Hey there everyone. :)

[Lion Fire]

Hey Guys, I joined up here after talking a bit with Dave via Email after seeing one of his fantastic YouTube videos. I must say this is one of the most informative and knowledgeable sites/forums/communities I've seen so far. I'll give you guys a real quick background on myself. Basically I've been overweight/obese my entire life. I lost some weight by calorie counting, I went from 295 down to 265. But I stopped the food journal and calorie counting, confident that I could maintain my eating habits. Wrong. I gained it back, slowly it took almost 2 years but I was up to 311lbs. I saw some pictures of myself from when I was goofing around at work. Didn't look good at all. So I went back to calorie counting with a food journal and eating healthier foods. I was able to get down to 244lbs after doing it from April to September. I stopped, once again confident I could continue eating the way I was and keep going. Wrong. Got back up to 261lbs. So now, it's time to get serious and stop doing this to myself. I got back on the calorie counting/food journal again. I dropped down to 254lbs.

Then, I stumbled across this absolute lunatic. I'm talking crazy, highly motivating, super understandable, amazingly insightful guy. Tony Horton. I read up on him, read up on his programs. For the first time in my entire life, I got it. I actually understood the confusing world of exercise and nutrition. It all made sense. I saw P90X and just was floored at how well Tony walked you through it, how motivating he was. But at 6'5" and 254lbs with nearly ZERO cardiovascular strength, there was no way. So there it was, Power 90. Of course! So I started my first round of Power 90, starting with I-II. It was hard. It was really tough. But damn did it feel good, it felt right and Tony was extremely motivating, informative and made it really fun. So after 90 Days, I went from 254lbs with NO MUSCLE, I'm talking none. To 217lbs and muscle definition, that I've never had in my ENTIRE life. At the moment I am currently doing round 2 of Power 90 as well as throwing in some Power Half Hour Ab Burner and some One on Ones (Medicine Ball Core Cardio) to get myself more than ready for P90X. I believe in about 2 or 3 weeks I will be starting P90X and really STRICTLY following the nutrition plan. So I am very happy to have come across this community and Dave in particular who is very knowledgeable about all aspects of this. Who is also someone willing to answer questions as best as he can about my own personal situation.

Currently I'm still doing the Food Journal, Counting Calories and eating as well as I can. I usually eat Turkey, Chicken, once in a while Lean Sirloin Beef, only Whole Wheat/Whole Grains, Various Cheeses here and there (I am going to really have to cut way back on the cheese for P90X), Various fruits and vegetables of course and also Shakeology with Almond Milk every day, a long with a Multi-Vitamin and lots of water. Now that I've thought about it. I might do the Power 90 master series all the way through first, then do P90X. So many options!

I'll post a before and after pic for Power 90 below, the baby in the picture is my daughter when she was about 5 months. If you read through all of this my hat is off to you. :D

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/lionfireva/9718_1154293576454_1201117429_30407.jpg

[Dave]

Matt Thanks so much for joining us and for the kind words. I don't know what it is about hearing stories like yours that motivates me as much as it does, but every time I see someone reach out and take hold of their life and dictate the terms of their own health and fitness it really gets me going. It really confirms Beachbody's mission and our own mission to be an instrument for change in the United States. 75% of the Country is clinically obese, and that is just unacceptable. We have the tools to make that change.

Keep bringing it and I can't wait to connect with you more here.

Dave

[Propnose]

Welcome Matt!

I am new here also, and am equally impressed with this website that Dave & Monica have put together! I am just starting out on this road to health & fitness. I just bought the P90X last week, and I am currently on the road for work and my dvd's are waiting for me at home! In the meantime I have started eating the right foods and cutting out the wrong ones! I also am working out every morning - resistance bands, crunches - LOTS of crunches! Also jogging on the treadmill & working out on the Nautilus equipment at the hotels. I can't wait to get home and start learning from Tony!
Your story is really inspiring and shows what we can accomplish when we put our minds to it and make it a priority to get fit and healthy!

All the best,

Mark

[scourtney7]

Lionfire WOW!!!! Way to go!! that is super inspirational! I just sent your story to one of my friends who recently joined team beachbody and is excited about getting healthy. He is an injured soldier who served in Iraq and was actually paralyzed for 6 months from the neck down about 2 years ago. A roadside bomb full of nerve gas exploded near him and he suffered massive injury. However, he was told that he would regain control of his muscular system and would be able to walk again and fully function within four years. He fought with hard grit and determination and rehabbed extensively. Now he has regained all function and has been medical clearance to begin working out again. He hopes to get back to his Army weight pre-injury. I just wanted you to know that your story touched me and I know it will touch him.

shannon

[FitRunner]

Wow. That's a reminder to just kick myself in the butt when I'm not feeling like working out! :D Thanks for sharing your story. If you can take control, so can I.

[Jan Hicks]

Matt, what a fantastic testimony you have there! It's great to see you pulling it all together and making the life changes necessary. My husband and I started with P90 as well, almost 2 years ago and our lives changed drastically. We also worked through the Masters Series, ChaLEAN Extreme, used Insanity to train for our first 1/2 marathon and are now doing P90X. It is absolutely amazing what you are capable when you take the little steps needed every day to become a new you.

Way to go, Matt! I look forward to getting to know you better and walking with you on this journey!

[Lion Fire]

Wow! Lots to reply to. :D I just want to say thanks to everyone for the great welcome and all of the kind words. I have mapped out my next steps for my battle plan. I'm starting the Power 90 Master Series today and I will have it finished by about the end of March. Then on April 1st I'm going to start P90X. My biggest struggle is getting the nutrition needs nailed down. Since I've never known how to really eat my whole life, but after talking a bit to Dave it seems like I am on the right track. Now just to get those vegetables stuck in there some how. :P

Dave: Thanks and I hear you man. I have quite a few friends that need to change their lives, lose weight and start getting more healthy.

Propnose: Are you a pilot? I only ask because of the Username. lol Nice work on the workouts so far. P90X and more importantly working out with Tony will be a constant motivator. Tony is seriously about 75% of the reason I'm able to work out every day and not give up.

scourtney7: I have a friend who is in Iraq right now and he is a Marine doing Intelligence Operations. I have always thought of joining the Military but honestly my weight and unfit life style never allowed me to get the gumption to go and do such a thing. Your friend's story is very impressive, way to come back and grab life by the horns. Very inspirational. I know if he is able to go through something like P90X he will be in better shape than the military had gotten him to. I know a lot of military people who "thought" they were in shape, then they did P90X. lol

FitRunner: Definitely, it's all about you, no one else can do the workouts for you. Just push Play, show up and do your best. Good things will happen. :)

Jan Hicks: That's fantastic, I basically have done 1 and a half rounds of Power 90. I did a month of I-II then the rest of the 2 months I did III-IV and the other half round I've been doing III-IV as well. But today I start the Master Series in preparation for P90X on April 1st. Not sure what I'll do after that, P90X+ maybe and definitely some One on Ones those are fun. I've also looked at Insanity, we'll see how in shape I am at the end of P90X first. :D