BARRINGTON — Cindie DeMello, a personal trainer and fitness counselor at Body Natural Fitness Center on County Road has been in town just over a year and in that time has made a big difference in the lives of more than 130 people. “Sergeant” Cindie has been offering a fitness “Boot Camp,” a 14-day intense work-out and diet program at the gym, that has helped many people lose weight, gain muscle tone, and jump start their diet and exercise plans. So far only one man has braved the work-out. Cindie, who has more than 20 years of experience, used to own a gym in California. To learn more about the fitness boot camp, check out cindiesbootcamp.com.

How long have you been offering the boot camp? “I started boot camp in California approximately 10 years ago and kept it going when I moved to Barrington last September.”

What can people expect as far as results? “The results are what each individual puts into it. The more you put into it the more you will get out of it. The average weight loss is 8 to 12 pounds, average inches lost is 10 to 15 inches overall, and muscle gain is approximately 2 to 5 pounds.”

Do you eat a no fat, no carb diet like your boot campers? “The boot camp diet is a no sugar diet. Boot campers get plenty of carbs from all the veggies in the diet. I try all the boot camp and maintenance recipes on myself first. I maintain a very healthy well balanced diet ... with the occasional treats here and there.”

How do you motivate your clients? “All my clients see such positive results. That in itself is great motivation.”

What happens after the two-week program? “There is a maintenance plan, which includes group maintenance classes or training with me privately or in a small group. There is also a nutrition plan that goes with the maintenance phase. It is extremely important after doing boot camp to keep going, otherwise all those great results will be lost. I never leave my clients hanging. I guide them every step of the way until they reach their desired goals.”

How long have you been a fitness counselor and trainer? “I started working at a gym in Westborough, Mass. when I was 15 years old. I would show people how to use the equipment and set up exercise programs up for them. So I believe I was a trainer even before ‘personal training’ as a business model even began. I also taught aerobic classes at that gym. So, I’m 36 now... Wow! 21 years is how long I’ve been doing this. It’s been great.”

What was it like owning your own gym? “I was only 21 years old when I started my own personal training studio. I was young and it was a lot of hard work! I worked from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week to get the gym up and running. At times I would take a nap on the exercise mats in the middle of the afternoon when nobody came in. It was a long tough road but after only three years we were so successful that we expanded the business into a bigger location... I had my gym for 10 years before we sold it. I wanted to move away from the business end of things and just get back to personal training.”

Why did you come back to New England? “I’m originally from Massachusetts so all my family is still here. My sister lives in Barrington and I wanted to be close to my nephews and watch them grow up. It was hard being 3,000 miles away with no family close by.”

How do you relax when you’re not working out? “I’m a pop culture junkie. When I get home at night I like to watch my shows on my DVR. I also love to read, play with my dogs, and cheer at my nephew’s Mighty Mights football games.”

Do you work out every day? “I try to workout six days a week. But, as anyone in the fitness industry knows, you spend so much of your time getting everyone else in great shape that your own fitness routine gets put on hold sometimes.”

If you weren’t in the fitness business, what would be doing? “I have always dreamed of being a photographer. I am fascinated by photography. If not that, I would love to be a teacher — phys ed or health, of course!”

What is your favorite food? “Sushi! I even named my two dogs Ginger and Wasabi.”

Who has been an inspiration in your life? “Yeah I know I’m probably suppose to say Arnold or Jane Fonda or something like that. But really my inspiration comes from my clients. Over the years I have had clients of all ages, male, female, skinny, obese, fit, extremely unfit. And something I have done for them has changed their life and changed their way of thinking and to me there is no better inspiration than that.”