For this post, I want to give a testimonial on the exercise program that kickstarted my journey from being a clumsy oaf to an aspiring dancer. That program is DDPYoga. When it comes to home workouts with no equipment, this is the best beginner workout program I can humanly imagine.

During the summer of 2013, to say I was a big guy was an understatement as massive as my body. In addition to being 6’6, at the time I tipped the scales at about 310 lbs. Not only was I carrying way too much weight, but my legs were bending incorrectly at the knees and my back was all out of shape, so I was carrying it in the wrong way. Also, I was starting to get a feeling of dread every time I ate a particularly unhealthy meal, like something terrible was going to happen if I didn’t do something about this, and fast.

And I wanted to do something, but as far as I knew, my only options were heavy lifting and running. That’s all anyone I knew had ever done. I didn’t want to lift because I didn’t want to have to find a gym buddy to spot me for everything. I didn’t want to run because of the impact on my bad knees, and because my only running option was running up and down the old road my parents lived on, while getting eaten alive by bugs, sneezing, and getting barked at by my neighbors’ dogs.

So I wanted to get in shape without lifting and running, which sounded like wanting to get to heaven without dying. Until I saw Arthur Boorman’s video on Youtube… Which if you have not seen, you need to right now. Go ahead, look it up, I'll be here when it's done.

From this video, I immediately determined two things:

One, this is EXACTLY the workout routine I needed to get started. Even being in the middle of nowhere, I could do this by myself, in my living room, with no equipment or spotters.

Two, I no longer have any excuses. This guy was more overweight than I was and literally COULD NOT WALK, and went from walking with two canes to being able to run, jump, and do a damn handstand. I was sold.

I went through the program, routine by routine, pushing myself as hard as I could without destroying myself (and modifying the movements often, as DDP suggests), and along with a few dietary adjustments I began losing about five pounds a week. I couldn’t believe I was getting the results I was getting in the beginning, while doing objectively simple exercises. That is to say, they might be easy for an Olympian or fitness buff, but were challenging for me. Which leads me to the big lesson DDPYoga has taught me:

If it challenges you, it counts, and it will change you. Period.

It doesn’t matter how objectively difficult it is to do what you’re doing. If it’s hard for YOU, if it challenges YOU, it will get you results. As DDP always says before every workout: Check your ego at the door. Don’t worry about the dudes who can run 15 miles without sweating, or who can squat 600 lbs. Just make sure you are doing all you can to push yourself beyond your limit, and you will experience positive growth and change. I have carried this mentality with me in all facets of my life, and have experienced incredible physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual growth as a result. And I owe it to this program.

To sum up my journey in a nutshell: I went from 310 lbs to about 275 at the end of the summer, then after moving to Illinois I began lifting and running at a gym, taking up country line dancing as a social activity, then eventually pursuing a passion in hip-hop dance, dropping to about 240 lbs. All the while, I’m using DDPYoga to maintain body control and flexibility, and mitigate soreness. Current favorite workouts are Stand Up and Strength Builder :)

Final word: I would recommend this program to literally anyone. I know there are plenty of experienced athletes who can benefit from this, but what really sticks out to me is how tailored it is to people who have never exercised before. If you are starting from square zero and you want to begin a complete fitness transformation, this is where you need to start if you ask me (or Arthur!)

Check it out and as always, if you have questions for me, please comment below.

Cheers!