Testimonials (Thanks!)

Amazing & incredible were what I was thinking when I saw Coach Joel's transformation story. From that moment on, my journey to become physically fit changed dramatically.  In June 2010, at 205lbs and 25% bodyfat, I decided it was time for a change and just like in the past, I invested several hundred dollars in a gym membership, however this time I was determined to do things right on the nutrition side.  I made a lot of progress in dropping weight from June – September and 'reset my metabolism' but I couldn't run a quarter mile without feeling like I would pass out. 30 minutes into my workouts, I was tired, out of energy and ready to leave.  When I met coach Joel and saw his transformation using P90X, I was blown away. He had achieved significantly more progress in a shorter amount of time than what I had achieved at the gym. On top of it, he was in better overall shape than I had EVER achieved by going to the gym! It lit a fire in me like you wouldn't believe. I KNEW that there was a more effective way to become fit and Joel had proven it.  For the next 90 days, I followed Joel's advice on fitness, supplements and recovery to achieve my own amazing transformation.  It had always been my dream to have a six pack and reach single digit body fat but my expectations of achieving it were dimming as I grew older.  In December, I ended up at 177lbs, 8% bodyfat and with the six-pack I always wanted.  I'm now in the best shape of my life and I have to thank Joel from the bottom of my heart for his leadership, support and example to me. I hope that my transformation just reinforces what Joel has already shown to be possible.  Thank you!  -DavidRSM (Team Beachbody screen name)

"My P90-XL story.  Wait.  Is that a typo?  Nope - I started P90X on May 31st, 2010 at a "husky" 260 lbs.  At 6'2", I considered myself a big guy.  But after being sick for 6 months with an undiagnosed respiratory ailment, I decided to make a change.  2 weeks into P90X, I found Coach Joel.  I was reading the forums every day, looking for transformation pictures that looked like me.  Joel's before and afters really resonated with me - here's a guy who was (sorry, Joel) sort of a marshmallow and in three months he looked like a gym rat!  I knew I wanted THAT guy in my life.  As a musician I surround myself with the best players possible, because that is the atmosphere that raises everyone's bar and pushes everyone to improve.  Nobody strives to improve when you're better than everyone around you!  Joel pushed me from the beginning, with a firm but friendly approach.  He let me complain and ask millions of questions, and he helped me develop a nutrition plan that (when I finally put it into practice) supported rapid weight loss and muscle building.  In 3 months with Joel, I've gained 2 1/2 inches in my bicep measurement, gone down 4 belt notches, replaced my XL shirts with L, learned how to do pull-ups (no small feat), and become an instrument of change on the opposite coast.  Joel, from California, has inspired me, from Georgia, to become a Beachbody coach.  My results are dramatic, and fitness has become a passion because of two things: God's faithfulness (oh yes - I had to pray A LOT to survive the "X") and Coach Joel.  I want to coach like him, and eventually look like him.  Great guy - and the exact kind of man Beachbody wants representing their products to the chubby masses.  In 3 months, Joel helped change my life.  That's not me being overly-dramatic.  It's the result of hard work and a good coach.  Thanks, buddy!" -GAMattP90XL (Team Beachbody screen name)

I'm having a "milestone" birthday next year and I wanted to be in the best shape ever for it.  Rather than wait until the last minute, I decided to focus on my health and getting in shape a year early!  I started going to the gym but I knew it would be just a short time before history repeated itself and I hit a wall.  Like everyone else in the world, I have seen the P90X infomercial 10,000 times. I never thought it was for me because the people on there look nothing like me.  But, I decided to research it a bit more anyway because I wanted the challenge, the intensity and the structure of the program.  The results people were getting were unbelievable but it looked SO HARD!!!  I went on to the P90X Facebook page and I came across Joel's transformation.  His before picture looked, shall we say, "more like me" and not like the people that were just slightly bigger than average or former athletes.  So I bought the program and I got in touch with him and he became my coach.  Best decision I ever made!

From the very beginning, "I" never did anything with the program.  It was always "we" need to look at your calories, this is where "we" can modify, "we" need to make sure you're getting enough rest and on and on.  We have had a great partnership from the first day and I didn't feel like I was trying to take on the X all on my own.  When you decide to commit to something as intense as P90X, you really need a good support system and he's been with me every step of the way.  He's extremely attentive, knowledgeable and sincere in wanting each and every one of his clients to succeed.  His responsiveness and level of involvement is amazing.  He's responded to all my questions (and I've had hundreds), encouraged me on my down days and inspired me to just keep at it and trust that the results will come as long as I do the work. 

I have completed one round of P90X Classic and I just began P90X Doubles (crazy!).  I lost 30 pounds this summer.  This is, by far, the healthiest and strongest I've ever been.  I feel physically capable of just about anything.  The progress I've made from Round 1, Day 1 until now is amazing to me and I have Joel to thank for helping me get where I am.  He believed I could do it even when I didn't believe it myself.  He's been an amazing friend and valued mentor.  He is a real world example of what hard work, focus and dedication can do.  When you see where he started and where he is now and what he's done to get there, it makes you want to push yourself, too.  He has taught me that achieving my fitness goals isn't going to happen overnight but it will happen.  He leads by example and I have NO DOUBT that I can achieve both my short term and my long term goals with Joel's guidance. -a50footwoman (Team Beachbody screen name) 

I started P90X on Aug. 1st and ended Oct. 29th 2010. Joel is a friend of mine BEFORE P90X and it should be noted that I was the one who took him out to the desert where he crashed my wife's quad and got himself injured. He was laid up for several weeks, got fat and then motivated to make a change. So actually, Joel owes ALL his successes to me! Just kidding - he did all the work himself and then motivated me to start the program (but I did have to fix my wife's quad). He walked me through it and made the nutrition side of it much easier than it would have been for me. I will take a week or two off then get with Joel and set up a Round 2 that will work best for me. My end results of Round 1 were 240 to 214 lbs and down 3 full, pants sizes - oh, and I feel a lot better! -dieselgidge (Team Beachbody screen name)

"If you're looking for a coach, look no further! I became buddies withh Joel before he became a coach and he has been consistently supportive, constructive, and encouraging both as a buddy and as a coach. He doesn't push supplements or products, but offers solid advice based on research and first hand experience. You can tell by his before and after photos that he knows what he's doing and knows how to BRING IT!" -GlibjoeP90X (Team Beachbody screen name)

"It is very discouraging to "Bring it" everyday and not miss any workouts, follow the portion plan intensively tracking every morsel that goes into your body and take supplements for 5 weeks with no noticeable results. Then when you see other P90X'ers results on the message boards you become very frustrated.  I contacted Joel after seeing his unbelievable results because I just had to know how he did it. To my surprise Joel was eager to assist me without any sales pitch which is one of the reasons why I changed my personal coach. Within 4-5 hours of contacting Joel I had an outlined nutrition plan and his recommendation of what supplements to incorporate into my routine and in just two short days I have already lost 3 lbs thanks to Joel!  There is a lot of "mis-information" on the web about nutrition and it can be confusing as to where you need to be calorie wise, which nutrition plan is suited for you, how much protein, carbs and fat to consume, supplements, etc. Joel will clear that up and design a plan that works based on his in-depth research and personal triumph!  I look forward to seeing my 90 day results now that I am on the right track. I am glad I didn't go through the entire 13 week program without asking for help.  Thanks Joel!!!!" -aubie6 (Team Beachbody screen name)

"Here it is.  Honest and true.  P90X has by far gotten me in the best shape of my life.  Having Joel as my coach has boosted my love for the X.  Joel gave me the positive drive that I needed to push me to the next level.  When I ask for advice he is always quick to respond and make great suggestions to have me "Bringing It" to every workout and in between. His great sense of humor, positive attitude and great personal success is what makes him a great P90X coach!" -1neatfreak (Team Beachbody screen name)

"Joel has been an outstanding coach. He is very knowlegable and very quick to help and offer advice steering me in the right direction on any questions or concerns I had. It has been great having someone actually interested in my progress in the program, and seeing that I complete it with the best results possible." -macebewley (Team Beachbody screen name)

"I just started P90X 1 week ago and Joel, my coach has been an invaluable source of information. Anytime I had a question, his answers have not only been honest but they were prompt and straight to the point without any sugar coating on them which was exactly what I needed.  Not only was he helpful with getting used to all the moves in the P90X exercises but was a wealth of information with regards to the nutritional products, recovery drinks, protein bars & shakeology which is a big part of the P90X program to balance out your workouts with healthy food & supplement intake." -anitachan (Team Beachbody screen name)

I was your typical non believer in home workout videos. I purchased P90x 2 years ago but it sit on my shelf never being used. I never thought a home workout DVD could get you results, especially one off a late nite infomercial. But after seeing Joel's pictures online at beachbody.com I started to consider giving it a shot. I read over Joel's threads to see what I could expect. It was great to see other people have success. I was so motivated by Joel and all the people he helped I decided to give it a shot. Well after one round I can honestly say it works. I dropped almost 40 lbs and 9 inches on my waist. The pics speak for themselves. Joel was a great spark for me and stayed in touch via email giving me tips and advise for helping me achieve my results. Thanks to P90x, Joel and all the people he inspires for giving me the best body I have ever had. Final numbers: weight: 210 - 172 lbs, waist: 40.5 - 32 inches -fsabe (Team Beachbody screen name)

"As my husband, I saw first-hand what Joel put himself through to achieve the AMAZING results he did.  I've NEVER seen someone take something more seriously, or with more passion and resolve.  He has now taken those same qualities to his coaching.  He simply won't allow those he coaches to fail.  He values the relationships he forms with his "students" - I see it first-hand every single day." -sherilsyd (Team Beachbody screen name)

"Like a lot guys in their early to mid 30's, my career became much more demanding and life in general got a lot faster paced.  Business dinners, fast food on the run, and not making the time to exercise caused me to slowly put on the weight.  One day I looked in the mirror thought, what the heck happened? 
So, like my man Joel, I made the all out commitment to make fundamental changes in my lifestyle and how I fueled myself.  The results blew away anything I could have hoped for.  I was convinced that only elite athletes and hardcore fitness freaks that have been working out their whole lives could have visible abdominal muscles.  I was WRONG.  With focus and intensity combined with proper nutrition, it is attainable even for busy professionals that have fallen off track in their health and fitness. 

Shortly after I finished my 90 day journey, I found Joel on the message boards and we immediately began to exchange information on nutrition and fitness goals.  He even helped me with my golf swing!  Boy, I wish had found him sooner.   I would be willing to bet that with the exception of Tony himself and the folks at Beachbody, there aren't many other individuals that know more about how to get the most of out of this program we call the X." -onintwo574 (Team Beachbody screen name)

"From the moment I saw Joel's thread and started asking him questions, he has been attentive, responsive and inspirational.  Having gone through a couple rounds himself, I think he has a good idea what works and is always quick to pass his knowledge on to others in his group and to those he coaches. If you want a straightforward, helpful individual as your mentor/coach, you have it in him. As we say in Chicago, Joel is a stand up guy. Thanks for all your help, both past and future Joel." -mshoe (Team Beachbody screen name)

"This guy is a motivator! Through following Joel, I have completely transformed my body. This ain't a gimmick, folks. P90X works, and Joel makes it work even better!"

-Goldsox (Team Beachbody screen name)

"For the first time in twenty years I felt comfortable wearing a tank-top and not being ashamed of my lack of arms and tone.  In 90 days I lost 26 pounds and 7 inches GONE from my waist.  THANK YOU to Joel for his supportive texts, emails and phone calls - without them this may never have occured." -Blues911 (Team Beachbody screen name)

"I found Joel through the message boards at Beachbody.com. I saw his results, read the advice he was giving to others and KNEW he was the coach to help me! The advice Joel gave me was spot on. I had limited knowledge of supplements, but with Joel's guideance I was able to find a plan that worked for me. He answered my questions honestly and didn't just push Beachbody products. Joel kept me focused and gave me a little extra push when I needed it. Now that I'm done with P90X he has been helping me to design a maintenance program so that my results will be with me long term. Thanks for all you do Coach Joel! You're the BEST!" -Poos (Team Beachbody screen name)

"My P90X journey started, yes, 90 days ago. I started the first few videos and took Tony's advice to go online to look for some support.  The first thread that caught my attention was Joel's transfermation story. What can I say - Joel's results speak for themself. I read up on everything he had used and what worked for him.  After a few emails back and forth I switched him to my coach. One of the best moves yet! The TXF thread and this webpage is all you need to keep you pushing "play."  I am into round 2 now working out to the TXF Hybrid and loving it. If you have any questions about caloric intake, supplements or foods to eat just ask Joel. Thanks for all the help and support coach." -SENapa (Team Beachbody screen name) 

P90X is a wonderful program, and a wonderful community. P90X has literally changed my life. I look at this as a true life change, not just a 90-day "diet" or exercise plan that I did.

It's not easy, that's for sure. There were many, many times I just did NOT want to get up and work out. There were a couple times that I didn't workout at all. But EVERY time that occurred (twice), I did it the very next morning, and did my scheduled workout that night.

I cannot thank Joel Sydanmaa, enough. He is an incredible teacher and motivator, and I could not have finished without him, nor had the success that I had. I've already dove into Round Two and cannot wait to see what another 90 days reveals... BRING IT!!! -Chairman7w (Team Beachbody screen name)

"I began my P90X journey in June 2010 at a massive 330 lbs. I knew I needed help and motivation to keep me on track during the whole experience, so I decided to check out the Beachbody website after Tony Horton kept telling me to during the routines. One of the first threads I found was Joel's results thread. The story was so powerful and motivating that I knew I had found the guy I wanted to help me change my life... and he did just that!! Joel, I can't thank you enough for all of the help you gave me during my 180 days of P90X. You played a major role in keeping me motivated. The powerful combination of dedication, hard-work, determination, and help from Joel Sydanmaa were what enabled me to lose over 100 lbs. My life is forever changed. Thanks again, Coach." -Kwayzee (Team Beachbody screen name)

"I want to thank my coach - Joel Sydanmaa. You can find Joel all over the message boards. One mistake I made early in the program was that I did not understand the nutrition program for a good 60 of the 90 days. My results were not bad during this time but after I connected with Joel and made the changes to my nutrition plan that he suggested, my results took off. Joel made a huge impact on my final results and I can't thank him enough. Even after all the great advice he gave me, he never asked for anything in return. If you need a coach you can't go wrong with Joel. He is a terrific guy and I now consider him to be a great friend." -JohnGoBlue (Team Beachbody screen name)

I was the guy that watched the P90X infomercial for about a year every time it came on TV. I researched Beachbody and the P90X program over the Internet, publications and by speaking to people who have "tried" it. I still wasn't sure if it was for me, then I came across Joel's transformation video on the Internet and I said to myself "I need to talk to this guy". I checked out Joel's web page and read his personal story and his blog and was convinced that he knew what he was talking about and wasn't about making a sale. Joel seemed to care about his clients success with the program and not necessarily out for personal gain. I promptly ordered my program through Beachbody, purchased my initial equipment and supplements and started getting ready for day 1 as Joel had recommended on his web page. Finally, I emailed Joel and was surprised at how quickly he responded. This was not a fluke or one time thing, I have come to learn that Joel becomes fully invested in his clients goals to better themselves health wise. Since asking Joel to become my coach, I receive frequent messages from him checking in if I haven't done so myself. The information, support and motivation I have received from Joel have been a great resource as a client but more so as a friend. I lost 22 lbs in my first round of P90X and currently doing a second round by following Joel's Hybrid. With Coach Joel's continued guidance I am very excited to see how I will continue to improve myself health wise and transform my body. Starting the P90X program is the first step in reaching your goals, in my humble opinion the next step would be to ensure you have a strong guide and support system. Coach Joel and the members of the TXF thread are exactly that. Thanks Joel! -cplo (Team Beachbody screen name)