About Cynthia Conde

Cynthia Conde is a trainer certified with the National Academy of Sports Medicine and a strength-and-conditioning coach who designs fitness and nutrition plans. She developed her Bridal Bootcamp® program after working with a client who was 100 pounds overweight and engaged for almost two years because she refused to set a wedding date until she slimmed down. "My heart went out to her," says Cynthia. "She was so determined to finally take the weight off and learn how to keep it off."

When thinking of ways to motivate the bride-to-be with fast results, Cynthia thought of her brother, who'd recently undergone a major transformation. He'd been overweight, unhappy, and unsure about what to do with his life, so he decided to enlist in the Marines. When he returned from boot camp, he was a changed man. He lost 30 pounds and looked lean, strong, and confident. "I figured if boot camp training could motivate someone like it did my brother, then the military had a secret they weren't sharing with the rest of us," says Cynthia.

Cynthia researched the boot camp training methods of the U.S. armed forces and adapted them for brides. And so Bridal Bootcamp® was born. To kick off her program, Cynthia created an obstacle course on the rooftop of her training facility, a Gold's Gym in Astoria, New York. When the business took off -- almost immediately -- she was able to design a 3,000-square-foot boot-camp facility at the gym. Camo was painted on the walls, and the space was equipped with cargo nets, rope, hurdles, and climbing walls. Cynthia soon began offering her Bridal Bootcamp® classes at other local gyms -- and now has plans to expand the program and open a boot-camp center in New York City and then in Long Island, New York. Her program will be licensed nationwide by the end of 2008.

In 2004, Cynthia wrote Bridal Bootcamp: Look Fabulous on Your Big Day, based on the principles of her successful fitness-and-nutrition program, which includes abdominal and strength-training exercises, nutritional cleansing, and meal plans based on her clients' individual metabolic types. Even her very first bride can attest to the program's success -- she was 100 pounds lighter on her wedding day! Stories like hers continue to inspire Cynthia. "These women are all looking to start a new life with their future husbands," she says. "I want to help them reach their fitness goals and teach them about healthy eating -- lessons that should last a lifetime."

In addition to opening her new training facilities, Cynthia's current projects include writing two more books; she's also awaiting the premiere of Bridal Bootcamp®, a reality TV show that will appear on CMT this fall.

Start Cynthia Conde's Bridal Bootcamp®!