did not hold out a great deal of hope that they would.
What inspired you to change your life and begin your transformation journey?
My son’s birth was my main motivator to get me started. I teach parenting classes as part of my job, and I would tell everyone in the class how important a father’s example is in a child’s life. In my own life, however, I was setting a terrible example. Not only was I on a course to likely deprive my son of a father at a young age, I was also set to teach him my terrible habits and potentially doom him to a similar life. Aside from all those factors, my son was looking at the prospect of having to sit on the sidelines and watch all the other children play with their fathers as I had to sit yet again due to exhaustion. Merely thinking of these factors drove me in the beginning, and as I went along I began to want to keep going for myself as well. I began to realize I deserved to feel better about myself, and frankly just to feel better overall. As more and more goals fell I began to feel unstoppable!
What is the greatest challenge you faced before beginning the program? How did the program and Beachbody® help you overcome that challenge?
My greatest challenge was lack of discipline, which drove me to do the wrong things and avoid the right ones. I was, for lack of better terms, a food addict, and this addiction drove me to seek out foods that were fried, sugary, salty, and/or void of nutrition. I was also not disciplined enough to make exercise a part of my daily life. At 360 pounds, workouts are very difficult, and it takes a tremendous amount of fortitude to keep pushing play. I had great difficulty finding that fortitude at first. Beachbody and its programs have breathed a breath of refreshing hope into my lungs. As I began to eat better and build exercise programs into my life, my numbers on the scale began to get smaller and smaller. This motivated me to keep going and made me realize that if we keep doing the right things only good things will happen to us. I cannot help but feel that Beachbody helped me get my life back, and I cannot express my gratitude enough!
What in particular did you like about the program you chose?
I liked the portion control aspect as well as the structured workouts. I knew to a degree what to eat and what not to eat, but I was not always sure how much to eat or how to balance it. The 21 Day Fix and 21 Day Fix EXTREME eliminated the guesswork for me, and I now have so much more knowledge about how to fuel my body properly. I also had no idea how to structure an effective workout. I did not have a clue about how to warm up, which moves worked best in concert, and how to cool back down afterward. Shaun T and Autumn showed me the right way to exercise, and they also made it enjoyable enough that I would stick with it long-term. My old haphazard style of exercising has been replaced by effective workouts led by experts, and my colossal increase in results reflects that rather well.
Describe the results you achieved with your Beachbody program. Which achievements are you proud of?
I have lost [over 160] pounds and likely over 100 inches, but just as importantly I feel as if I have altered my body composition in a pretty dramatic way. I would describe my appearance most of my adult life as being quite “doughy.” Now I am beginning to see more and more muscle definition. Much of my body fat aside from the last vestiges of stubborn belly fat is all but a thing of the past. I can now wear clothing sizes that once seemed impossible to ever see again. I wore 4X T-shirts much of my adult life, but now I can wear XL, and my jeans have gone from size 44 to size 34. My appearance has altered to the point that I recently stood across from my former neighbor of 22 years and she had no idea it was me! Besides the appearance factor, I am also proud that I can now exert myself without gasping for air. In the past most activities would leave me heavily winded, but now I have to work much harder to become out of breath. I have a long way to go yet, but I have come far!
How has your life changed since completing your Beachbody program?
My life has totally changed since I have made Beachbody a part of my life! I used to be consumed by a constant sense of pessimism and a focus on my limitations, but now I look at myself and my life and I see opportunity! I feel so much more confident about myself and my ability to accomplish personal goals than I once did. I have learned to not only set goals for myself, but set big goals for myself. I also feel like I have much more life ahead now, both in quantity and quality! At 360 pounds I knew I was facing a short life if nothing changed, but now I see no reason I cannot reach my 80’s or beyond. My remaining years will also be more fruitful as I can engage in far more activities than I once thought possible. I feel like a vastly improved version of my former self, and I cannot imagine how great I will feel as I continue to follow Beachbody’s amazing programs!
How did participating in a Challenge Group help you reach your goals? How did your group support you and keep you accountable?
I felt as if the Group looked at me as an example of the good results that could be achieved over the long term, and I felt as if I would be letting them down if I faltered. Many of them had also met their personal goals, so I also drew inspiration from their awesome results!
How did your Team Beachbody® Coach support you on your journey?
He was there to answer any questions about nutrition (my main area of ignorance) and offer words of encouragement. He has been available any time I have needed his guidance, whether it was about nutrition, new programs to purchase, or anything else I needed to ask. He has probably received little compensation for all the work he has done for me, but he has done so with great kindness and respect, and I cannot thank him enough for that!
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.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.