Coppell Boot Camp Success Story

My name is Allison Jones and I live in Coppell, TX. I joined Get You In Shape in February of this year and I would absolutely say that the last 10 months have changed my life for the better.

Where you were at in your life before Get You In Shape? What did you life look like? Why did you decide to join Get You In Shape? Before I joined I was in the midst of trying to get back in to shape after my son was born in May, 2010. With a 4 year old at home also, time for me was very hard to come by and the first thing that dropped off the list was being able to go to the gym. I had been doing Weight Watchers for several months and had some good results, but I just couldn’t find time to go go to the gym and had hit a plateau.

I had seen the Get You In Shapers out at the park on the weekends and had been interested for a while but never got the nerve up to inquire about it. I even saw the Groupon in December and thought that there was no way that I could do something like this. I ended up finding out that a friend of mine was doing GYIS already and after talking to her about what it was really all about and how she fit it in to her schedule; I decided that I could do this. I signed up to start in Feb and was very excited for that first class. It was freezing cold but I loved it….and then it snowed….and there was no class for the rest of the week. And then we started again the next Monday and more snow. So, my first month was a little slower than I would have liked. Even with that, I still lost a good chunk of inches and a few pounds too. I really liked the program and the motivation from the trainers. Everyone was so welcoming and helpful as well and by the end of the month, I felt like I was getting the hang of things.

What was your first experience or first impression with Get You In Shape? I was really impressed and excited about the way that the trainers worked with the new boot campers and all of the great instruction on correct form, etc. I have bad knees and have never been able to do things like squats and with the correct instruction, all of a sudden I found myself doing squats and lunges and actually liking them. I decided that I was going to stick with it for a few more months thinking that was all that I needed. I was slowly moving down on my measurements but definitely feeling better and stronger with each passing month. In May I realized that this wasn’t a short term fix that I needed so I signed up again until the end of the year.

What do you like the most out of the Get You In Shape program? The thing that I have liked the most out of boot camp is the variety of exercises that we do (things never get old because we don’t do the same things each time) and the challenge from the trainers. There is never aggressive pressure to step it up, but the gentle reminders from the trainers to push yourself a little harder…try a few push ups on your toes, etc, makes a big difference to me.

What is your proudest moment or from the Get You in Shape program?

The biggest accomplishment to me this year (besides learning to get up at 5am to work out) has been the introduction to Advocare and the 24 day challenge (see my 24 Day Challenge Story at the end of this). I had thought about doing the 24 Day Challenge multiple times since May and again, never got up the nerve to do it but then in August they did the big Challenge and contest. I thought that this was my time to get things on the right path again and to finally shed a few of these pounds that crept on over the summer. As you can see from my submission on the Challenge, it truly changed my life and my family’s life, and I won!

This was the first thing that I’ve ever done like this that I’ve won and I can’t tell you how proud of myself I was and how proud my family was. I ended up losing 11 pounds in just 24 Days and completely changing the way that I eat, snack and look at labels. It has been a great addition to the GYIS program that I’ve kept with me since I finished the challenge and I plan to do the challenge again after the holidays.

Another major accomplishment for me has been running the mile. I dread it almost every time we get ready to do it, but I feel such a sense of accomplishment afterwards and I love the way that it makes me feel.

Overall, this has been such a wonderful year for me and I truly believe that I owe a great deal of it to the GYIS team. I’ve been able to shed the baby weight that I was trying to get off which has led to a renewed sense of self confidence from looking better, getting stronger, and also from feeling better. I have so much more energy now (thanks a lot to Spark and the changes that I’ve made from the 24 day challenge) and that has allowed me to enjoy being with my kids and husband so much more. It’s so wonderful to come home from work and to have the energy to play with my kids and then to spend time with my husband after they have gone to bed. And I’ve felt a great deal of accomplishment knowing that I get up every Mon/Wed/Fri to work out with people who I’ve gotten to know and with trainers who honestly care about helping people make their lives better. I really do love getting up every morning to go and work out and recommend the Get You In Shape program to anyone who is interested in getting their bodies and lives back on track.

Here is Allison’s 24 Day Challenge Story from August
My name is Allison Jones from Coppell, TX. I am a Director at a commercial real estate company in Irving

2. Where were you before the 24 Day Challenge and why did you decide to join the 24 Day Challenge?.
Before the 24 Day Challenge I was in a good routine of working out before I started the Challenge but had let my eating slip off considerably over the summer. We had lots of visitors, parties, etc over the summer and we ended up eating out too much and letting our kids do the same. I had thought about doing the challenge for several months but was always making an excuse….May it was my son’s first birthday and Mother’s Day, then it was Father’s Day and my birthday and then family in town. I was really excited when I saw that you guys were doing a bigger challenge this month and knew that this was my time to not make excuses. The main reason that I decided to join the challenge was to get myself back on track. I was unhappy with where I was eating wise and how it was making me feel and I really wanted to get off some more of the weight that I am trying to get rid of from my last pregnancy. I was hoping that this could really get me back on track and get me back in healthy habits.

3. What was your impression with the first few days of the 24 Day Challenge?

It wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it might be. By having a few days after meeting with Cynthia to shop, etc before getting started, I feel like I was really ready when I started. The fiber drink was probably the worst part of it but Chaney suggested mixing it with a shake and that made a HUGE difference. I was also very pleasantly surprised that I wasn’t hungry or craving things. I was amazed that eating more protein in my snacks could really keep me more satisfied. I found myself not snacking while i was making dinner and not craving carbs the way that I thought i would. I also really liked the check list. It really kept me conscious of following the plan. Overall, it was much easier than I thought it would be with a bit of planning and following the plan.

4. How is the 24 Day Challenge program unique – why you enjoy it – why is it different than other programs you have tried?

I’ve never tried anything like this before because I was always worried about how safe they were, etc. I have friends at work who have done “cleanses” and it just looked miserable. They could only eat vegetables for the first week and were taking tons and tons of pills. It just looked horrible. I had talked to a few people at boot camp who have done the challenge and they really seemed to enjoy it and I definitely trust all of the people that I’ve talked to and you guys. I’ve done a lot of Weight Watchers over the years, and although I’ve had great success with it at times, looking back, I feel like it wasn’t necessarily teaching me how to eat better food. I definitely learned portion size and watching calories, etc, but this system really has me looking at ingredients and labels a lot more. I feel like I’m eating the right kinds of foods and learning that even though other programs had me eating lower calorie things, that this really showed me “better” foods. The snacking advice really made a huge difference too. Instead of just eating fruit because it’s lower calorie, adding in a protein makes the snack much more useful, which is something that I had never done before. Overall, I feel like the program has really taught me a lot about food and what to eat/not to eat and when, which is something that I now know that I struggled with.

5. What results and benefits you have received from the 24 Day Challenge?

I think (I can’t remember what my initial weight was at the seminar) that I’ve lost almost 11 pounds. More than that though, I’m able to wear pants that I couldn’t just 24 days ago and there are pants that I’ve been wearing for months that I put on and they are just too big. And, on a whim last night I tried on my pre-pregnancy jeans and got them on. I was floored when this happened. I feel like my body has changed so much more than I could have hoped for in this 24 days. I also feel like a completely different person. The improved eating has really made me feel great and I think that has helped my energy levels a lot. The spark in the afternoon is wonderful too. I feel like I’ve been tired since I went back to work a year ago (after my baby) and no matter what I do, I don’t have any energy at night. During this experience, I’ve found myself more awake and energetic at night, which has allowed me to spend more time with my husband and be more active with my kids. Overall, I feel that my whole family has benefited from me doing this program, but most of all, I feel better physically, mentally and better about myself every day.

6 What did you like best about the 24 Day Challenge?

I love the products and how I really felt like they helped me along. I was able to find some new products that I’m continuing to use that will continue to help me live a happy and healthy life. I also like and appreciate the way that you all coached us along and were always there to motivate us. It meant a lot to get the emails and to have you or Chaney checking up to see how things were going. And overall, the thing that I like best is that I feel like a new person and I don’t’ want to stop this journey and I KNOW that I can continue this on to my goal weight and shape.

Here is another note that Alison wanted to sent us
I wanted to thank you all for introducing me to the 24 Day Challenge. I truly think that it’s changed my life. After I had my second child last summer I’ve really struggled to get back to where I was beforehand. I was in the best shape of my life before that and was working out 5-6 days a week. I was able to do Weight Watchers in the fall (which I’ve had very good success with in the past), but really stalled out around the holidays. That’s when I found out about Susan Wilson doing the Get You In Shape boot camp and finally got up the nerve to start in February, on the snow week. I absolutely love boot camp and how much stronger and in shape it’s made me, but I’ve struggled over the last 6 months with my eating.

I had heard about the 24 day challenge and knew a few people who had done it and really wanted to try it in May, but I always seemed to find an excuse…birthdays, Mother’s Day, family in town, etc. When you sent out the email about the contest this month, I knew that this was my best shot at doing it. I talked to my family about doing it and my husband was very supportive and I’ve just been thrilled at the results. More than just the weight loss and the clothes that I haven’t fit in to for a while, I just feel so much better. I was amazed that I could eat this well and not crave the carbs and sugar that I always felt like I needed. I was amazed that doing something like adding protein to my snacks would help keep me full longer. I’ve also struggled a lot with energy since my second was born. I have a more than 40 hour a week job plus family commitments, a husband who is a rugby coach and trying to fit in time for myself (which is normally boot camp), has been a real challenge. I’ve been amazed at how much more energy I really have now with eating better and the Spark. I really feel like this has been a great addition to my routine. I take it in the afternoon and I don’t feel like I’m exhausted at 7pm anymore. I think that product is just great.

Overall, I’m just thrilled with the results of the 24 Day Challenge. I have so much more energy than before and feel like my kids and husband are reaping the benefits of that. I’ve also been able to turn around our summertime bad habits of eating out too much and eating convenience foods and we’re all eating much healthier now. The interesting thing to me is that I thought that I would be craving all of this bad stuff when I got done with the challenge and I was surprised to find out that I really just wanted to have another salad for lunch today. I’m just amazed at how this has really changed my life and made so many aspects of it better.

Client of the Year Nominee #3
Brandon Cox

My name is Brandon Cox and I am a SAHD (Stay At Home Dad) or I as I like to call myself a “domestic engineer” with a wonderful wife, Monica, and 2 small children (Molly – 4; Evan – 2). I live in Coppell, TX and have been in the GYIS program for a little over 2 years.

Where you were at in your life before Get You In Shape? What did your life look like?

I was an athlete in high school and college. I played college baseball and coached collegiate baseball while attaining my master’s degree. After graduate school, I was a golf professional until deciding to stay at home after my wife and I had our first child. Even though I had always been an active person, I was starting to become less and less active as I got older. I tried to work out, but was unsuccessful at sticking with it. I would work out for a month and then stop for two months, which was not doing much good. Keep in mind that I used to think “working out” was going to the gym to lift weights or playing golf (while riding in a cart!).

Why you decided to join the Get You In Shape Program?

My wife’s sister started going to a boot camp in Atlanta and immediately she and everyone else starting seeing results. After she explained the class to me, I thought that a “boot camp” workout would be something I would enjoy. I started looking into boot camps in the Coppell area and found Get You In Shape on the internet. In addition, my family has a history of heart disease and I had recently been put on cholesterol medicine and my wife who is an avid exercise enthusiast “strongly encouraged” me to pursue a healthier lifestyle. So, I talked my brother into signing up with me for the GYIS program thinking that we would only join for a month at the most and I am still here working out with GYIS over two years later.

What was your first experience or first impression with Get You In Shape?

I was impressed with the organization, knowledge of the trainers, and their confidence in the program giving you results. I have to admit that I was thinking how can I possibly get a good workout with 5 pound dumbbells and stretch bands; Boy, was I wrong about that! I also liked how the program stressed quality and not quantity. Not everyone is at the same fitness level and the GYIS program allows you to go at a pace that fits you.

What are some of the tools from the Get You In Shape program you have used that has helped you?

The food journals really made me realize everything I was putting in my body and held me accountable for my eating habits. The 24 Day Challenge is also a tool that I have used multiple times and have gotten great results. My wife and I use many of the Advocare products on a daily basis.

What do you like most about the Get You In Shape Program?

Accountability. Get You In Shape pushes me in my workouts and gives me the tools to be successful in reaching my fitness goals, but, ultimately I know it’s up to me to put in the work. I have also made many friends at boot camp and I know they would give me a hard time if I missed a class.

Challenge. The variety of workouts always provides challenge and I am never bored with the ever changing and new workouts. I am amazed that I continue to be sore even after doing this for 2 years.

Star jumps. Just kidding!

How has the Get You In Shape program helped change your life?

I have lost 30 pounds. And most importantly, I have maintained my weight for over a year. Maintaining weight loss and keeping a healthy diet were my biggest challenges before joining Get You In Shape . I am definitely more conscious of everything I put into my body. I’m not always perfect, but I feel GYIS has given me the tools to easily get back on track. The weight loss has enabled me to clean out my closet and buy all new clothes!

I have become an avid runner (I hated running before Get You In Shape ). I ran my first half marathon in March of this year and a second in October. I am running my first full marathon this December. My wife is an avid runner and now that I am running, we are able to run together. Training and running together has enriched our relationship.

Before Get You In Shape, I always felt lethargic and complained about being overweight. Now, I have more energy and just feel better. In addition, I never thought I would become someone who would wake up early to work out. The morning workouts are a jump start to my day and really make me feel so much better throughout the whole day and week.