DumBell Success Stories: Cody Vernon

Today's DumBell Success Story features McGrew recruit Cody Vernon. Congratulations, Cody!


Cody Vernon has been a regular at the McGrew Point Boot Camp since August. Over the past 6 months, Cody has lost an amazing 40 pounds! In the past, he had struggled with motivation and consistency, but Cody says trainer Cheri Kendall changed all of that. Cody states, "Cheri Kendall deserves a big shout out! She has kept me motivated for the past several months and helped me establish a habit of exercise." 

Cody and wife Kyle, pre-boot camp! 

"Watching Cody's transformation has been so rewarding as a trainer," says Kendall. "He is the hardest-working member of McGrew crew, day after day. From the beginning, even at 40 pounds heavier, you could see his determination to take back control of his body and bring a higher level of energy to his life and family." She also teases, "Did I mention he has a great sense of humor and doesn't mind that many of my stories are 'for the girls?' All joking aside, with his weight loss and running successes, he is an amazing role model for our team."

Cody also cites an improved diet that focused on more fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins for his weight loss. He also gives credit to his wife, saying, "I would be remiss if I did not mention my biggest inspiration: my wife, Kyle. For years now she has been getting up early 4-5 times a week and is out the door to exercise before she starts her day. The support and encouragement I receive from her is priceless when it comes to my success!"

"Cheri, along with many of my fellow Boot Campers, helped me train for and run my first half marathon a few weeks ago! I was able to finish the program all due to the strength I have gained from such a great program," says Cody. "My biggest heartfelt thanks to Cheri, the McGrew Crew, my family, and DumBell Fitness for helping me get back on the right track!"

Cody with his son after finishing a race. Way to go, Cody! 

DumBell Success Stories: Carmen "Aggie" Paguirigan

Today's DumBell Success story highlights the accomplishments of Carmen "Aggie" Paguirigan. She's a great example of how hard work can pay off! Congratulations, Aggie!
 
**Article by Janet Youtt

For Carmen "Aggie" Paguirigan, the Boot Camp phenomenon clicked after the third week. She had joined at the urging of a good friend who talked her into going together. “All of a sudden I realized I wanted this class. I needed this class,” says Carmen, a stay-at-home mom with two young boys. “I was running at the back of the pack that day and all of a sudden I got angry with myself for being last.”

She recalls how for most of her life she had been naturally thin. After getting married and then having children, the pounds slowly stacked up. She found herself avoiding mirrors and making sure she was behind the camera instead of in front of it. She had never lost weight except after the birth of her sons. With a degree in genetics from Texas A&M, Carmen left a good job at the National Institutes of Health in Maryland to follow her husband’s Air Force career. Like so many spouses, she began caring for everyone else and putting herself on the back burner.

She began Boot Camp when her youngest son was a year-and-a half. She says the free childcare was a huge draw because it’s such an obstacle to getting fit. “The military lifestyle can be very lonely,” says Carmen. “You have to make friends each time you move and hope that someone is interested enough in exercising to want to swap childcare with you.”

In combination with Boot Camp three times a week, she began altering her eating habits. Although she didn’t choose one particular diet, she shrank her portion sizes, drank more water and said no to extra goodies. She also says just moving her body was a large part of her success. After 7 months, she lost 22 pounds and nearly 20 inches from her body. She was ecstatic!

Aggie showing off her amazing results! 

Since that time, Carmen has completed several half-marathons along with that same friend, Susan Scrivner, who talked her into Boot Camp. They train on the weekends and sometimes even swap childcare if their husbands are not available. “Thanks to Boot Camp, I’ve learned to set mental goals. I started with one mile, then two and before I knew it I was running eight miles in the Great Aloha Run,” she says. “I’ve never felt better about myself. My self-esteem has gone through the roof. Life is too short to say I can’t.”  

DumBell Success Stories: Jayde Gaines

DumBell Fitness would like to showcase the inspirational transformation of Boot Camper Jayde Gaines! 

**Article by Janet Youtt 


Jayde Gaines started Boot Camp this past September, 2 weeks after her husband left for a 7-month deployment. It was their first lengthy separation and she is convinced had it not been for Boot Camp the time apart would have been more of a struggle. “I’ve learned through Boot Camp that I’m important and it’s o.k. to put myself first. The timing couldn’t have been better because that mind set help me get through the deployment and be a better mother to my children.”  

After her fourth child, born last January, she was having trouble losing weight. A friend told her about Boot Camp and convinced her to join. Having not exercised regularly since her high school days on the cross-country team, she never felt like she had to exercise. “I was the skinny-fat girl. I looked like I was in shape, but in reality I was far from it. Skinny doesn’t always mean healthy.”

That first month she only lost two pounds, but she stuck with it and soon found the weight falling off and her strength gaining. It wasn’t always easy to make the cardio work on off-Boot Camp days, but she was determined to find a way by buying a double stroller for her two younger children and investing in a treadmill. To date, she’s lost 32 pounds and 23 inches overall on her body. “My husband returns soon and he keeps saying that he can’t wait to meet the new me.”

She has already started sharing her experiences with other people interested in a healthier lifestyle. In October, she began a Facebook site called “This Strong Body” where she posts nutritional information, recipes and workout tips. Members share what works and what doesn’t and support each other through the journey. “I believe in so much of what Boot Camp has taught me that I want to share it with others.” She and her husband have future plans to become personal trainers and create a business based on “This Strong Body”.    

Lori Stoffers and Jayde Gaines, both DumBell success stories, with lead DumBell Fitness Trainer Christina Landry. 

DumBell Success Stories: Lori Stoffers

DumBell Fitness would like to highlight the amazing Boot Camp success story of Lori Stoffers. She's truly been an inspiration and we couldn't be more proud of her transformation. She is soon leaving us for the great state of Washington, and although she will be greatly missed, we cannot wait to see the impact she has on her new community. We wish you all the best, Lori! 

*Article courtesy of Janet Youtt

In the words of Lori Stoffers, “Boot Camp quite literally saved my life.” As the mother of two young children, Lori had resigned herself to the status of an overweight, out-of-shape mom just making it through each day feeling like a slug. She was complacent about any extra physical activity and decided to wear her fat like a badge of honor.

Her thought process started to shift when a friend challenged her to a 10K race. Although not a runner, she figured she could walk fast and make it through the race. That led to the suggestion that they start Boot Camp together. She immediately tried to talk herself out of it because she didn’t think she could hack it even though the two had been exercising on a regular basis. She reluctantly signed up for the class. The first class was brutal. She sobbed all the way home. But a light bulb went off during that first workout. She was angry with herself for letting her weight and lack of physical activity get out of control. She questioned why she stopped doing things for herself and let other people take control from her.

From that point on, her life has become a different story. “I started to believe what Christina was always saying which is to put yourself at the top of your to-do list.” Since beginning Boot Camp she has lost 45 pounds, run a 10K, a half-marathon, and even a full marathon--goals she never dreamed of reaching before the class. When she started Boot Camp she wore a size 18 and she’s now nearing a size 6. “I used to get stuck on the slide because my hips were too big. Now I slide down and play with my kids on the playground. I no longer sit on the sidelines of life. I’m an active participant in my family’s life.”

Lori has such high praise for Christina and the work she does with military spouses through Boot Camp. “Christina has planted so many seeds and her work has had such a ripple effect throughout the spouse community. She has touched so many lives, and I’m so thankful to have been a part of her Boot Camp.” And Lori’s husband, Eric, felt so strongly about his wife’s transformation that he showed up at the end of one class with flowers for Christina. He said, “Thank you for giving me my wife back.”

As often happens with military families, the Stoffer’s tour in Hawaii is nearing the end. They will soon be moving to Whidbey Island, WA, where Lori plans to become a certified personal trainer and share her knowledge with other people in their new duty station. “I can’t keep all that I’ve learned to myself. I have the tools and I want to share them.”  

You can read more about Lori's journey on her blog, Lori's Life and Other Stuff.