FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- (Feb. 26, 2016) Jodi Porter started 2016 with a mission to become a healthier wife, mother and woman.
Her friends brought her to Fort Campbell's Estep Wellness Center, where she soon signed up for the 60-Day Resolution Challenge. The challenge, which cost $100, includes a two-month unlimited membership at the fitness facility, as well as accountability coaching, assessments and other perks.
With two weeks to go before the challenge concludes, the Army spouse is a believer in the program's benefits.
"I lost more than 11 pounds," Porter said. "I lost inches from almost every part of my body. Clothes are fitting better. I've gone down two pants sizes in a little over a month."
Porter credits the weight loss to a strict exercise regimen and healthier eating habits. She is now a regular at Estep, where she attends cycling and Total Pump classes. Porter also frequents the treadmill as she works to increase her daily step count.
"My daily goal is to get in over 10,000 steps on my Fitbit," she said. "That's just what I've been trying to do."
The exercise opportunities and community atmosphere at Estep are a few of the highlights of the challenge so far.
"Just the classes and meeting new people," Porter said, of her favorite part of the challenge. "New friends. They all encourage you and motivate you to do your best."
While Porter finds the time to dedicate to physical activity, she admits making healthier food choices is more difficult. Add three small children -- all picky eaters -- into the mix for another resolution hurdle.
"The hardest part is really just the eating," she said. "I can do the exercising. It's the eating. It's a continuous effort every day."
Her Family is eating better as a result, even though Porter often has to get a bit creative to incorporate vegetables into daily meals. A health and fitness journal helps Porter keep track of her food choices and activity levels each day.
"[The kids] still are very picky, but I've found recipes to try and hide vegetables in food so they don't really know and they'll eat it that way," she said. "My husband, he's been very supportive. He will stick with me through everything."
Porter would like to lose some more weight before the end of the challenge, but her goal remains the same as when she entered Estep for her first workout.
"The thing that I am trying to do is to be a healthier person all around and to be healthier for my Family," she said. "I just wanted to be healthier than when I first started it. And to lose 11 pounds, I was crying in the gym because I didn't expect to lose that much. I was nervous, because it's hard to stay on track constantly especially with a Family that's picky and a husband [who] can eat anything and not gain weight."
The 60-Day Resolution Challenge concludes March 10. For more information about Estep's current offerings, call 270-798-4664. Estep staff, including certified personal trainer Megan Scales, hopes to see Porter and the other participants continue to pursue a healthy lifestyle long after the challenge ends.
Scales and other Estep staff members encourage participants with weekly emails containing nutrition and workout tips, as well accountability and guidance at the mid-point assessment. However, a crucial part of the challenge is giving participants room to navigate their own health journey.
"I just hope that everyone, No. 1, enjoyed it, but No. 2, plans to keep up with it," Scales said during a previous interview with the Courier. "Not just, 'oh I'm going to do these 60 days and be done with it.'"
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