After graduating high school in 2001 I got a job in retail. I went from very active (playing basketball for about 20 hours each week) to sedentary. I had an opportunity to play ball in college but knew that my goals wouldn't be achieved if that was the route I chose. At least I had work which kept me on my feet walking and lifting all day.
I got married in 2004 to my best friend. We dated off and on for five years before we got married. Married life was very kind to my waist as it seemed to get bigger every year. Work kept me semi-active, but that was as close to exercise as it got. I enrolled full-time in school in January of 2005 with one goal - get a Bachelor's degree as quick as possible. I filled my life with work, school and fast food for the next two and a half years. I was ready to graduate in August of 2007.
We had our first child in July of 2007. Immediately he became priority numero uno. All I wanted to do was be around him, play with him, watch him - whatever I did I wanted it to be with him. Silly me had already applied and been accepted to graduate school to start in September of 2007. Two more years of school, two more years of retail, and zero time devoted to exercise.
I finished my MBA in July of 2009 and got a desk job at the same time. It took a few months to realize how much walking around all day had helped with my metabolism and weight control. I started asking about P90X during the latter part of 2009 but never found the time for it.
March 29 of 2010 my entire world was rocked. We had just found out we were expecting baby number two when my son was diagnosed with a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma or terminal brainstem cancer. He braved his way through thirty radiation treatments and countless other pokes and prods. During this time he received all of my attention. My own wants and needs were totally suppressed and my weight started to balloon.
Fast forward to July 5, 2010. We came home from a family picnic where I overindulged on peanut butter cookies. I stepped on the scale and bam, 300 pounds. A few minutes later I had the Chest and Back DVD in my computer and was on my way to a new life. The workouts proved to be a great stress relief and a way for me to escape the harsh reality that I had at home with my son. I pushed hard for ninety days and had great success. Over 30 inches and 50 pounds lost! I developed a hybrid workout that would get me through the end of the year. Nothing could stop me!
That was until we got the unfortunate news that my son's tumor was in progression. The radiation had provided us a honeymoon period of about five months, the typical amount of time for kids with this tumor. Caring for him became a full-time job. So to recap: pregnant wife, terminally ill son, work, and workouts. Something needed to get cut and the choice was easy. I tried to ease myself back into old habits, but pizza and soda are just to bloody good to ease back into.
My daughter was born on October 27, 2010. My son lasted until November 16, 2010. Those precious weeks are some of the greatest of my entire life. His funeral was held on the 22nd with Thanksgiving a few days later. Bring on the turkey, stuffing, pie, cookies and all the other goodies of the season. I jumped back up to 268 and started my first round of Insanity on 12/27.
I am committed to changing my life and to helping those around me do the same.
I decided to become a Beachbody coach because I can relate to people that have been through difficult times. I know what it is like to deal with life while trying to make the right decisions. I know what it is like to fall off, but I also know what it is like to pick yourself up and get going again.
Join me on my road to success! You can change your coach with a written request submitted from your registered email address to:
coachrelations@teambeachbody.com, including my name, username, and coach ID number.
My full name is: Stephan Stuart, username: onedose, and my ID number is: 77187
