My Story:

As I sat there, head in hands, tears running between my fingers, a single question repeated in my mind, like the light atop a lighthouse, it spun around and around in my mind.

How did I let myself get here?

At 27 years old, I should be enjoying the best years of my life. And yet there I sat, head in hands crying in the bathroom, embarrassed by the reflection I saw.

That was just one of the many days that led me to where I am now. I told myself I didn’t have the time to work out. I told myself that I was too busy taking care of a one year old, then a two year old, then a three year old. I let myself slip further and further into someone I was no longer proud to look at in a mirror.

I was working full-time, recently divorced, raising a daughter, going to school full-time, I had every reason (read: excuse) not to work out, but the time for excuses had passed.

March 14th, 2011 would be the day that I made no more excuses. I started (not finished) P90X once before. I did it for a month, felt good, and quit. This time, there would be no quitting. I had the DVDs; I had the new yoga mat. I had a pull up bar, I had a plan and I was going to stick with it.

My fiancé told me to take day one pictures as I would want something to compare with when I was done. I did not take the pictures because I didn’t want to be faced with the realities of how I looked. Of course, she was right and I wish I had those pictures.

I have never been a morning person, so getting up an hour and a half earlier every morning to work out was something I was not sure I would be able to do. I began on Monday, March 14th. I weighed 228.5 (not even my high point). The first week I missed two workouts. I was tired and sore from starting the program. I made up the two workouts over that first weekend. I have not missed a day since (aside from a day off a week as scheduled).

In the first month I lost 10 pounds. I got bigger, faster and stronger. I could run further, faster. I could play with my daughter for hours and not need to sit down and catch my breath. In the second month, the weight loss slowed down a bit. I was down another 6 pounds to 212 on May 14th. I kept up with all of my workouts, doing mostly two per day. I did a spinning class Mondays and Fridays for 45 minutes. I worked my butt off (literally). By the end of month 3 last week I was past my goal weight of 205 (where I played football in college).  I had lost a full 25 pounds down to 203.5. Today I sit at 185.

I am now in year three and continue to bring it every day. In my original P90X Results video, I spoke about how I was making a lifestyle change, not a fad diet. That has proven to be completely true. By changing the way I approached nutrition and working out, I have completely changed my life.

In this column, I will be discussing exercise programs, nutrition tips and general fitness information that I have accumulated as I have progressed through my fitness journey.  For more information on any of these topics, you can check out my website at www.coachterryg.com. 

I am not a fitness expert, a dietitian or a certified trainer. I am just a regular guy who has had outstanding results following a simple plan.