Breast Cancer Foundation Benefits from Superwomen Boot Camp Summer Fitness Challenge

Folsom fitness expert and owner of Superwomen Boot Camp, Val Fujii is proud to announce a $1,200 donation to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation on behalf of all the participants in Superwomen Boot Camp’s Summer Fitness Challenge. The challenge was a voluntary fitness competition, with great results, for the foundation as well as participants’ health and wallets.

Challengers paid an entrance fee for the challenge. Each took “before” pictures and had a weigh in and body fat calculation in the beginning. Each week there was a weigh in and body fat calculation.

Winners split a money pot of $1,300 and were also awarded other fabulous prizes totaling more than $1,800, such as massages, facials and weekend stays at vacation locations. Winners were split into 40-years-old and older and under 39-years-old, and chosen based upon highest percentage of body weight lost and highest body fat percentage reduction.

“I am so proud of these women. Everyone talks about getting ‘bikini-ready’ for summer, but these women actually did it. They were so dedicated to their fitness that they lost more than a combined 160 pounds,” says Fujii.

Winner Cindy Massa says, “Since joining Superwomen Boot Camp, I’ve lost 30 pounds. I didn’t realize that I would also lose 8% body fat, gain confidence and completely change my life style.  It wasn't about just losing the weight but it was about a commitment to myself. I am forever grateful to SWBC for helping me reach my goal on my deadline in July, when I will be celebrating my 25th anniversary with my husband in Hawaii. I just bought my first bikini!”

The top five winners in each category are:

40 and Over Category

Greatest Percentage of Weight Loss

Bridgit Bkoides          10.5%

Cindy Massa          8.4%

Heather Gregory       7.0%

Tina Knutsen          6.8%

Kathy Jorgensen        5.5%

Greatest Percentage of Body Fat Loss

Cindy Massa          4.0%

Bridget Bokides         3.1%

Lisa Eichler          3.1%

Tina Knutsen          2.4%

Kathy Jorgensen        2.3%

Under 39 Category

Greatest Percentage of Weight Loss

Erin Eustaquio          7.6%

Sonia Fernandez       6.0%

Priya Jayaram          5.9%

Paige Gregory          4.1%

Geeta Karki          3.4%

Greatest Percentage of Body Fat Loss

Erin Eustaquino        2.5%

Geeta Karki          0.9%

Linda Monge          0.7%

Priya Jayaram          0.6%

Paige Gregory          0.1%

In addition to the support of other boot campers, challengers received the Belly Blast program (valued at $77) for free. It included:

Checklist for readiness

Starter Guide

Goal Sheet

Grocery List Recipes

Week 1, 2 & 3 Meal Plans + a Detox component.

Home Workouts

According to Fujii, Superwomen Boot Camp is not your typical ‘hard core’ boot camp – no one is going to yell in your face or intimidate you. It is a positive, empowering program designed for women of all ages and fitness levels. The training philosophy involves the use of multiple functional movements done in a circuit-training format for maximum fat loss and muscle toning. Only the most effective exercises are done, which is why participants see significantly faster and better results in only three workouts per week. And no workout is ever the same, so no one gets bored. In addition to obtaining impressive results, participants have fun and receive the support of other women that are looking to achieve the same goals and level of fitness.

“Our boot campers range in age from high schoolers to women in their 70’s,” says Fujii. “It’s great to see the women supporting each other and recognizing their successes.”

The cost for Superwomen Boot Camp is just $99 per month, which equates to only $8.25 per camp if attended regularly three times per week; an unheard of value in the healthcare industry.  The membership includes a nutritional plan for a complete health and fitness plan. “I’ve made Superwomen Boot Camp affordable for all women. It is a great value because participants receive the benefit of a personal trainer, the energy of a group fitness class and the expertise of a nutritionist at a very reasonable cost,” adds Fujii.

Superwomen Boot Camp meets at 118 Woodmere Road, #100, in Folsom, across from Harley Davidson. There is also a Superman Boot Camp and soon there will be a Super Kids Camp. For more information, call 916-337-4780.

Val Fujii, NASM CPT, PES, is the owner and founder of Superwomen Boot Camp and is a local Folsom and El Dorado Hills fitness professional. He is available for interviews or to discuss other story ideas related to women’s weight loss and fitness. He can be reached at 916-337-4780 or via email at info@superwomenbootcamp.com.

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Susan lost 140 pounds: I want to save others from their own Live, just because someone did for me

Name: Susan Anderson
Age: 41
Height: 5'7"
Before Weight: 320 pounds

How I Gained It: I was always heavy. My mother was a great cook, and I took full advantage of that. As a child I was the heaviest kid in class and was teased relentlessly. I learned how to use food as a coping mechanism after my parents divorced. It became my comfort when I was ignored and teased in grade school. By the time I went to high school, I was well on my way to 300 pounds. My addiction to food continued into my 20s and 30s. I went through two divorces and was left with low self-esteem. I hated who I saw in the mirror. I was suicidal and felt ugly, hopeless and unwanted by anybody. The cycle of self-soothing with food continued. I ate whenever I was not occupied by something else, even in the middle of the night. I would wake up and go to McDonald's in my nightgown and hide in the car to eat. Eating the food would feel euphoric at first, then deep depression would set in afterwards.

Breaking Point: My journey started in my doctor's office. He basically told me I was in a life-or-death situation: "If you don't do something about your weight, you are going to die very soon." At 34 years old and a mother of three daughters, I was a borderline diabetic, on various blood pressure meds to control my extreme hypertension and very depressed. I was indeed headed toward an early grave. I will forever be grateful for his stern words that jumpstarted my life.

How I Lost It: The words from my doctor served as my lightbulb moment. Shortly after, I joined a gym, and began to walk into a new season of my life. I did a complete overhaul of my diet, exchanging fried food for veggies and soda for water.

I had not been used to moving my body at all really. I was winded when I would walk up a flight of stairs, or walk to my parked car. I started going to a women's gym called Curves. The trainer there really helped me out of my embarrassment of working out in front of people. For the first month or so I could only work out for about 15 minutes at a time, then slowly as my endurance increased I found I could do about 25 minutes. It was painful, but little did I know then, through that physical pain, progress within my body was taking place!

I began educating myself about the foods that had made me so overweight over the years. The more I learned, the more determined I was to change my body -- and my mind began to change, too. Instead of feeling powerless, I began to feel empowered! I realized then I had to capacity to change my life.

That knowledge lead me out of my own self-imprisonment. I thank God for that gift. Over the course of a year, I not only dropped the weight, but dropped my bad eating patterns. I cut all fried foods and refined carbs from my diet, replacing them with fresh veggies, baked or broiled fish, chicken and lean beef. I adopted a high-fiber, whole-grain lifestyle that left me with energy to burn! I became a fan of water, too. I drink a gallon or more daily, which really aided in my weight loss as well.

My current workouts are about an hour, six to seven days a week, in addition to walking and Zumba. To tone, I work out with weights five days a week. My goal is to compete in amateur women's bodybuilding with the next year or so.

There is a better life for those who believe there is no hope. I want to share what I have learned and help others to apply those principles to their life. It is now my lifelong mission to help others conquer obesity and become free, not only from physical weight, but mental and emotional heaviness associated with it as well. I truly believe that my transformation was not just for my personal fulfillment but to help others with their own journey to weight loss. I want to make a difference. I want to inspire others who think they cannot make their own dreams come true. I want to help others save their own lives, just as someone did for me.

After Weight: 180 pounds

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