Frequently Asked Questions
Coaching Questions
Q: How do I make you my coach?
A: If you haven't created a Beachbody® account yet, just click HERE and fill out a short form. It's FREE and once you do, I will immediately be assigned as your coach!
Q: What is the benefit of upgrading to the Club Membership?
A: You get a 10% discount on all Beachbody® products! Plus you get access to personalized meal plans, which for some can be very helpful. The Club Membership is $2.99 per week, billed quarterly at $38.87.
Q: Are you a Club Member yourself?
A: Of course I am!
Q: I already have a coach, but would like to be coached by you. Can I do this?
A: If you already have a Beachbody® account, you were automatically assigned a coach upon creation of that account. It is relatively easy to request a switch, to do so just send an email to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and give them my name (Joel Sydanmaa), my Coach ID No. (49635) and my screen name (jcsyd). Carbon copy (Cc) that email to me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it so that I can follow up with Coach Relations.
Q: How do you benefit from being a coach?
A: I get this question a lot! Very simply put, I am an independent distributor of Beachbody® products. I receive no salary for being a coach and no bonuses based upon the total number of people I'm coaching. I am paid a commission based upon the sales that are generated from XcellentFitness.com. Once you decide to purchase a Beachbody® product through this site, you might notice that you are redirected, through my Beachbody® page, to the actual Beachbody® site, where the transaction is completed. So, it's basically the same as purchasing directly from Beachbody®, but I receive a commission because the purchase originated from me. At checkout, you'll notice at the very bottom it says "Beachbody Coach Reference: jcsyd" – that's how I get paid!
Furthermore, I can also benefit by sponsoring other people who wish to become coaches themselves. This process can best be explained in personal emails, face-to-face meetings or telephone conversations. For more information, here is a LINK (select "Coach"), but I would urge you to send me an email @ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it so that we can discuss further.
"Become a Coach" Questions
Q: How much does it cost to become a Coach?
A: There is an initial charge of $39.95, for which you receive a "Get Started Right Guide" that includes two DVDs and print literature. After that, there is a $14.95 monthly fee that gives you a personalized page on Beachbody's website (mine is HERE) and a "Back Office" page which helps you track your sales, team sales, customers, commissions, as well as some training, sales tools, and much more.
Q: How much time do you have to commit to being a Beachbody® coach?
A: It's completely up to you! I would estimate that the vast majority of Independent Beachbody® coaches have other, full-time careers and use the coaching opportunity as supplemental income and an opportunity to help others get fit. Some coaches have become tremendously successful and made coaching their full-time job.
Q: What are the benefits of becoming an Independent Beachbody® Coach?
A: Well, from a financial perspective, it gives you an opportunity to make money assisting others! To me, assisting others achieve results like mine is personally very satisfying. Additionally, all Beachbody® coaches receive 25% discounts on their Beachbody® purchases – that can add up and save you money big time! You also are not responsible for shipping or maintaining an inventory.
Q: Do I need to have had a great "transformation" or be extremely knowledgeable about fitness or nutrition to become a coach?
A: Not at all! Obviously, if you've had a great "transformation," that can be used to your advantage, but many Beachbody® coaches are average people who just enjoy helping others get healthy and fit while earning a supplemental income. I didn't know a lot about nutrition when I started my first round of P90X®, but I really did a lot of homework as far as research, reading and experimenting with training and dieting techniques.
Q: Is there training involved in becoming a coach?
A: There is no specific training that you have to complete prior to becoming a coach. You will receive access to several portions of Beachbody's website available only to coaches, including the Coach's Forum and Message Board. Beachbody's training program is called "Game Plan" and it includes many tools, available at the site, to guide and assist you in getting started. You will receive a "Business Starter Kit" in the mail, and of course, as your sponsor, I will be readily available to you to provide direction, answers to your questions and advice along the way. My sponsors have been terrific and the support-system in place, nationwide, is Xcellent!
Q: Is Beachbody® Coaching a Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) "scheme"?
A: I get this question a lot! Principally speaking, the Beachbody® coaching business is a multi-level marketing system. However, I don't believe it's a "scheme" for two distinct reasons: 1) the Beachbody® programs work and are something I believe in - look at my photos! and 2) Beachbody® is part of Product Partners, LLC, which is a giant, well-respected company with a long track record of success.
Workouts
Q: What is the P90X® program?
A: The P90X® is a 90 day fitness program designed to get you into the best condition possible within that time frame. It incorporates nutrition and exercise aspects specifically designed to constantly challenge your muscles in different ways, to avoid the "plateau effect." I've completed two rounds of the P90X and it has changed my life forever. You can learn more about the P90X® program HERE.
Q: What programs have you completed?
A: I have completed the P90X® twice (commonly referred to as "2 rounds") and have experimented with Insanity®, Tony Horton's One on One®, the P90X+® and the recently released TurboFire®. Shortly I will be starting a P90X® / Insanity® hybrid I created called "XSanity."
Q: Which version of P90X® should I do, Classic, Lean or Doubles?
A: I did Classic both times, although my second time through I "tweaked" it a little in accordance with own preferences and goals. I'm not an advocate of Doubles for your first time through the program.
Q: What is your impression of Insanity®?
A: My impression is that it is very difficult! The only P90X® workout that is similar to Insanity®, in my opinion, is Plyometrics. P90X® and Insanity® are geared towards achieving different results, with the "X" being total body fitness and Insanity® being extreme, cardiovascular fitness. The Insanity® workouts are shorter in duration and the program is 60 days, as opposed to 90 days for the P90X®.
Q: Should I take pictures of my progress?
A: Without a doubt! We can all agree my story wouldn't the same without those Day 1 photos, right?
Supplements
Q: What supplements do you take?
A: Supplementation is so important! I could not have achieved my nutritional goals without supplementing. Period. During my first round, prior to becoming a coach, I used products that I purchased at local vitamin and nutrition shops. During my second round, in order to recommend Beachbody® products in good conscious, I have used Shakeology®, the Results and Recovery Formula, the P90X® bars and the P90X® Whey protein. They are all quality products and essential for achieving the best results possible.
Q: What is Shakeology®?
A: Shakeology® has really been a "homerun" for Beachbody® and is backed by numerous medical doctors and positive, medical reviews. Shakeology® is basically a meal replacement shake that has been described as "your healthiest meal of the day." To learn more about Shakeology and/or order, click HERE. If you select Home Direct, which is a recurring delivery and billing option, shipping charges are free! More than any other supplement I've used, I would recommend Shakeology® - yes, it's that good!
Q: Is a "recovery drink" as important as Tony Horton makes it seem in the videos?
A: Yes! Other than perhaps Shakeology®, a recovery drink within forty-five minutes of finishing your workout is probably the most important thing you'll ingest all day. A recovery drink helps repair your muscles following exercise, so that they're ready for the following day and have the nutrition they need to grow stronger and more efficient.
Equipment
Q: What equipment is necessary to complete the P90X®?
A: I did everything in a 9' x 12' room in my home. I used the P90X® Pull-up Bar, the Bowflex SelectTech dumbbells, push-up stands, a heart rate monitor, yoga blocks and a yoga mat. Personally, I think that is the minimum amount of equipment necessary (I purchased my heart rate monitor during Phase II of Round 1). Much of what you will need is available in the P90X® Peak Results Package which includes the full P90X® program, the P90X® Pull-up Bar, Resistance bands (which can be substituted for dumbbells) and a month's supply of the Results and Recovery Formula.
Q: Which dumbbells do you use during your P90X® workouts?
A: My Bowflex dumbbells range from 5 to 52.5 pounds at the twist of a dial, and I use a wide range of the weight, depending upon the exercise. I'll go from 5 pounds during Arm Circles to the full 52.5 pounds during Lawnmowers.
About Me (yes, believe it or not, I get these questions a lot)
Q. What are your physical measurements?
A. I am 37 y/o and 5'11" tall. I started Round 1 (my first 90 days) of the P90X at 220.5 pounds and approximately 31.5% body fat, wearing size 38" pants. After Round 1 I weighed 185.0 pounds and was approximately 11.0% body fat, wearing size 32" pants (with a belt!). By the end of Round 2 (180 days) I weighed 171.5 pounds and was about 8.3% body fat, wearing 30" pants comfortably.
Q. Where are you located?
A. I live in Southern California, specifically Orange County. I grew up in Chicago, Illinois (here's a shout out to my family and friends back home!) and moved out to Los Angeles in 1996.
Q. How did you decide upon using the P90X to get where you are now?
A. Probably just like you, I saw the infomercial late one night and was fascinated by the "transformations" of people who looked similar to me. I found it impossible to believe that people could change that much in only 90 days. It was an impulse buy, for sure, but I did it. Then, the program arrived, I looked through it once, and it sat in my office for nearly a year. I got into a dirt bike wreck in December 2009 and was basically a one-legged man for 8 weeks. During that time I gained about 20 pounds of fat, and by March I knew I had to do something. Voila! I finally put the "X" to use, and wish I had done so much, much earlier!
