Paul’s story is amazing. Be sure you read it below. He sent me his story and pics this past week, after going though P90X twice. He’s completely changed his health and fitness, and found that staying plugged in with our team was a key to keeping him motivated and accountable. The advice and support of the teamRIPPED nation, along with his own determination to seize control of his life, has turned it all around. Check out the pics below to see the timeline of his fitness transformation …
BEFORE =
P90X Round 1 =
P90X Round 2 =
Thanks for sharing with us Paul! And congrats! You’ve earned a spot in the teamRIPPED Hall of Fame! Keep it up!
Paul’s Story:
My name is Paul and I feel I am finally ready to tell you my story.
I am 25 years of age and grew up most of my youth overweight. In middle school I wrestled in the 215 class and hit my heaviest in high school at 275 but graduated around 250. I always thought I wore it well being 6’1 and having big frame but had no idea the extent of it. I remember being around 19 or 20 years old and my doctor wanting me to start on high blood pressure medicine. I lifted weights, was strong, but not HEALTHY! Was always self conscious about my mid section and was never really happy.
Fast forward a few years, I worked part-time for a public works department for 4 years ( regular stops at 7-11 for taquitos, probably two sugar loaded energy drinks a day and not to mention fast food for lunch). I worked towards a full time position but due to the economy I was left with having finding another job. I always had the idea of becoming a fire fighter so I decided to enroll into the local academy. Still 250 pounds Ill never forget what my Instructor said to us the very first night. “Since PT is not till later on in the semester its up to you if you want to get in shape by then. I’ll just say right now, the better shape you’re in, the more fun you’ll have.” I heard those words and didn’t realize how it would change my life. I started trying to do things like run, do push ups, crunches every day. Only working for a few days a week I was also watching a lot of TV, lol. Of course the info-mercials started and is when I first saw Tony Horton and P90X. After thinking about it for a few days the order was placed and in the mail it came!
I tell you coach the weight started melting off. Over the course of 40 days I lost 60 pounds and was down under 200 pounds! But something wasn’t right. I was in great shape and health, but I wasn’t “ripped”. I ate very healthy and was incredibly skinny, minus all the muscle mass. So I pushed harder, for a straight year and still the same. Skinny and in shape. Until I got hurt from trying some bodybuilding program the following summer.
From that point I was burnt out, mentally and physically. I also enrolled into EMT that fall still pursuing the fire fighter dream so I had absolutely no time to workout anyway (constant studying!!!). The course lasted from September to December. I still ate somewhat “healthy”, but lost sight of my health ending up putting about 30 pounds back on. Finally December came, ready to take my final. Was all amped up ready to excercise again. I thought I would try something new so I went ahead and ordered Insanity! I thought “Ill just do this, cut off all the fat and maybe try P90X again. After the order was placed I decided to watch success videos on YOUTUBE. But then a video caught my eye. “My 90 day transformation with P90X”. Being curious I decided to watch it…
Coach, I believe Ive only been inspired 2 times in my life. That first night of the fire academy, and the moment I clicked on your video. I’ll never forget what I said, “I’VE DONE P90X LIKE 5 STRAIGHT ROUNDS AND NEVER LOOKED LIKE THAT!” I clicked on your link and my life changed forever. The day after I passed EMT I started day 1. I was glued to your website for 90 straight days! Constantly reading your articles and doing my own research. I counted every calorie and never cheated once. It was the hardest 90 days of my life and for a reason. The reason my health was so bad growing up is because I was addicted to a drug called FOOD! I was always eating. I loved it, ate what I want, when I want. I took pride in how much I could consume. I would eat a whole large pizza with a 2 liter of soda, no problem. I still love to eat. But it all paid off. I was 190 pounds and lean, with muscle. I never realized how important nutrition is, no matter what your goal are.
Day 90 I was on a bus to the most obese state in America… Mississippi. Due to the economy once again I was forced to look outside of Michigan for my dream career as a fire fighter. Coach, as soon as annihialated my physical challenge exam I fell off the wagon so hard and was ran over by every wheel in the process. Junk food, fast food I answered ever craving I fought off for the 90 days I put in work. Put belly fat back on, was somewhat back out of shape. I made the move south though after receiving the job a year ago. By the way, love my job lol. I started to work out again, somewhat counted calories but never could get back to what I was. I would lay in my rack at work looking at my 90 day success photos and envy my former self, wanting what I had and so carelessly threw away. Months went by, then came the fall and then I attended the Mississippi State Fire Academy to get national recognized certifications. Then finally this past January, I decided to press play one more time. I was ready.
That was 13 and half weeks ago, counted every calorie and continuing to crush play 6 days a week. Not only am I ripped again, but I am in the best shape of my life. The biggest difference this time is that my head is in the right place. I don’t miss the bad food anymore. I’m around it so often it doesn’t faze me. I live in Mississippi, everything is fried, covered in gravy and dont even get me started on Sweet Tea. I get gruff about it at the fire station all the time but I’m bulletproof. People dont understand that I’m not on always on diet, but now its my way of life. I feel great, strong and my health is perfect. My heart rate is in the 40s and have excellent blood pressure. My eating has also evolved. The only condiments I use now are vinegar and spices, I actually appreciate the natural flavors of things now.
The attachments Im sending are pics from over the years are like a timeline. The one of me in the black shirt with my grandfather was in highschool at my heaviest (by the way, I was floored when I recently found that picture). The one of me in the safety vest was a few years later when I worked for the public works. The one after is Day 1 after EMT followed by my Day 90 pic. Followed by that are my Day 1 and 90 pics from this past round and still going today. Then lastly of me in uniform and a proud father on my shoulder.
I have recently been looking into maybe pursuing nutrition through school as something to do aside my firefighting career. The way food fuels and transforms the human body is facinating to me. I just moved to a new house recently and found my old belt from high school. It wraps around my waist 1 and a half times. I went from a size 44 and just today bought my first pair of size 34 pants.
Coach Wayne, because of you I get to hop onto a plane home tomorrow morning and visit my family and friends, looking and feeling the best I have ever felt in my life. I have all my snacks for the plane ride in my carry on and portable dvd player packed in my luggage because just because youre on vacation doesnt mean your health is. Please continue to inspire more with teamripped and change peoples lives like you have mine.
Paul
P.S.- Im up to around between 2800 and 3000 calories depending on my daily wokout.
Need a coach?
My email: coachwayne@teamripped.com
IG: @wayne_wyatt
