Beachbody Results: James Lost 100 Lbs with T25 and INSANITY!
†Results vary depending on starting point and effort. James is an independent Beachbody Coach.
James Taylor lost 100 lbs with Focus T25 and INSANITY. He entered his results into The Beachbody Challenge, and won the $500 Daily Prize for April 21st!
Tell us about your life before you started the program. How did you feel about yourself and your body?
There was a time when I believed I could eat whatever I wanted. I would eat an entire pizza in one sitting. I would polish off half an apple pie and huge scoops of ice cream to boot. I didn’t pay attention to nutrition and I ate what I wanted with no exercise at all. But as I got older, the pounds continue to build. It was gradual, it didn’t happen over night, but one day I woke up and I was 32 years old weighing in at 350lbs. Even then, I didn’t realize how big that was until one Sunday I was listening to the weight announcements of the NFL linebackers as I watched football and realized — “Hey, they weigh a few pounds less than I do!”
What inspired you to change your life and begin your transformation journey?
Before long, the weight began affecting my quality of life. First, it was the bad knees. Next, I was worried about sleep apnea, a condition associated with obesity whereby the sufferer stops breathing during intervals of the night. One night, it had gotten so bad, the air restriction caused me to wake up and I thought I was having a heart attack. I was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. As I lay in that hospital bed, tears in my daughter’s eyes, who was then 4 yrs old, I knew I had to make a change.
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 fear. It wasn’t the fear of the pain or the fear of the work necessary to accomplish this goal, it was the fear that I wouldn’t succeed at accomplishing the goal no matter how hard I tried. I remember doing my first fit test with INSANITY by Shaun T. I could barely do a tuck jump. It seemed like this thing was going to be insurmountable. But I kept trying. Now, my rational mind tells me that this is a DVD and that Shawn T is not in my living room, but when I was drenched in sweat, and felt like I had nothing left, and I heard him say, “You Can Do It! Move!” I believed it. And I moved. What I lost in weight, I gained in confidence and strength.
Describe the results you achieved with your Beachbody program. Which achievements are you proud of?
When people look at my old pictures and current ones, they simply cannot believe that was me. I have even been asked, “Is that Photoshopped?” I kindly reply, “Nope. That’s eating better and sweating. Would you like to join me sometime?” It makes me feel great when people tell me how proud of me they are that I was able to accomplish this thing, but it makes me feel even better when they ask how they can achieve their fitness goals too. There is nothing particularly extraordinary about my body; If I can do it, they can too.
How has your life changed since completing your Beachbody program?
I no longer worried about sleep apnea. My knees no longer bother me. I can sit on a plane or in a movie theater without the pain, and its amazing. I have more energy than I’ve had since I was a teenager. I can run around with my daughter without getting winded. Its amazing.
How did your Team Beachbody® Coach support you on your journey?
As I continued along my journey, Lynette was extremely supportive and positive! Her insights on fitness and nutrition were invaluable. The journey is not easy. Office donuts and social settings where foods that are not a part of your diet plan are abundant. But, Lynette is so great at providing a link to a healthy alternative to the food I might crave, or sending a quick message asking how I am doing that day, holds me accountable and provided me with the support I needed to believe I could be great and achieve more.
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 could not have done this without Shakeology! I work full time, I am in law school, and I am a full-time dad, so energy is a must for me. I don’t drink coffee or tea, so I needed something that provide me with the boost I need for the day. Shakeology is it.2 I drink one every single morning for breakfast. I love changing up and experimenting with recipes each morning to come up with new and exciting creations.
How did a Beachbody Supplement or Nutritional Product or Program affect any existing health conditions you have?
Beachbody provides programs that support overall wellness, and not a diet. It’s perfect for me and has literally saved my 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. 
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.