Meet The Biggest Loser: Shawn Pugh
Coach Jim Horning Of Tampa Bay Adventure Boot Camp Helped Her Lose 10 Pant Sizes And 52 Pounds In Seven Months

Staying fit has never been easy for Shawn Pugh. The 35-year-old has battled with the crippling effects of fibromyalgia for years, a condition that has at times left her body in a state of constant pain and fatigue. The condition—coupled with a weight problem and hormone imbalance—has also prevented Shawn from having the thing she wants more than anything the world: a child.
Then she met Coach Jim Horning, owner of Tampa Bay Adventure Boot Camp.
Several months ago, Shawn saw a news segment on Fox 13 about a women-only boot camp designed to motivate, stimulate and empower. She really liked the approach at Tampa Bay Adventure Boot Camp but knew the 35-mile trek from her Mulberry home to South Tampa would require dedication.
Aches and pains aside, she committed to Coach Jim’s regimen. With every push-up, squat and lunge, Shawn envisioned a beautiful baby and her first chance at motherhood. And the results of her dedication have shown through dramatically. The winner of South Tampa Magazine’s first-ever Losing Big contest, Shawn lost 10 pant sizes, 52 pounds and gained a new perspective on personal fitness in just seven months.
“It has totally changed my life,” she says. “I am healthier now than I have been in years and I feel better than I have felt in a very long time. I do not have the pain from the fibromyalgia and there have been changes in my body that I have not experienced in several years that could suggest the possibility of a child is in the near future.”

Coach Jim doesn’t carry a whistle and he doesn’t yell. Instead, he builds confidence and camaraderie. His partner-based program is results-driven and proven. Tampa Bay Adventure Boot Camp is Tampa’s longest running outdoor fitness camp.
“When I go out there, my whole goal is to teach them that they’ve already got everything they need,” he says. “My job is to bring it out to the surface.”
Shawn’s workout sessions were individually tailored to reduce body fat, increase strength, improve endurance and build self-confidence through weight training, cardio, flexibility and relaxation, Coach Jim says. Her daily calorie range, which was set to fit her goals specifically, was calculated through meal planning software and was no less than 1,624 calories and no more than 2,124.
Shawn also participated in nutrition seminars, daily motivational email messages about her diet and went on adventure tours such as rock climbing, zip lines and kayaking.
Coach Jim says his relationship with Shawn has transcended the typical trainer/camper relationship because he was concerned about keeping her at healthy pace. In October, Shawn found out she had bone spurs in both feet. She could barely walk but Coach Jim altered her workouts to include a bicycle. Shawn overcame her obstacle and learned to deal with the trials life throws in her direction.
Though getting pregnant remains an uncertainty, Shawn is encouraged by her body’s response to the weight loss. Doctors said she’ll likely never have a child, but that hasn’t stopped her from doing everything in her power to try.
And with Coach Jim’s guidance, she’s more optimistic than ever.
“Who knows,” she says, “maybe the next issue in the South Tampa Magazine will be a major baby announcement.”

Before and After

Turn Your Workout Into An Adventure

Coach Jim Horning

•    Tampa Bay Adventure Boot Camp is Tampa’s longest running outdoor boot camp.
•    Workout sessions that are individually tailored to reduce body fat, increase strength, improve endurance and build self-confidence.
•    Members of the TBABC have nutrition seminars, daily motivational email messages and Adventure Tours for rock climbing, zip lines, kayaking and more.
•    Coach Jim Horning says building confidence and camaraderie is his biggest goal, while teaching through positive reinforcement instead of fear and apprehension.
•    The camp meets Monday through Friday at Cotanchobee, Ft. Brooke Park and other outdoor locations in South Tampa. All ages are welcome but this camp is women only.
•    To learn more, call (813) 368-3352 or visit www.TampaBootCamp.com.