There are far too many P90X testimonials to put on a single post, so we broke it up into two posts for the females.
If you were inspired by the P90X testimonials, the ones below are just as touching.
It is amazing to read the stories that people have with weight loss. When you are overweight or obese, and do something to completely change your life, your whole world changes.
Cathy Carini, Female, Age 43
Cathy’s story begins when she was in her 20s, and everything was perfect. As a passionate elementary school teacher, she was happily married to the man she loved, and they were ready to start a family.
Suddenly, her life started to unravel. Cathy’s husband became terminally ill, and she spent almost all of her time outside of the classroom by his side. A second crushing blow struck her while she was expecting her first baby; she suffered an ectopic pregnancy. She needed to be hospitalized, and her dream of having a child with her husband was shattered.
Cathy’s husband passed away just before their 6th wedding anniversary, and she was understandably devastated. He promised her that once he was gone, he would find great guys and send them her way. Even though she never believed it would happen, Cathy developed a friendship that blossomed into a romance with a man she would later marry.
Because of Cathy’s age, she felt that she was too old to have children and start a family—until she found out she was pregnant. At age 37, she gave birth to a healthy baby girl, and she added a baby boy to the family at age 40.
The pregnancies severely impacted Cathy’s body; she gained 50 pounds with her daughter and nearly 70 pounds with her son. She knew she had to do something to lose weight and get healthy, but with young kids to raise, she didn’t have time to go the gym. Cathy and a coworker decided to start a weight loss challenge amongst the faculty at her school. Weekly weigh-ins kept everyone motivated and on track. Cathy was able to reach her goal by simply improving her diet, but she wasn’t ready to stop there.
Cathy’s good friend and former student teacher had been encouraging her for years to try Power 90. She knew Cathy would love it, especially the boxing portion. At first, Cathy wasn’t sure she could exercise at home, but she knew she wasn’t getting to the gym. She took her friend’s advice and ordered Power 90. The first time she worked out with the program, she became hooked and wanted to Keep Pushing Play. Cathy followed the moves easily, found the workout to be fun and fast paced, and couldn’t get enough of the boxing. She could feel herself getting stronger every day. Cathy has since raised the bar for herself, adding P90X into the mix.
With little kids, a major challenge for her is finding free time to work out. Cathy wakes up early every morning and logs onto WOWY while the rest of the family’s still sound asleep. Although it sounds grueling, the support she gets from WOWY and the energy she has from Power 90 and P90X is more than enough to get her out of bed. The weight from her pregnancies has been replaced by muscle definition, and she is practically bursting with energy.
Cathy is 44 years young and has just 22 percent body fat. Everyone she knows is amazed at her transformation, and she is proud to be setting a great example for her kids and students. Her husband, well, just can’t believe how hot she looks.
Sabrina Dunham, Female, Age 27
Weighing almost 200 pounds at the age of 12, Sabrina became a yo-yo dieter. She would lose weight and then gain it all back again. When she met her husband-to-be, she was at a thin point. But then, after their wedding, she gained 50 pounds in six months. She was stressed from leaving her home of country of Canada, the loss of her grandfather, and being so far from her family, and she took it out on herself.
She sums it up best when she says, “I let circumstances and emotion dictate how I treated my body.” With the help of her mother-in-law and her husband, Sabrina realized it was time to make a change. She committed to Turbo Jam and eating healthily, and lost 85 pounds! She now feels great, like she can take on the world! She is now starting Power 90® and is looking forward to getting ripped!
Since winning, Sabrina has moved up to P90X and is using it to get even leaner. The main obstacle she’s had to overcome has revolved around dealing with her fibromyalgia, a disease that can cause constant pain and discomfort. Some days it’s harder to work out than others but she knows that working out will ultimately make her feel better. Sabrina says that since getting in shape, she’s felt a lot less pain from her condition.
Camille Lusk, Female, Age 39
Just over a decade ago, Cammie Lusk was very active—playing sports and enjoying life. But it changed almost overnight, when she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of multiple sclerosis. M.S., according to the Mayo Clinic, is an autoimmune disease that attacks the nervous system, and for Cammie, only 28 at the time, it was absolutely devastating.
“Within a week, I couldn’t lift my leg. I couldn’t walk. They told me I would get to a point where my husband wouldn’t be able to take care of me anymore—that I wouldn’t be able to be around my kids.”
As her condition worsened, Cammie couldn’t take care of herself or her kids. Chemotherapy slowed her digestion to a halt, and she virtually stopped eating. She felt like a burden on her family, and slipped into depression.
“It got so bad that I thought they would be better off without me, because I was such a burden to them.”
But a slow change took place when Cammie’s husband Dan got involved with Beachbody. He started P90X and so did their three boys. Cammie wanted in.
“I wanted to start working out so that I could be the wife and the mom that my kids and my husband deserved. . . . I wanted to prove to myself that my disease does not define who I am or what I can do.”
Researching different workout techniques and reaching out to P90X creator Tony Horton for help, Dan devised a set of modified workouts Cammie could do from her wheelchair.
“The one we had to concentrate on the most was the cardio program. . . . If they were showing a front kick, I did a punch. If they showed a sidekick, I did a high sword.
“P90X gave me strength. It gave me hope. It gave me power. . . . I started believing that I could once again be the person I was before multiple sclerosis.”
With Shakeology and modified workouts, Cammie has made major progress. Her leg strength has increased, and she can now ride a stationary bike—something she hasn’t been able to do in more than 10 years.
“If I can do that, if I can do P90X, if I can make my legs work to ride a bike, there is hope that I can walk again.”
She’s dropped 70 pounds and cut her body fat from an unhealthy 35 percent to a healthy 20 percent. She says she’s no longer embarrassed to wear tank tops and buys jeans even smaller than the ones she wore in high school.
Julie Filter, Female, Age 25
“The truth is, I had no idea how big I was.” That statement came from 25-year-old Julie Filter. Buying clothes was a nightmare.
“I would leave absolutely crying because I couldn’t get pants on me. I started realizing, ‘Wow, it’s not the clothes that are fitting poorly, or because they’re made too small; it’s because I’m so big.’
“My husband did work out, but I didn’t work out with him because I was so insecure and self-conscious.”
Sick of feeling so uncomfortable in her own skin, Julie became motivated to do something about it by a weight loss television program. The couple had ordered P90X a year earlier but wasn’t committed to it. This time was different. They dusted off the DVDs and got started. But it was hard—too hard, in fact. Julie needed to start with something else.
“I got on the Beachbody Web site and looked up Power 90. I really liked what I saw. The people in the success stories were just like me. They were overweight, obese, or average and getting to a very healthy standard.”
She loved the Power 90 workout but struggled with finding the right amount of food to eat. Julie was nursing her daughter but couldn’t quite find the balance. Following the nutrition guide, and now really paying attention to what she ate, Julie realized she was skipping meals, and that was a problem.
“The way that I found success in getting my eating habitual was to use the alarm on my phone. I would set it to remind me to eat every 2.5 to 3 hours. Within a couple of weeks I didn’t need the alarm anymore because my body was effectively telling me that I was hungry and that it was time to eat.”
She plowed through Power 90, and then ChaLEAN Extreme®. After dropping 40 pounds, she knew she was ready for P90X.
“It was a very intimidating program to me before, but now that I’m doing it, it’s not as difficult as it once was. It’s wonderful to know that my body is now capable of doing these great things that I didn’t think that I would be capable of doing . . . ever.”
Julie now weighs less than her pre-pregnancy size and says she looks better than she did in high school. She credits her husband Mark, who is also her Beachbody Coach, with helping her through her transformation process. And the process continues. Julie is still in the midst of her body transformation but intends to “Bring It” daily with P90X.
Jennifer Lawler, Female, Age 37
While out shopping with her kids one afternoon, Jennifer was shocked when she saw her reflection in a showroom window. “When did I get this fat?” she asked herself.
In this brief moment she realized that she’d lost control of her health and life. Jennifer wanted to be the perfect role model for her six children but didn’t even have the energy to keep up with them. She was depressed and embarrassed. Not wanting to leave the house, she rarely spent time with friends and family. When she did go on a cruise with her family, Jennifer didn’t get into a bathing suit or tan on the sun deck, things she would normally enjoy, and instead wound up sleeping away most of the trip in her room.
Jennifer was saddened when she noticed that her kids were picking up on her unhealthy habits. She knew it was time to make a change but, like so many others, she was afraid and didn’t know where to start. Then, in June, she saw an infomercial for P90X and was instantly drawn to it. Tony Horton made so much sense to Jennifer that she ordered the program right away.
When Jennifer first started P90X she could only do two push-ups. Now she can do over 40! Having six children made it tough for her to work out every day and eat right, but she made a commitment and stuck with it every day. She says that some days she’d have to get up early or stay up late to fit her workouts in, but ultimately it was always worth it.
Since starting P90X, Jennifer has gone from a size 14 down to an 8 and her waist has decreased from 40 inches to 31 inches. She’s happy to report that upon watching their mother transform, her kids began to get interested in living a healthier lifestyle too. Her son now orders healthier food at lunch and drinks more water than soda. Watching her children make changes in their own lives has proven to be the greatest reward for Jennifer. Recently, she’s become a Coach and is looking forward to helping people feel as good as she does.
Makeisha Lee Female 32
Makeisha grew up slim and confident, staying in amazing shape while touring the country as a modern dancer.
Then, everything changed. On her 17th birthday, Makeisha lost her father to ill health. For all of Makeisha’s life, her father, a constant source of encouragement, always made her feel good about herself. Who, Makeisha wondered, could fill that enormous void? Who would make her feel strong, confident, and successful?
Soon after her father’s death, Makeisha suffered another devastating loss when her grandmother suddenly passed away. Her woes only grew deeper when her husband, the father of her four children, started to become more and more emotionally abusive. Makeisha’s only refuge was eating, and it soon transformed her once lean dancer’s body into what she describes as a blimp weighing nearly 200 pounds.
Makeisha finally got the courage to leave her husband and move across the country to start a new life with her children. They had nothing. Living out of her car and in and out of cheap motels, Makeisha and her children relied on shelters and the occasional voucher for food—that is, food that was rarely nutritionally balanced.
Eventually, she was able to find work and begin rebuilding her life. She even met a wonderful, new man. Shortly after getting remarried, Makeisha got pregnant and suffered a miscarriage. Subsequently, she delivered her fifth child. After her last pregnancy, for the first time, she took a rational look at her weight and self-destructive lifestyle. All of the women in Makeisha’s family were seriously obese. The time to make a change—to break the mold—was long overdue, and Makeisha finally had stability in her life. She was determined to get back in shape and just so happened to have a business partner who was a Beachbody Coach.
At first, Makeisha was skeptical about trying Turbo Jam and Power 90, but working out at home is perfect for a nursing mother. In just a few weeks, she saw results, which encouraged her to keep Pushing Play. Keeping track of her diet, workouts, and feelings in a daily journal helped Makeisha stay on track while juggling a large family and a busy job.
After 65 days of Turbo Jam and Power 90, Makeisha lost 40 pounds and dropped down six dress sizes. She also gained 1-1/2 pounds of lean muscle. Makeisha feels stronger and more attractive than ever. She’s even got her children working out, and she can see the results in every part of their lives. To help motivate others through her experiences, Makeisha is starting a weight loss support group for women in her community—plus she writes about her experiences daily.
Melissa Thompson, Female, Age 30
“I hired a personal trainer and got zero results.” That’s what happened when 31-year-old Melissa Thompson first tried to lose weight. She was over 200 pounds, had zero energy, and all she ever wanted to do was lay on the couch.
“I laid on the couch, day after day, watching TV, snacking, eating—not really feeling like I could do anything. I was searching for the reason why I didn’t have the energy and the reason why I didn’t feel good.”
With five children, having no energy to engage with them left Melissa extremely unhappy. Not wanting to admit her weight was the cause of so much unhappiness, Melissa sought the help of a doctor.
“I sat down with my doctors, face to face, trying to figure out what medication to get on, when they looked me in the eyes and said, ‘Until you get your mind right, there’s no amount of medication that we could ever put you on that’ll make it right.’”
She thought if she didn’t take control of her weight, and thus take control of her life, she wouldn’t be around to care for her children. “That” was Melissa’s turning point.
“I don’t even know who took care of the kids during the day. I was literally numb to everything around me except for what show came on next. That was my turning point. It was the moment when I said, ‘I can take control of my own life.’”
She joined a workout group at her church, not realizing that the class was doing Turbo Jam. She immediately loved the energetic, fun workout, because it was easy to pick up.
“Chalene was so full of energy, and her cast was so fun! I remember doing other workouts at home, and it’d be the same thing—day after day after day—so when I knew there was not only one Turbo Jam, but there’s a whole line of ‘em, and every day I could do something different. I knew that it was really something for me.”
Now a Chalene Johnson fan, when Beachbody launched ChaLEAN Extreme, Melissa started working out to that. To hold herself accountable, she utilized her Beachbody Coach, Charline Bucher, and worked out daily.
“Not only am I fitter, I’m healthier, but I don’t have that depression any more. I’m happier than I’ve ever been . . . I’m full of energy, my marriage is happy and fulfilled because I’m happy and fulfilled. A year ago I never would have thought that fitness would be the key to me being so happy.”
Melissa has dropped 60 pounds and cut her body fat almost in half. But she says her transformation is much more than physical; it’s also the way she mentally feels about herself. Because of Charline’s inspiration and motivation, Melissa has become a Beachbody Coach so she can help others as much as Charline has helped her.
Phyllis Stewart, Female, Age 50
It is so hard for me to put into words the way I feel about myself these days. Healthy, strong, proud, and happy can start to sum it up. My life has changed so much since I first found Power90 almost 5 years ago.
When my doctor told me I was severely obese I knew I had to take control of my life. I wondered how in the world I got this way. I wasn’t one to sit around with a bag of chips or cookies in my hand. So how did I get this over weight?
Tony told us that we need to start a food journal, and log everything that we eat. I soon saw WHY I was severely obese! I just didn’t realize until I started reading food labels and logging my food just how much I was getting each day. Add that up with zero exercise and I got my answer.
Sadly, my mother had her first heart attack when she was 42; I eventually lost her to heart disease when she was only 68. I had been a smoker of 30 plus years and quit in 2002. My family was growing and I was blessed with beautiful grandkids. I wanted to be healthy so I could live to see them grow and be a big part of their lives.
I started my journey with Power90 then Power Half Hour, and Turbo Jam. I lost a total of 73 pounds. Into my first year of working out I injured my foot. I had developed a bad case of Plantar Fasciitis. It took 1 year of trying different treatments before I got over it. I didn’t let it stop me on my mission to lose weight though, I modified my workouts and even worked out with a cast on my leg.
Since winning the contest I have completed a round of P90X. I bought the pull-up bar and Tony’s push-up stands. I have also completed a round of the Master Series and then did my own hybrid mix of the new awesome 10 minute trainer, the X, Master Series, Turbo Jam and Hip Hop Abs. I recently received the XPlus and I love the intensity of the workouts!
I have lost an additional 4 pounds and have replaced fat with muscle. I have more muscle definition in my arms and chest. My body is so much stronger now. I see the results when I am hiking, not only in my muscles being stronger, but my heart and lungs as well.
I take Tony’s advice and eat lean proteins, veggies, fruits and whole grains. My supplements include Activit, Performance Formula, Core Omega 3, the Recovery drink and the delicious Chocolate Protein Powder that I have every morning for breakfast.
I am very proud of what I have accomplished. Losing 77 pounds was hard, but maintaining it was even harder! My goal is to continue with Beachbody and to pay it forward.
Audrey Nichelson, Female, Age 43
Growing up on a hog farm, Audrey had a very active life. When she and her siblings weren’t doing chores, they were playing outside, riding bikes, or sledding during the winter. As a young girl, weight was the last thing she thought about, but as she entered the fourth grade, things began to change. All of a sudden, she noticed that there were girls skinnier than her; in fact, to this day, she still remembers their names. Even at the time, she knew she was too young to start worrying about her weight and what she ate. Nonetheless, she began obsessing over food, setting the stage for a problem that would follow her for many years to come.
In high school, Audrey was always self-conscious about the way she looked. Her low self-esteem kept her from partaking in many activities that most people enjoyed. During this time, she worked at a drugstore and had unlimited access to all the new diet pills and crash diet programs that came through her store. Not surprisingly, these quick fixes never worked, and the battle with her weight continued. After getting married at age 20, she started gaining more weight, and although she’d diet and exercise from time to time, she was never able to take off all the weight that she had put on.
Years later, Audrey suddenly began losing weight without even trying. She was eating whatever she wanted, and the weight just kept falling off. For a while, she thought the “metabolism fairy” had paid her a visit, but as her health deteriorated, it became clear that there was a problem. Shortly thereafter, she was diagnosed with a thyroid disorder known as Graves’ Disease. Thankfully, her thyroid didn’t need to be removed, and her condition went into remission. She had been eating whatever she wanted; now that she was on medication, she needed to start getting healthier—but it wasn’t easy.
Being diagnosed with Graves’ Disease made Audrey seriously reevaluate her lifestyle, but it wasn’t until a trip to the Caicos Islands that she had a real turning point. Upon arriving at the resort, Audrey and her husband, Scott, were anxious to get into the water; so they grabbed their swimsuits. The only problem was that Audrey’s swimsuit didn’t fit anymore. She was mortified. They went to the gift store to find a new one, but nothing there seemed to be in her size. While trying on some board shorts in the dressing room, Audrey burst into tears. She was supposed to be having fun on a tropical island, but instead she was sobbing in a dressing room because her clothes didn’t fit.
She knew right then and there that something had to change.
After returning home, Audrey was introduced to Slim in 6. She went to the Beachbody Web site and decided to order Power 90. The program arrived, and she liked it but didn’t fully commit herself to the program until last year. In 2007, she saw vacation pictures of herself that were less than flattering. Annoyed because she thought she had been doing well with dieting and exercise, she realized that she wasn’t making the sort of progress she wanted.
Audrey decided to take advantage of the coaching features offered by Beachbody and began talking to Beachbody Coach Doug Couch. They tweaked her program, and she kept working at it. The tweaks they made worked, and her body began transforming. Weight kept falling off, and muscles kept appearing out of nowhere. To date, she’s lost 33 pounds and 12 percent body fat. On a recent trip to Jamaica, Audrey wore a bikini the whole time and even went scuba diving—something she would never have done prior to her transformation. She feels better than she ever has and looks forward to new bikinis and beaches in the future.
