WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

When I met Casey over a year ago, I gave her a deadline of three weeks to make my body bikini-ready for a vacation!  "Do you think you can do that?"  I expected a chuckle in response...maybe even a less-than-convincing comment that we'll sure try. To my surprise, Casey's response was an enthusiastic "Can YOU do that?  I'll give you the tools!" She gave me a crash course in proper nutrition, clean eating, a strict eating regimen for the next three weeks and worked me hard. Three weeks later, I had to go buy a smaller swimsuit!  But she gave me more than that; this was the foundation for everything to come. 

Before this, I never got into a good workout routine.  I struggled getting to the gym, and I did not know the first thing about fueling my body properly. I convinced myself I had "bigger bones," and I just had to learn to live with it because it was how I was built - no way around it. But this big change in such a little amount of time enticed me; I decided to continue working with Casey to get in better shape for my wedding, which was another six months away. I did bootcamp after bootcamp, and continued to see improvements every month. Though some months were smaller steps than others, I never hit that anticipated burnout or plateau that I was convinced would come!  I got so many compliments at my wedding, and people were constantly asking me how I was doing it.  They almost seemed disappointed when I told them I was actually working hard and eating better!  But that was when it hit me that Casey and her bootcamps didn't just push me day in and day out to get where I was physically.  She actually TAUGHT me the skills to make this my new lifestyle and to enjoy it. The more results I would see, the more excited I was to set another goal!
 
After my wedding, I stayed in bootcamp and still saw more changes in my body.  After working with Casey for more than a year, it's fun to look back and see all the changes, both physically and mentally, I have gone through.  Today I'm enjoying numerous activities that I never dreamed I would have the capability to do, let alone ENJOY doing.  Over less than a year, I dropped 6 pant sizes, lost nearly 20 pounds, gained an incredible amount of strength and endurance, and I'm currently training for my first triathlon!  And talk about confidence!  I hated my legs before; I NEVER wore shorts because I was so self-conscious (even at the lake or on rafting trips, I would wear capris to hide my upper legs).  This summer, I'm living in shorts and LOVE it.  I feel so much more comfortable in my skin. 
 
I encourge everyone to do bootcamp.  While doing just one month can be a life-changing experience, I would bet most people will have a hard time not re-enrolling!  I did!  Many of my closest friends are the women that I met in bootcamp.  I can't imagine life without them, and getting up every morning to meet my friends for an invigorating start to our day is addicting.  What better encouragement is there than having a group of determined women pushing each other harder.  You can never get that motivation on your own!

- Amanda Hannah

I am currently participating in my 10th camp. I thought I was signing up for four weeks and look at me now! I’ve lost 20+ lbs, over 27 inches, and 12% body fat.  I’ve gained confidence, energy, enthusiasm and cardiovascular and muscular strength and endurance. I’ve learned so much about nutrition and how to fuel my body.  My “relationship” with food has changed from a love/hate to very positive. I have some physical obstacles due to juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, but Casey has helped me to modify when necessary. Before joining boot camp I had not exercised regularly or participated in athletic events for years. I have completed two 5k races this year and look forward to many more. I truly believe that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to, and that is a result of the confidence built through my Billings Adventure Boot Camp journey. My advice for fellow boot campers is to realize that you made a great decision to make a healthy lifestyle a priority. It is important to be consistent, persistent and insistent. Apply these to your nutrition and your workouts, and you will be extremely proud of your accomplishments.

- Tami Bebee

I started boot camp with the thought I needed to exercise. The first month was a killer. I saw good results that month, so I decided to do another camp. It was nice to be in a group and working out outside was different. About the fourth camp, I decided to try Casey's nutrition guidelines. That is when I really saw results. Casey set up a friendly competition and supported us all. Could talk a little and started to get to know some of the ladies. I felt better and stronger. I started thinking "O.k. I THINK I can make it through an hour now". By February I was starting to feel really good. I was thinking "I KNOW I can make it through the hour". I realized I was starting to set and reach my goals. I also realized we campers were really starting to support each other to reach our goals. Casey was there all the way, encouraging us to set new goals. I still struggled and fought the nutritional guidelines and every time I followed them I noticed I was much more successful at camp. Now, sometimes I think "wow, that hour was FUN!"

The values I am learning in boot camp I am working on applying in my daily life. I would not be where I am today if Casey had not come into my life. I have made some wonderful friendships from class. The support of Casey and the women I have met have irrevocably changed the path of my life and I love it.

- Suzie Debar

When I began camp, I’d never run a mile in my life, I could barely do pushups or lunges and although I was thin, my body was not in good shape.  I began camp the last week of October and by the beginning of February, I ran 2 miles straight for the first time ever and it felt great.  In March, I participated in a 5K for the first time in my life and was able to run the whole way.  My most recent accomplishment is running 5 mi in the Women’s Run.  Now I can do pushups on my toes and 100 lunges on each leg during a 100 rep workout.  These are things I thought I would never be able to do. 
I have to add that the support system we have at camp has helped me so much in achieving my health goals.  At first, I was really intimidated by the women who had been at camp longer than me.  I was afraid of being judged and that they would think I was too weak.  I was so mistaken!  Everybody at camp wants you to succeed and I have never felt so welcome with a group of women.  I have made some great friends who truly want me to do my best and are there with encouraging words and to push me when I need it.  I can honestly say that I would not have come this far without Casey and my fellow campers.  So, I guess another goal of mine is to help other women believe they can do anything - I love helping out when I can and seeing the other campers do things they thought they couldn’t.

- Tanya Doke

Although an active ranch kid growing up and an athlete in high school and college, I can say that I took being fit and trim for granted and quickly saw it all disappear as I focused the bulk of my energy on my career.

My boot camp endeavor is the result of seeing how taking health for granted has impacted close friends and family members.  Thus, my initial goals were health oriented - lower cholesterol levels, lose weight, improve body composition.  Seeing improvements in all those areas, I've now started tackling other goals - ran my first mile, then ran two, now I'm going for my first 5k next month.  I was excited to be able to do my first "toes" pushup....now I'm aiming for 40. I used my 5lb weights all the time in the beginning.  Now, they stay in my bag a lot and I'm ready to go shop for 15's.

It was easy at first to say I'm already trying as hard as I can - I can't do the more challenging version of things.  WRONG!  :-)  I've learned that I can do more than I've ever thought possible and all it takes is trying and BELIEVING.  The mind is an incredibly powerful muscle - exercise it with positive and optimistic thoughts - replace any negative!  It's amazing what you can do when you tell yourself "I can" or that you'll least try - instead of "I can't", or not even trying.

 - Lisa Jensen

When I joined the first camp, I was weak and had no energy.  I learned that my eating habits were completely wrong and discovered that I was not eating enough and was eating the wrong foods.  When I realized that there was no such thing as a magic diet pill and committed to making the necessary changes to my diet, I could see drastic changes to my body.  My strength improved significantly and I put on solid muscle that I had not had before.  I did not become too bulky by any means, but I became lean and more defined.  My overall attitude improved as well. 
 
I believe that one of my biggest accomplishments is to be able to run for long distances.  I have had asthma all of my life and realize now that I have always used that as an excuse not to push myself.  When I first started boot camp, I couldn’t finish a mile without stopping several times.  I have now participated in 2 5k races, finishing the most recent without stopping, and I just completed a 5 mile race in 53 minutes.  Never in a million years would I have believed that I would be able to accomplish these goals.  My next goal is to continue to enter each race I can and to improve my time on the 5k and complete a 10k without stopping.    
 
I have become close with so many wonderful ladies through boot camp, and while I have friends outside of boot camp, I find myself wanting to spend most of my time with my new friends.  I enjoy the encouragement and camaraderie that exists within our group – especially Casey.  She has such an amazing ability to inspire everyone around her to accomplish great things.  I would not be where I am today without Casey and Adventure Boot Camp!! 

- Darci Krug