Burlington resident and former fitness champion Jen Hendershott now leads Phat Camps in more than 20 cities, in addition to running Get Phit Studio in town. photo: Jen Hendershott

Training in the Triad

Fitness champion Jen Hendershott revs up her Phat Camp movement

by Taylor Madaffari

In the whirlwind of daily life, exercising isn’t often a first priority. But Burlington-based Jen Hendershott, two-time Fitness International and two-time Ms. Fitness Olympia champion, will tell you there’s no such thing as being too overweight, too busy, or too inexperienced to exercise.

In fact, her revolutionary Phat Camps are geared specifically toward everyday women of any size, shape or fitness level. Held in more than 20 cities worldwide, the fitness boot camps are “designed for women who want to learn about being the best they can be,” Hendershott says.

 The program inspires, empowers and educates women on how to lead well-balanced, healthy lives. Over a two-and-a-half-day period, camp participants work one on one with Hendershott and her energized staff to learn creative ways to make cardiovascular workouts more fun, try exciting new exercises, and find tips on cooking and eating healthily. Campers also attend seminars, have their health and fitness questions answered by professionals, and receive several weeks’ worth of training programs to take home.

“Phat Camp is where you come to get the motivation and confidence that you’re looking for,” Hendershott says. “Everyone has a different story, a different goal, a different purpose. And they all fit right in.”

A special place

If you ask Hendershott, there’s something truly special about Phat Camp. It’s also evidenced in the numbers. Only 11 women attended the first camp in 2001, which was held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Now, more than 100 women — complete with Spandex and pumped-up attitudes — flood the annual camp’s gates, eager to train with Hendershott.

Perhaps the program’s success is due to its high-octane cardio and fat-torching exercises, or maybe it’s Hendershott’s infectious energy and zest for life. It also could be her genuine kindness and the long-term relationships she engenders.

Whatever the reason, Hendershott is a trainer with real heart and soul. For her, running Phat Camp is not merely a job; it’s her dream, and she counts herself blessed to be doing what she loves. She knows firsthand what the human body is capable of, and she finds great pleasure in transforming people’s lives through diet and exercise.

“It’s an amazing feeling to know that you can do anything you want to do if you put your mind to it,” Hendershott says. “I am here to help people see that through.”

“Anyone can be a trainer,” she adds. “But it’s those trainers who get down and do it with their clients, who cry with them and laugh with them, who are, in my opinion, the ones who are really good at what they do.”

Born to train

Hendershott, it seems, was fated for the job. Growing up in a household of boys, she learned to take hard knocks early on. She’s also no stranger to physical activity. She began dancing when she was just two years old, ran track and field, and was a competitive cheerleader at Ohio State University, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in community health and fitness. But she felt she wasn’t quite through with her athletic career after graduation. In 1997, a friend introduced her to the fitness industry. She entered her first competition — and won.

“Two minutes of fitness performing on stage and I was in heaven,” Hendershott says. “I watched my body change with the dedication of a balanced diet and hard work, and I knew this was for me.”

Hendershott went on to compete for 13 years in the fitness division — there also are bikini, physique, bodybuilding and figure divisions — and retired after her back-to-back wins in 2008 and 2009. She was a star, known for her inventive, complex and often shocking routines. She even helped other competitors with their own choreography.

Her impact on the fitness world is incalculable; she fought fiercely for her victories, never once relenting in a world rife with rejection and bias. And she’s remembered as one of the most successful and colorful athletes in the industry.

Still going strong

Hendershott already has achieved more than most people do in a lifetime, yet she shows no signs of slowing. She manages Get Phat Online, a site that offers members customized workouts, recommended nutrition plans and cardio routines.

“The website is a way for my certified team of fitness experts and me to reach the world,” she says. “Our clients inspire us, and we are so grateful for the opportunity to teach so many men and women worldwide.”

In addition to the website, she owns a promotions company, which hosts fitness competitions held annually in Charleston, S.C. She also created PGN Nutrition, a brand of supplements that provides fat burners, protein, and other products for weight loss or strength gain. Then there’s her series of training DVDs, her stint on MTV’s “Made” and her audition as a trainer for “The Biggest Loser.” She’s also in the process of writing her second book.

To whom does Hendershott attribute her zealous work ethic? Her parents, whom she describes as hardworking and big hearted. Her husband, Brian, is an inspiration as well.

“I am the woman and athlete and success that I am because of him,” Hendershott says. “We make a great team.”

Close to home

Hendershott has brought her expertise to the Triad with Get Phit Studio. Located in Burlington just off of Interstate 40, the studio offers North Carolinians private or group free-weight training, group exercise classes, and diet and supplement consultation.

She loves the studio because it allows her to commit to the health of the community. She works with the Alamance Area Chamber of Commerce to motivate area residents to get active as well, and often holds speaking engagements at area businesses and schools.

“We all have to work together to empower the next generation,” Hendershott says. “Parents, adults, teachers and leaders have to lead by example to stop this growing rate of obesity.”

She cites the Internet as a good place to start because it offers easy access to healthy recipes, motivational quotes, and creative ideas for fundraising that don’t include junk foods, as well as the ability to network with community leaders.

“It’s time for people to slow down and plan, prepare, and make meals at home,” Hendershott says.

Her fitness philosophy? “YOLO: You Only Live Once, so it has to be good,” she says.

She believes that it’s possible to be healthy and fit without making great sacrifices.

“You don’t have to belong to a big gym to be successful, and you don’t have to spend endless hours working out or eating tuna and asparagus to be healthy,” Hendershott says. “But you need to have balance in your daily life and loyalty to yourself to live your fullest life.

“I also believe that being fit is more than what you see,” she adds. “You have to have a healthy heart, mind and attitude.” 

Taylor Madaffari is an editorial intern with Triad Living and Wake Living magazines.

Hendershott’s get-fit tips

Fitness champion Jen Hendershott has some advice for those wanting to lead a healthier life:

• Plan ahead. Cook bulk amounts of healthy food on Sundays so that you can pack and take it with you during the week; five to seven small snacks a day can make you healthy, happy and fit.
• Make the most of your time. Carve out some time in your day to work out. Get out of bed 30 minutes earlier each day, or exercise while your kids are at soccer practice. Remember, if you have enough time for texting and Facebook, then you have time to exercise.
• Set goals. You have to have a goal, whether it’s losing 10 pounds or getting into shape for an event. If you don’t have a conscious goal, then your game plan won’t last long.
• Be your biggest fan. You can do anything you put your mind to. Surround yourself with positive people, and don’t let others tell you no.
• Avoid processed foods. Get clean, organic and fresh foods whenever possible: fresh first, frozen second and canned if you must. When dining out, restaurants will listen to your requests. Be aggressive with your needs to eat healthfully.

For more information or to sign up for any of Hendershott’s programs, call (336) 261-7274, e-mail jenhenfit2000@aol.com, or visit www.jennyh.com or www.getphitstudio.com.