You can tell how long I’ve been around by what I still call it.
Before it was BODi, it was just Beachbody. Long before streaming workouts, apps, and digital calendars and Apple Watches were the norm, it was a Polar watch and DVDs stacked next to my TV with Tony Horton yelling encouragement into my living room.
I found Beachbody after my first child was born.
Like so many new moms, I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and still carrying about 20 extra pounds of baby weight. I was a stay-at-home mom trying to figure out who I was now, while something in my marriage quietly—but steadily—shifted.
My husband at the time was spiraling. Drinking every day. Going out. Coming home late—if he came home at all. And when he drank, he was mean. Really mean.
Comments about my body. Comments like, “You used to be pretty.”
I didn’t have control over much back then. But I had that one hour.
That hour with Tony Horton.
P90X wasn’t just a workout. It was my calm. My escape. My safe space inside a world that felt heavy and unpredictable. For sixty minutes, I wasn’t walking on eggshells or questioning my worth—I was showing up, pushing through, and doing something just for me.
Fitness Became My Lifeline
After my fourth child was born, I dove back in even harder.
Not because life had improved—but because it hadn’t.
I wasn’t happy, but I told myself if I could just stick it out for the kids, everything would eventually be fine. So instead of falling apart, I pressed play.
TurboFire. Insanity. Insanity Max 30. T25.
Hour after hour, program after program, fitness became how I survived.
Sometimes I had kids running around the room. Sometimes they joined in. Sometimes they climbed on me mid-workout. It wasn’t perfect—but it was mine.
Through those years, Tony Horton, Chalene Johnson, and Shaun T became more than trainers on a screen. They were voices of strength when I felt weak. Motivation when I felt invisible. A reminder that I was still capable of hard things.
The Moment Everything Changed
There was a moment—quiet, heavy, and impossible to ignore—when I finally asked myself the questions that changed everything:
Do I want my son to grow up thinking it’s okay to treat women the way he sees his mother being treated?
And do I want my daughters to believe that this is what love looks like?
I already knew the answer.
So I left.
I took the kids, packed one suitcase, and moved in with my parents. I started completely from scratch.
I had nothing. Literally nothing.
No plan. No safety net. Just a decision to choose better—for them and for me.
And once again, fitness became my anchor.
I slowly began rebuilding myself—physically, mentally, and emotionally—with the help of Beachbody. One workout at a time. One day at a time. Strength first, confidence next, and eventually, belief.
I wasn’t just getting stronger.
I was reclaiming my life.
I don’t say this lightly: those workouts saved my life.
From Survival to Strength
Fast forward to today.
I’m in a healthy relationship. A truly healthy one.
My husband and I work out together. We support each other. We encourage each other. And I still get excited every single time BODi drops a new program.
Things have changed, of course.
I’m not as young as I used to be. I have joint issues. Back problems. And while the days of doing extreme workouts nonstop have slowed a bit, what hasn’t changed is this:
These programs still meet me where I am.
Most workouts now include modifiers, smart progressions, and intentional recovery. I don’t feel like I’m missing out—I feel empowered to move in a way that honors my body and challenges it. That’s evolution.
More Than Just Workouts
One of the most meaningful moments in my journey happened when I ran into Shaun T while traveling for work.
He probably doesn’t remember me—and that’s okay.
But I remember walking up to him and saying thank you.
Thank you for giving me my life back. Thank you for showing up when things were hard. Thank you for the motivation when I didn’t think I had any left.
Because these programs weren’t just about weight loss or abs or sweat.
They were about peace. Clarity. Strength. And remembering who I was underneath everything I was carrying.
Why I’ll Always Share BODi
If you’re stuck. If you’re overwhelmed. If you’re trying to find your way—or simply need a healthy outlet for frustration—this is what I want you to know:
These programs work.
Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally, too.
Fitness didn’t just change my body.
It gave me structure when life felt chaotic. It gave me confidence when I felt broken. It gave me the strength to choose better.
And if sharing my story helps even one person take that first step toward reclaiming their strength, I will continue to stand behind BODi—over and over again.
Because this platform didn’t just help me get fit.
It helped me rebuild my life.
If you’re where I once was and just need encouragement or someone to listen, my inbox is open:harrison@chaosandcleats.com.
Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. If you choose to explore BODi through it, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share what I personally use and genuinely believe in.