Success Stories

Jill Messecar lost over 100 pounds

I joined the gym Cody was working at, at the end of November after having lost 50 pounds walking and attending weight watcher meetings. The weather was not so nice for walking and I wanted to continue to lose weight and exercise. I met Cody who was the gym manager and a trainer when I signed up for the gym. He talked me and my friend into signing up with him as our personal trainer and over the period of the next year I lost 100 pounds and am in the best shape of my life. I highly recommend Cody as a personal trainer if you want to have challenging workout. He teaches me new moves and puts together new routines each week.

One of the things that I really appreciate about Cody is his faith that you can do the workout he wrote for you even if you doubt it yourself. He ability to objectively assess what your body can do even when your mind disagrees is unique and a powerful motivator. He never saw me as to fat to work out even when others did. Thank you Cody.

-Jill Messecar

Chris Howard lost 50 pounds

As a lifelong backpacker, being able to get off the beaten path and experience the solitude of remote wilderness is important to me. For years I’ve done this without any problem. As I approached my 40s I found myself gaining weight and losing endurance. On a trail in the Wallowa Mountains that I’d done many times I was so exhausted that I had to have someone else carry my pack for the last few miles. It made me realize that if I was going to ever see my favorite places as I got older I’d need to do something different.

In preparation for the following hiking season I joined Snap Fitness. My regular workouts allowed me to get through hikes without needing someone else to carry my pack, but the trips were still exhausting and not enjoyable. After one hiking season and a full year of working out at the gym I was down only 5 pounds. It seemed my workouts served only to maintain a weight of around 220 – considerably heavier than I ought to be. I wanted to see better results and I asked Cody if he could help.

I can’t explain how much more effective my workouts became from the very first session. Cody’s training is comprehensive – emphasizing nutrition, endurance, core strength and muscle-building all in a context that is positive, encouraging and motivating. I am extremely happy with the results I’ve seen working with Cody. Over a matter of 6 months I lost nearly 50 pounds. I feel so much healthier and regularly get compliments from friends and even strangers that think I look 15 years younger than I am. Best of all, I went on a number of backpacking trips since I’ve been training with Cody. Some of these hikes are rated as extremely challenging trails, and I was able to tackle them with the ease that I did when I was 25. As a matter of fact, I went with several other hiker friends, some of whom are in their 20s and early 30s, and was far and away the most able in the group. I’m so glad that I’m able to hike wherever I want now – and look good while doing it!

– Chris Howard

Denny Seotaert lost 121 pounds!

“Thirteen months ago I was 425 pounds, the heaviest I have ever been in my life. I chose to make some life changes and one of them was my health. I’m currently 121 pounds lighter. With no gimmicks, no fancy pills, no surgery, no medical clinics, just plain old-fashioned workouts at the gym through the help of Cody the trainer. He has helped me to release 121 pounds with an amazing workout regimen and eating plan that is giving me the results I want. Cody cares about your health and fitness as much as you do and has creative ways in helping you reach your fitness goals. The journey goes on for me with my fitness and having the best time of my life.”

– Denny Soetaert
Dream Big – Live Stronger

Candi Rose lost over 30 pounds

My walk to the gym.

I like to walk when I can around the city of Milwaukie and on my walks I would pass by the Snap Fitness. You could see the people exercising and I thought to myself, I should join the gym. It was always just a passing thought as I was passing the gym. To be honest, the gym scared me.

A beautiful day in March, my husband and I walked over to Snap Fitness to see inside and inquire about joining this gym. The gym Manager was with another couple so we sat in the waiting area. I started really looking around and I was ready to bolt, super scary looking, the machines looked intimidating, the people inside all looked fit and wonderful and I starting of thinking of excuses and ways to get out of the gym without anyone’s notice.

Thank gosh the gym Manager got done with the couple in front of us before I could bolt out of the gym. (I say this now, at the time-still terrified). The Manager took us through the gym membership, the equipment and asked us lots of questions about what we wanted to accomplish at the gym. I didn’t really know what to say but this Manager was good and got me talking and most of all he got me thinking. I decided right there and then to sign up for 10 sessions with a Personal Trainer. I set my first appointment with this Personal Trainer on March 20, 2013, the trainer happened to be the gym Manager, Cody Knope-Jenkins. I had only intended to have 10 sessions and then I was done.

The walk to the gym for that first session with Cody was the longest walk. I called my friend, Tamie on the way to get myself centered and knew she would help me continue on with this long, long walk to the gym. In reality the gym is only about 4 minutes from my home.

I walked in, so scared and met with Cody the Personal Trainer/Gym Manager. We started talking about the training sessions, what I can expect, what he expects, how many times per week, meal plans, etc. We took my measurements, did some exercises and by the end of the session I was feeling more comfortable and ready to do my best. This session started one of the best decisions I ever made and will always be grateful to Cody. He made me feel like I could do anything in that gym, he is caring, funny, genuine and a pleasure.

Over two years later, I am still training with Cody Knope-Jenkins or as I call him “Trainer Man”. I have lost over 30 pounds, I look leaner, I gained muscle but more importantly the gain in my self esteem is what I am most proud. I could not have done any of this without Trainer Man; he answered all my questions, not only during our sessions but made himself available for questions all the time. He is with me every step of the way and there is no way I could have continued this walk to the gym without Cody.

Thank you for all you do Cody Knope-Jenkins aka Trainer Man!

-Candi Rose