Coppell, TX
Meet Barret Clark
Basic Information. Name, occupation, where you live, and how long you have
been in the Get You In Shape program.
Barrett Clark
Software Developer
Coppell, TX
I have been in the Get You In Shape program for 3 years (summers at first and now year-round)
Where you were at in your life before Get You In Shape? What did your life look like?
I had been in reasonably good shape from cycling, but let it go. I was not careful about
what I ate, and I was not physically active. I regained all the weight that I’d lost cycling
and kept gaining until I reached nearly 200 lbs. I felt bad about myself, and I felt bad in
general. My back hurt a lot too. I would get winded walking a flight of stairs.
Why you decided to join Get You In Shape?
I was tired of feeling gross. My wife is the PT for the school district, and I ran the
Special Olympics 5k. I decided to take advantage of the discounted month of
the Get You In Shape program, with my wife’s support and encouragement.
What was your first experience or first impression with Get You In Shape?
I remember the initial orientation at the Aquatic Center. There were a lot of people
there, and we did measurements. Ugh! Now I had numbers to show me how out of
shape I had become.
My first real impression of Get You In Shape was the newbie class off to the side with one of the personal trainers, Chaney, at 6:30 AM. I became friends with 3 other rookies, and we worked out together for the month. Chaney is fantastic. My friends didn’t continue, but I did a second month. The first month was really good, and I made a lot of progress. I wanted to see how much more I could accomplish with a second month.
What are some of the tools from the Get You In Shape program you have used
that has helped you?
The most beneficial components of the Get You In Shape program are the excellent trainers and the camaraderie amongst fellow bootcampers. They have made the program a positive and fun experience. I would talk about how great bootcamp was throughout the year — even when I wasn’t attending. I look forward to bootcamp because it makes me feel good — both from the exercise and the friendships.
I would run throughout the year when I was not attending bootcamp. I eventually began
running half marathons. This would not have been possible without Get You In Shape! The
Advocare products have been beneficial in my training.
I used to be really shy. I would just come to class, work out, and leave. I finally opened
up this summer, and it has made a world of difference. You cannot underestimate the
power of friendships. We encourage and push each other. I also really look forward to
the Cardio Club training and social runs.
I have taken advantage of everything Get You In Shape has to offer.
What do you like most about the Get You In Shape Program ?
Cardio Club
The trainers
5:30 high-intensity class
Classmates
Running!
Exercising consistently every day has been fantastic. I would run throughout the school
year when I was not attending Get You In Shape, but I never did anything beyond running.
I saw Chaney at the Special Olympics 5K, and told her that I was looking forward to
coming back for another summer of bootcamp. She knew I was a runner and
mentioned Cardio Club. 5:30 AM?! I was not so sure about it, but I liked the idea of the
class, so I enrolled.
Cardio Club has been life changing! Kristi, the trainer leading the program, makes Cardio Club fun by incorporating
games and drills that help work on speed and endurance. As a result I am now running
the mile in about 6:30, and recently beat my personal best half marathon time by almost
5 minutes. That’s crazy! I never considered myself a fast runner. I am also training for
my first marathon with my running partner, whom I met in Cardio Club.
As a runner, I also wanted to focus on core and upper body strength. In August I shifted
from the 6:30 AM class to the 5:30 AM high-intensity class, lead by personal trainer Julie McCan. Julie is wonderful at pushing all of us.
How has the Get You In Shape program helped change your life?
I feel better overall, and also more confident. I wouldn’t be as strong of a runner if it
weren’t for the drills in Cardio Club and the full body exercises in the Get You in Shape session. The program works!
During my first summer I lost 12.5 lbs in 2 months. As a result I had to buy new clothes.
That was an awesome problem to have. I wanted to look nice too. I had worked hard
to be able to fit into those new clothes, and I was proud of how I now looked. I ran
during the school year, and slowly kept adding to my wardrobe.
This summer I embarked on a personal journey. I decided to train for a marathon
because I needed an outlet for some stress that was really weighing me down. I felt like
I was not in control of my life, and I was pretty depressed. I needed to do something.
My plan was to just run. That was it. Run.
Get You In Shape was my favorite time of the day. I loved seeing the beautiful sunrise and
getting a good workout. I started to open up, and formed friendships. I realized that
you can’t just run. I needed support. I had a tremendous support group in my friends
at Get You In Shape. I said it before, but it bears saying again. You cannot underestimate the power of friendships — both in my fellow bootcampers and also in the trainers.
I did the sprint tri that Julie organized, and teamed up with Julie and Ellie. I still didn’t
really know anyone very well, and I really didn’t ever want to do a triathlon.
Nevertheless, I decided I was going to just go for it. I’m so glad I did because I enjoyed
sharing that training experience with everyone.
Once the tri was done Kristi began her training runs for the Dallas Marathon. We also
participated in some fun social runs. I was surprised with the realization that I am a
good runner. I’m not the fastest, but I enjoy trying to keep up, and giving my best effort.
In an effort to run away from something, I ended up finding myself and a great group of
friends whom I enjoy joking around with. Oh yeah, and exercising too.
It’s easy to make excuses for why you can’t do something. Get You In Shape helped me shake off those excuses. I couldn’t do 10 pushups before I started. I could barely run a 5k. You just have to commit to making the effort. That’s a good life lesson.
What is your proudest moment or results from the Get You in Shape program?
Finishing the mile run, and finding out we had run it in 6:33, which was almost a minute
faster than my fastest time.
Having the trainers tell me that it would be good for me to partner up with people whom
I thought were incredibly strong, and being able to keep up with them.
Seeing that I was in the “elite” group when we ran in Cardio Club. I was never
considered athletic growing up, and now I was good at something. What an amazing
feeling!
I hit my target weight of 165 lbs, and finally cleaned out my closet (after 3 years of
Get You In Shape and running)! Only clothes that actually fit now!
Having my oldest son join us on one of the Cardio Club social 5k runs and going to
bootcamp with us afterwards. I was proud of him, and he was proud of me.
How has the Get You In Shape Program impacted other areas of your life?
My family is a lot healthier now. We all exercise and are careful about what we eat. My
wife has been very supportive of my Get You In Shape activities. My children have started running more and have done some of the social runs with me.
I’m about to turn 40, and am in the best shape of my life. I have more energy. I am
much less stressed and happier.
I am proud. My friends and coworkers ask me regularly about class or how far I’m
running. I feel like they respect and admire what we do on a regular basis.
Ellie started tutoring my youngest son to help him with reading, and he’s doing really
well.
What are the results that you have achieved from the Get You In Shape
program and how has Get You In Shape played a role in your results?
• I’ve lost 30 lbs since starting Get You In Shape
• I got rid of my old baggy clothes and replaced them with new stuff that fits
• I went from not being able to do 10 pushups to attending the 5:30 AM high intensity
class and running most days
• I ran 5 half marathons in 2011 and am training for the Dallas Marathon
I have said since the first summer in 2010 that Get You In Shape gave me a new start. I loved it, so
I continue to come back. Now it’s such an integral part of my life that I cannot imagine
not doing bootcamp and Cardio Club. I don’t want to imagine not doing them.
