I originally started P90X because after losing my job and changing careers I had quite a bit more time on my hands. I had heard it was an intense but successful program and some friends of my wife gave us the program as a gift. I was also eating terrible food and was in much need of a change of diet.

The Sunday before the first week we sat down and spent half the day planning out our meals. We bought everything to make at home and adhered to the diet plan verbatum. We measured everything out and only ate foods on the diet plan. We didn’t eat any snack food and didn’t eat even an ounce over the specified portions. We both felt 100% better within a day.

It was inevitable that over the course of the 90 days someone would invite us out for dinner or there would be a birthday party to attend. So instead of completely losing track we would enjoy ourselves, but eat in moderation and even then still try to eat proper foods and portions. If we were simply unable to eat good food then usually the change in one meal or being off diet for one day wouldn’t set us back and if anything it helped trick our systems or clean us out a little.

A typical day for us would be an omlet, two strips of turkey bacon, and a cup of grapes for breakfast. A mid morning snack (allowed in the program). A salad for lunch with lettuce, tomatoe, green peppers, 6 ounces of sliced turkey breast, and a squirt of non-fat dressing. A protein bar mid afternoon. A protein shake following the workout at 6pm made with 12oz. of skim milk then dinner after cooling down. Dinner would be a meat of our choosing ie. 6 oz of lean beef, grilled chicken, a filet, a boca burger, pork loin etc. and a vegetable. We began having our carbs with dinner but soon switched it to lunch for the extra energy in our workout. I normally save my other half a dairy serving for the evening so I can have 4oz of yogart an hour before bed.

The first Monday, June 21,2010, I weighed in at 199lbs. My goal wasn’t weight loss it was to get a nice six pack like I had in high school. We popped in the first DVD and it kicked our @$$! Everyday that week, day after day, it wore us out. We could not even come close to finishing the workouts. We did all we could do, took a break, and tried a little more. The first two weeks were the hardest. After that it stayed hard but was manageable. The only reason this worked for me is because the diet was simple and I didn’t have to plan my own workout. I could just put the DVD in and do what Tony was doing. If I would have had to put in anymore effort than that you wouldn’t be reading this right now. I also had to remain focused on each day individually. I never looked at what exercise was next or watched a video ahead of time. At the moment it was time to workout I looked at the book, put in the DVD and did what I saw. I have finished P90X and I still can’t complete every workout. I have to modify routinely but I still do what I can. It’s better than getting discouraged and doing nothing.

I weighed in the morning of the 90th day September 26, 2010 and weighed 168 lbs. I had lost 31 lbs. None of my pants fit anymore because I’ve gone from a 38 inch waist to a 34 inch waist. I never tracked my body fat percentage but I’d imaging that the change is substantial. I still have a little gut so I’ll keep working out to get my six pack, but I feel way better. I still struggle everyday with the workouts, and if you’ve done the math you’ve realized that I missed a week. Because of a scheduling conflict I missed week twelve and had to redo it. I stuck with the program because I set my mind to wanting to know that I could complete the program and see what the results would be…. no matter what. I did not have a number in mind when I started and had NO EXPECTATIONS. I only wanted to start and finish the program. I recommend setting goals, but the goal that worked for me was “Finishing”.

I started P90X over again yesterday. We’ll see where it takes me in the next 90 days. My wife and I had a gym membership for years and dropped it after we saw we could stick with the program. We’ve used the savings to buy less than $100 in workout equipment. There are a few more weights we need but that’ll come with time. We buy a lot less food at the store. We spend a lot less when we do shop and are able to buy better tasting food because of that. Above all else we save TONS OF $$ since we eat at home 90% of the month. We enjoy eating out but It’s hard to eat healthy when we do.

Thanks for sharing my story Ab Man. I hope it helps others stay on track and live healthier life styles.

Jonathan T

The weight loss story I want to share with you today is all about how easy it is to come up with excuses and how to overcome them. Take a couple minutes to watch this video and listen closely to what this man has to say about his excuses.

There are a few interesting things that stuck out to me in this video. First of all, this guy’s excuses were pretty typical. I’m sure his situation was difficult for him, but no more difficult than yours, mine, or anybody else’s situation. He was waiting for the ideal situation before he did anything to promote his health. The problem is, rarely will you find yourself in the ideal situation. Life will always be a distraction. If you’re going to lose weight, you have to want it more than you want your distractions. If you noticed what the guy said in the video, he didn’t want it enough. When the interviewer asked him why he didn’t at least take a walk three nights a week, he responded that he was just tired of his situation and wanted to eat. With that attitude, he was never going to lose weight. So what changed it for him? Well, this is the part of the video that I actually don’t think is a good example. It wasn’t until his excuses dried up that he decided to do anything about his weight. His life returned to normal and he realized that all the things he had been using as excuses were no longer a part of his life and he had nobody to blame but himself. I don’t recommend waiting until you get to that point because that point may never come for you. Your life might stay crazy and hectic forever. If you wait for things to settle down, you may never reach your weight loss goals.

If you are prone to making excuses, take some time this week to do some self evaluation. Look at the things in your life that are holding you back, your excuses. Are they legitimate or are they just excuses? What can you do to eliminate them or work around them? Start small and build upon your successes. Anything you can do to take you closer to your health and weight loss goals is better than nothing. Find what works for you. The man in this video lost 65 pounds using one of the eDiets Meal Plans. If that is the sort of thing that appeals to you, go for it. If not, find something that does. For you, maybe an in-home exercise program is what you need. Whatever it is, there is no time like the present to get started down the path to a happier and healthier life.

All three of these individuals have inspiring stories and each of them lost their weight in different ways. David lost his weight by using Beachbody workout programs like P90X and Slim In 6. Cristina joined eDiets.com. Jamie just did her own thing and used the internet to learn how to keep track of her calorie consumption. They each had a different approach, but they all had one thing in common. They reached a point in their life where they said enough is enough and decided it was time to make a change which helped them find, within themselves, the motivation to get on a weight loss program and stick with it.

The Today Show had David, Cristina and Jamie on to talk about their incredible transformations. Take a few minutes to watch the video and get a little extra motivation to get on or stick with a weight loss program of your own.

I love to hear motivational success stories. If you have tried any of the Beachbody programs or eDiets.com, let me know how it worked out for you.

If you want to read the original story, you can find it at GoUpstate.com.

The story is about a man named Doug May who weighed just under 500 pounds when he decided to make the life changes necessary to lose his excess fat and get into better shape. Like so many others, he tried for years to lose weight by following various diets but found that he was not able to stick to any of them. This is a cycle that keeps so many people from ever losing their excess fat and getting the body that they want and deserve.

So what finally changed things for Doug? He had an experience that made him realize that enough was enough and it was time to make some life changes. He took his kids to the county fair and had to pay some teenagers to ride with his kids in the bumper cars because he was too big to ride with them.

Some times it takes something that drastic to give us the motivation that we need. If you are someone who needs or wants to lose weight, hopefully this story will help motivate you and you wont need something extreme in your own life to get you moving in the right direction.

So, now that you know how Doug found his motivation, you are probably wondering what diet and exercise program he followed to lose 290 pounds. Well, he didn’t following any of the popular fad diets or any specific workout program. All he did was start walking in his neighborhood in the mornings and evenings and started cooking for himself at home instead of eating out all the time. He started small and progressed over time as his body was able to handle more and more. That’s it. No magic diet pills or fancy exercise equipment. He did it just by being motivated, consistent and sticking to the basics of weight loss: a sound diet and regular exercise.

I realize that everyone is different and what worked for Doug may not be what works for you. For example, when you weight 500 pounds, a little bit of walking can go a long way. On the other hand, if you only have 20 pounds of fat to lose, it is probably going to take a little more than a stroll around the block to get the job done. What I hope you will get out of this story is that success is possible for anyone. The steps you take will be determined by your particular body and circumstances, but the most important ingredient will by self motivation and determination to stick with a plan.

With New Years just around the corner, now is a great time to start thinking about making some changes in your life. If you have the motivation and the determination to meet your goals, but you just don’t know how to get started, take a look at my product reviews and pick the program that is best suited to your goals and circumstances.

If you need some extra advice or motivation, leave a comment or send me an email. I wish you luck in your weight loss goals and success in the new year.