“It’s so surreal,” said Earl Broughfman. “I feel like I may wake up in the recliner where I saw my first Power 90 ® infomercial.” But it’s no dream. Broughfman, along with Kimberly Barnett, are now $250,000 richer thanks to their steadfast dedication to lifestyle transformation.
Last week at a lavish ceremony at The Grove in Anaheim, California, Barnett and Broughfman were the inaugural Grand Prize winners of the Million Dollar Body Game ® Awards Gala. The pair were picked out of a group of eight finalists who all received $50,000. It was the culmination of a year of MDBâ„¢ giveaways that have included daily and monthly winners. The Gala event also awarded Million Dollar Body’s most successful Coaches, which came at the end of a two-day Coach’s Summit meeting. But the spotlight was on the Grand Prize winners, whose transformation stories have inspired hundreds of thousands of Team Beachbodyâ„¢ community members.
The eight finalists for the 2007 Million Dollar Body Game.
“It is an indescribable feeling of accomplishment,” adds Broughfman. “All of those people and I was voted the best transformation. I can’t believe it. I still find myself looking through the stories and videos and wondering how I was the one chosen.”
The transformations
“For years, I didn’t know how to take a stand for myself,” wrote Barnett in her Grand Prize transformation application. “It took my daughter pleading with me to quit smoking because she didn’t want me to ‘get a black heart and die’. As a single mother, this broke my heart because a seven-year-old shouldn’t be worrying about her only parent dying; she should be playing with her dolls. So I quit smoking 4 days after her birthday. Unfortunately the solution to not smoking was to sit on the couch and eat my way through my withdrawals.”
Barnett was able to keep from smoking but a year later she topped the scales at 208 pounds. Her health deteriorated to the point where she was put on medication for hypertension. She had a hard time moving around, became depressed, and couldn’t sleep.
Beachbody ® CEO Carl Daikeler announces the 2007 Million Dollar Body Game winners.
“I did everything I could to pretend it wasn’t happening,” she said. “Reality hit me hard the night I had to read off a number located on my broken clothes dryer for customer service. I couldn’t get to it because I had to maneuver in a way that wasn’t possible because of my weight. I hung up with them, devastated and embarrassed, and sat there on the floor for hours crying . . . what happened to me???”
Three years of failed fad diets later, she stumbled upon a Turbo Jam ® commercial. “Looking back now that’s what saved [not being able to sleep] me; because I was up late flipping channels, I stopped flipping long enough to see the infomercial for Turbo Jam, and it got my attention FAST!!! I bought it, pushed play, and the pounds came off! It was FUN, and I worked 58 pounds off in less than a year!!
Through Team Beachbody and the guidance of my coach, Doug Couch, I have learned proper nutrition again and have now lost 82 pounds! I always try to eat a clean diet with one “cheat day” each week. I also began taking Beachbody Slimming Formula, ActiVit ®, and Joint Formula which have helped me achieve even faster results! Better yet, my doctor declared me to be hypertension free and I’m completely off of meds! I’ve inspired her so much that she’s asked me to speak at her public health seminars; which is so rewarding and exciting for me.”
“I made a promise to my daughter a long time ago that I would be around a long time for her, and I intend to keep that promise. With my new body, my new business, a great mentor in Coach Couch, and friends that I’ve met along the way; I know how to get fit, stay fit, and help people get there too!”
Broughfman had struggled with obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, sleep apnea, and feet that were breaking down, making it harder for him to get out of the hole he’d dug into. “Life has a way of hitting you hard and waking you up to reality,” the railroad engineer of Covington, VA, recounts in his transformation story. “I remember a day at a park a year before I started my new life, I went to the test seat of a thriller roller coaster and it seemed fine. Then, after waiting for over an hour I was asked to exit the ride because the restraints wouldn’t fit. That was so embarrassing; it made me feel like every eye in the park was on me.”
Beachbody CEO Carl Daikeler and President Jon Congdon award Kimberly and Earl $250,000.
Since that night on the recliner, Broughfman has lost over 49 inches and 140 pounds. He’s graduated from Power 90 to
Power 90 Master Series to P90X ®. “I have been fortunate to have a life partner, my wife and soul mate, Suzie, who has stood beside me as my cheerleader, chef, and confidant,” he states. “She has given me emotional and inspirational strength during tough times and reassured me that I can do anything, if I set my mind to it. My Coach Elizabeth Dedek has been an encouragement to me, always having a good word of motivation and taking time out even when traveling to call me to keep me moving along with my program.
“I’ve overcome my major obstacle, which was overeating. By using the 40/30/30 Balanced Slim Down Plan, I’m feeling the best I ever have in my life. It feels great to go into a store and be able to buy “normal” clothes, not off the “big and tall” rack like I had done for so many years! It’s amazing to me when I look at my “before” and “after” photos taken in my kitchen and realize, there IS a DOOR there!”
Spreading the love
Both winners have become Coaches and say that helping others change their lives is highly rewarding.
Kimberly and Earl are congratulated by trainers Tony Horton and Chalene Johnson.
“I am so honored to be one of the first MDB Grand Prize Winners!” says Barnett. “It gives me yet another opportunity to put my success story out there even more to help other people realize that their own success story can come true. I struggled for years to get fit and healthy and I finally found the tools in Beachbody. I see so many people struggling like I did and I am so excited to be able to bring to them the tools to help them succeed. I love seeing their transformations and especially seeing their smiles. What a gift to be a part of so many wonderful people’s lives!”
“My greatest joy is now having credibility,” adds Broughfman. “I may be able to change some lives now because people will take me seriously when I give them advice with their programs. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I am grateful that the judges and all the people of the Team Beachbody community voted and showed their confidence in me.” Barnett seemed to sum up everyone’s feelings on the first annual event and what the future holds by stating emphatically, “I love this stuff!!!”
