Camp cope

Fernanda Delatorre didn’t need to lose weight, but she still subjected herself to the torment of "boot camp" fitness classes a couple times a week.

She used the DumBell Fitness exercise sessions designed specifically for military spouses to stay positive during her husband’s lengthy deployment.

"My husband was gone for 10 months and I wanted to keep busy," she said. "I truly believe that boot camp was one of the things that helped me to deal with the absence of my husband. It made me stronger and made me realize that I could do anything I set my mind to."

The DumBell Fitness sessions run by instructor Christina Landry are not easy. Landry shouts out orders. She pushes people to their limits. And, no excuses allowed.

Delatorre, 43, said she left class in tears more than once.

"After the first week, every muscle in my body hurt and I was barely able to walk," she said. "It took several weeks to get the hang of it. I never thought that I’d be able to do a single pushup, but before I knew it, I was pumping several and running farther than I ever could.

"I’d look forward to boot camp days because that was my time and my troubles would go away."

The workouts are intended to provide an outlet for those who may be dealing with loneliness, single parenting and other issues related to having a military spouse who is often absent. It’s also a chance to meet others in the same situation.

"I know how hard it is to deal with deployments," Landry said. "It’s not just about weight loss; it’s a total attitude change."

Landry, 32, is a Navy veteran married to a Navy diver. Over the course of having two children, Landry gained 50 pounds. Once she decided to quit making excuses for her unhealthy lifestyle, she went to the gym, lost the excess weight and went on to pursue a degree in business administration and personal training.

She founded DumBell Fitness and runs an outdoor boot camp at Ford Island several days a week. Camps run by other instructors are held at various military bases.

Civilians do not have access to most of the sites but can check out sessions at Halsey Terrace Community Center, 620 Pool St.

"I’ve been through all the same rigors of military life — frequent moves, raising young children without family support and long separations from my spouse," Landry said. "Military spouses care for everyone else first and put themselves last. My goal is to show them that they are worth taking care of so they can be there to take care of everyone else."

The Ford Island class starts with a jog around the park fronting Pearl Harbor, followed by warmup exercises, pushups, work with medicine balls, agility drills and stretching. The workouts are tailored for all fitness levels. The program includes nutritional counseling.

With four kids from 8 months to 11 years in age, and a husband who was deployed, Jayde Gaines was just a few pounds away from qualifying as obese. She admits she wasn’t eating right or exercising.

"I only lost 2 pounds in the first month (of boot camp) but didn’t let that discourage me. When you lose inches, it makes a world of difference," she said. "Things get tougher each week."

Gaines, 30, eventually lost more than 30 pounds and went from a size 10 to a size 4.

"I have lots more energy. Exercise is the cheapest anti-depressant," she said.

Lori Stoffers, 34, lost 50 pounds over eight months and ran in last year’s Honolulu Marathon. The classes provide much more than fitness training, she explained.

"The first class was absolutely brutal. I was running at the back of the pack. I needed to walk while everyone else was running. I knew it would be hard and I wouldn’t like it, but it was doable," Stoffers said. "I found out that I’m strong and capable — that even though I’m a mom, I can accomplish good things on my own. It’s changed my outlook on how I deal with things."