Conversations with Cody McClung

Today we’d like to introduce you to Cody McClung.

Hi Cody, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story started with my own transformation.

Before I ever became a personal trainer, I was the person who needed help. At my heaviest, I was over 300 pounds and felt disconnected from the man I knew I was capable of becoming. I had to learn how to rebuild my health from the ground up. Not through shortcuts, but through discipline, research, experience, better habits, nutrition, strength training, and a lot of uncomfortable honesty.

Over time, I lost 106 pounds and completely changed my relationship with fitness. But more importantly, I changed my relationship with myself. That journey taught me that fitness is about more than looking different. It’s about taking control of your life, building confidence, creating structure, and proving to yourself that you are capable of more than you thought.

Along the way, my faith became a major part of that growth. I found a deeper sense of purpose, responsibility, and direction. Becoming a husband and father only strengthened that. Fitness stopped being just about me, and became part of how I lead, serve, and help others.

That experience is what eventually led me into personal training and the creation of Chapters Fitness. My mission is to help people write a new chapter in their own story; whether that means losing weight, building strength, improving their health, or simply becoming the version of themselves they know they are capable of being.Your Strength, Your Story, Your New Chapter.

I’ve had the opportunity to coach everyday clients through major lifestyle transformations, as well as help bodybuilding competitors prepare for the stage, with every competitor placing top five or better. But whether someone is stepping on stage or stepping into the gym for the first time, my approach stays the same: meet them where they are, teach them how to train with intention, and help them build habits that last.

Today, I coach clients through strength training, nutrition, movement quality, and sustainable lifestyle changes. My goal is not just to give people workouts, but to teach them how to build a healthier life they can actually maintain. I believe every person has a story, and with the right guidance, support, faith, and intentional decisions, they can start writing a stronger one.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Nor do I believe it should be. Nothing great comes from something easy.

A big part of my journey started with having to face myself honestly. Losing over 100 pounds required more than just changing my workouts or nutrition. It forced me to confront my habits, my discipline, my self image, and the way I was showing up in my own life. There were seasons where I felt stuck, frustrated, and unsure if I would ever become the person I wanted to be.

Building Chapters Fitness has come with its own challenges too. Like many small business owners, I’ve had to learn how to wear a lot of hats at once. Coach, programmer, marketer, content creator, administrator, and business owner. All while still being present as a husband and father. There is a lot that happens behind the scenes that people do not always see.

One of the biggest challenges has been learning how to build something meaningful without rushing the process. I care deeply about doing things the right way. I want the business to grow, but I also want every client to feel seen, supported, and coached with intention. That takes patience, structure, and constant growth on my end.

There have also been personal challenges along the way. Learning how to lead better, communicate better, trust God more, and keep moving forward even when life feels heavy. My faith has become a major anchor in that process.

But I think those challenges are also what make me a better coach. I know what it feels like to struggle. I know what it feels like to start over, even after wanting to end everything. I know what it feels like to want more for your life but not know exactly how to get there yet. That’s why I care so much about helping people build sustainable change, not just temporary results.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Through Chapters Fitness, I work as a personal trainer and lifestyle coach helping everyday people take control of their health through strength training, nutrition, movement quality, and sustainable habits.

My main focus is the everyday person. The person who feels stuck. The person who has tried to get started before. The parent, professional, former athlete, or busy adult who knows they need to take better care of themselves, but may not know how to make it fit into real life. I help people lose weight, build muscle, improve confidence, move better, and create a relationship with fitness they can actually maintain.

Because of my own transformation of losing 106 pounds, I understand what it feels like to start from a place of frustration, insecurity, and uncertainty. That gives me a unique perspective as a coach. I can meet people where they are while still helping them see that they are capable of far more than they think.

What I am most known for is my attention to detail. Clients and other coaches I have interacted with have told me that my coaching eye, training cues, and overall training philosophy are what set me apart. I care about how someone moves, not just how much weight they lift. I want clients to understand what they are doing, why they are doing it, and how to train with intention instead of just going through random workouts.

I have also had the opportunity to coach bodybuilding competitors through contest prep, with every competitor I have worked with placing top five or better. That is something I am proud of, but I see it as the cherry on top. It means a lot when someone trusts me to walk them through something that demanding, detailed, and difficult. Still, my heart is with helping everyday people write a new chapter in their own story.

What sets Chapters Fitness apart is that I care about the whole person, not just the workout. Fitness is physical, but it also affects your confidence, discipline, mindset, family, and faith. My goal is to help people build a healthier life they can actually maintain, one intentional decision at a time.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
The most important lesson I have learned is that real change is built one intentional decision at a time.

Most people think transformation comes from one big moment. One perfect plan. One sudden burst of motivation. But in my own life, and in coaching others, I have learned that lasting change is usually much quieter than that. It is built through the small decisions you repeat when no one is watching.

Losing 106 pounds taught me that discipline is not about being perfect. It is about learning how to keep showing up, even when life is busy, motivation is low, or progress feels slow. There were plenty of times where I did not feel like I was becoming anything special. I was just trying to make the next better choice in front of me.

That lesson has shaped the way I coach. I do not believe people need to completely reinvent their life overnight. I believe they need guidance, structure, accountability, and a clear path forward. Then they need to stack enough honest decisions together until their life starts to reflect the person they are becoming.

I have also learned that people are capable of far more than they usually believe. Sometimes they just need someone to slow things down, meet them where they are, and help them see the next step clearly.

That is really the heart behind Chapters Fitness. Your strength is your story. Your story changes when your daily decisions change. And every person deserves the opportunity to write a stronger, healthier, more confident chapter.

Pricing:

• In-person training starts at $250 per month
• Monthly training packages available from 4 to 20 sessions
• Single-session à la carte training available at $80 per session
• Online coaching starts at $200 per month
• 12 week prep package starts at $1500

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chaptersfitness
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/14eDHDpkDBt/
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