Beachbody Results: Carmen Lost 161 Pounds and Won $106,000!
Carmen O’Quinn, age 36 from Canton, GA, lost 161 lbs in 2 years with Beachbody’s system of fitness, nutrition, and support. She entered her results into The Beachbody Challenge contest, and your votes helped her win over $100,000! See her inspirational story …
Results achieved with P90X, Body Beast, P90X3, and Shakeology.
Tell us about your life before you started the program. How did you feel about yourself and your body?
Prior to the Beachbody way of life, I found myself constantly tired, could not keep up with our 2 small children, the idea of laying on the couch was more appealing some days than spending time with my husband. I dreaded getting dressed every morning, it was a process to get dressed and actually walk out of the house feeling good about how I looked, and don’t forget the uncomfortable spanx that went underneath everything! My back ached and my health was slowly deteriorating. Every January came and went with the same New Year’s resolution to “get healthy and loose weight” but 365 days later on Dec 31st I had managed to do nothing. I remember going to an amusement park with friends and after waiting in line for an hour for the most exciting ride in the park, not being able to strap myself in because I was too big and getting asked to exit the line. Getting on an airplane and making sure I had a window seat so I didn’t spill into anyone else’s seat. Daily life was a struggle to say the least!
What inspired you to change your life and begin your transformation journey?
As a mother I did some research on child obesity because this is one of the things that scared me the most. After being overweight most of my life and dealing with the all the obstacles that come with it, the last thing I wanted to do was raise my children to be obese. I read an alarming fact that children with an overweight parent were twice as likely to be overweight and with two overweight parents were 2.4 times as likely to be overweight. At the time my husband and I were both overweight. Enough was enough, it didn’t matter how many times I had tried and failed in the past, or how far I had to go. We had become personal friends with Tommy Mygrant who lost over 100 pounds using P90X and he directed us to some videos. One afternoon I sat and watched about 20 transformation videos for Beachbody, all which gave me the belief that I could this! My husband actually started the program first , through the inspiration of my husband action and my Coach’s words I soon followed.
What is the greatest challenge you faced before beginning the program? How did the program and Beachbody® help you overcome that challenge?
Before the program reaching my goal weight seemed so far away and the journey to get there seemed impossible, I had a ton of physical and mental barriers. I thought that I was going to have to eat food that tasted gross I would always be hungry and never truly satisfied. After getting P90X I began looking at the fitness guide and the nutrition plan. Started implementing some of the easy to follow recipes and bought my first bag of Shakeology. I quickly realized that wow, this food actually tastes good, and it was real food that was fueling my body. Another struggle was thinking I had to do the program perfectly to get results, because at 288 pounds it was an effort just to leave the ground. I just began pushing play like they said, and the program showed me how to modify the moves. I was very self-conscious of how I looked working out, which always kept me away from the gym, with P90X I could work out in the privacy of my own home and not worry about anything else.
What in particular did you like about the program you chose?
My husband was the one who first ordered the program and started using it, eventually losing 62 pounds, and our Coach had also used it to lose over 100 pounds. After seeing their results and countless others I knew it was simple and it worked. The thing I loved about P90X was although it is a very challenging, intense, result city program it was easy for an obese, out of shape mom to push play and to follow a simple program and start seeing results with in the first week. Tony talks you through and shows you how to modify the moves, at the same time pushing you to do your best. It didn’t take long to see results & changes in my body and for others to notice results as well. P90X is a program you can grow with, as I have lost weight and improved I have been able to do more in the workout and continue to get results. The thing I love the most is whether you are super healthy, fit person or a out of shape mom/wife this program will challenge you and you can’t help but get results!
Describe the results you achieved with your Beachbody program. Which achievements are you proud of?
I was shocked, and I mean shocked when I lost my first 100 pounds in only 202 days! The first round of P90X I lost 42 pounds, my second round, I lost 45 pounds, my third round I lost 31 pounds. To date I have lost a total of 161 pounds using the Beachbody system. I went from a woman’s size 22 to a junior’s Size 4. But even greater than the weight I have lost is the confidence I have gained. To be able to keep up with my two kids under two, to be able to take them to the park and climb the jungle gym with them and not sit on the sideline because I won’t fit. I no longer struggle with feeling exhausted after 10 minutes of playing with them or my knees hurting from crawling on the ground. No more feeling unattractive and undesirable to my husband, this is something I struggled with a lot at 288 pounds. However, my greatest achievement is that I am able to be an inspiration to my kids and other mom’s that if I can do it, so can you! I am excited for this next round with P90X3 and T25!
How has your life changed since completing your Beachbody program?
My life doesn’t even look the same. Before I started the program I was stressed at how I was going to be able to find the time to do an hour workout 6 days a week, after completing Round 1 I found with all the extra energy I gained with my results I not only had an extra hour to work out, but had even more time to get things done. I no longer struggle with being too tired and exhausted to play with my kids. I am now able to shop at any store in the mall that I want to, instead of having to shop at one of the few “Plus Size” stores. I can go on vacation with my family and don’t have to worry about weight restrictions if my husband wants to take my horseback riding or wonder it I will fit in a ride at the carnival. Stressing out about how tight the seat belt will be on the airplane. Beachbody has given me my life back, has given my kids the mom they deserve, and my husband a wife he can be proud of and have the peace of mind to know I will be around for a long time.
How did participating in a Challenge Group help you reach your goals? How did your group support you and keep you accountable?
When I made the decision to start the first round of P90X, my Coach was in the middle of a Challenge Group, and I did not want to wait. After consulting with my husband we decided to start the round together immediately and not wait for another challenge. I had made a habit of waiting until next year, next month, there was always a reason to wait to get started. I knew in my gut this was my chance to take action, and start now! The combination of the teamwork with my husband and my Coach by my side to answer questions, keep me accountable and my goals in front of me, I knew it was the right decision. For the first three rounds, I continued to keep a mindset of action and started Round 2 and 3 consecutively. Sure there were days I didn’t want to press play, but I Had already made a commitment to my husband and my Coach, and especially knew my Coach would be following up. I am a stronger, more disciplined, more focused person because of going through the Beachbody program.
How did your Team Beachbody® Coach support you on your journey?
When my husband and I first became met Tommy Mygrant I remember hearing his story and seeing his before and after pictures and could not believe it was the same person. To think one of the fittest guys I knew was once exactly where I was, well it was shocking. He was real, a real person, who had overcome real struggles and was helping other people do the same. Before my husband or I committed to the program, Tommy first answered a bazillion questions for us, always encouraging us and inviting us to start several rounds before we actually did. Throughout every step Tommy has been there encouraging, keeping my goals in front of me, checking in, following up, taking several phone calls, texts, email’s with whatever I needed. Without my Coach I do not think I would have ever stared let alone be sitting here today in a size 4 pair of jeans. His role has literally impacted our family to the very core and words alone could never show how grateful I truly am.
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 had tried several shakes, and supplements in the past, most of which tasted nasty and did not give me the extra energy boost it promised. So when I first tried Shakeology I was a bit skeptical. For a non-breakfast eater it was important that I started my day with something, when I prepared that first strawberry shake using Shakeology and I chugged it down expecting some flavor deprived chalky drink, I was in shock when it tasted good. My Coach gave me some ideas for shake recipes that he used as well directed me to the website for more recipes and options. These shakes left me feeling satisfied, full and were packed with the vitamins, nutrients, and minerals my body needed. I also used the Results & Recovery Formula Drink after workouts to help with the muscle soreness after an intense workout. I didn’t use the recovery drink until about a month into my first round and could immediately tell a difference in my muscle pain after drinking the recovery drink.
How did a Beachbody Supplement or Nutritional Product or Program affect any existing health conditions you have?
I was a walking and ticking time bomb. I was considered “Morbidly Obese”, it doesn’t get much worse than that. Obesity lead me to having complications in both pregnancies, gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, and extreme swelling were among the biggest ones. I was at a higher risk for almost every disease and sickness out there simply because of my weight. Not to mention Morbidly Obese people have much shorter lives. I knew I had to make a change, my life literally depended on it. With in the first 30 days of started the program I had increased energy and am now for the first time in my adult life considered to have a normal weight. I don’t have to be embarrassed to get on the scale at the Dr.’s office anymore. I can live life to the fullest without my weight and health issues holding me back. My weight no longer dictates my day, activities, or plans on vacations, it is as if I have been awakened to a whole new life with endless possibilities!
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.