#1: Recovery

We don’t just mean physical recovery. There is a certain amount of mental recovery necessary this time of year, too. After all the vacations, social activities and exploring, it’s an adjustment to get back into a routine. Take this time to slowly return to your normal schedule and allow enough time to recover from the post-summer excitement. Taking a “nice and easy” approach rather than going all-in will keep your mind at ease and help you in this period of transition.

Try this:

Schedule time to focus on your health. Whether that means going to camp a few days a week and taking the rest as recovery days, it’s important to prioritize yourself. A great way to check in with your physical and mental health at the same time is to schedule a focus meeting with your trainer. Letting someone else know what your goals are and allowing yourself to take that time for you is a fantastic way to ensure you recover from however you felt about summer.

#2: At-Home Bodyweight Workouts

Do you ever feel like there are so many things on your to-do list, getting to the gym every day doesn’t seem to make the cut? Now that vacation is over and you are juggling more things in your life, it can be hard to factor in gym time—that extra half-hour you take driving to and from your workout can make or break whether you actually go. That’s why this August, we are loving at-home bodyweight workouts! If you have a few minutes between tasks, Burn Boot Camp at-home workouts are the perfect way to get your sweat on without the stress of going anywhere.

Try this:

This 15-minute workout you can do at home. These five exercises are quick and effective so that you can continue to prioritize your health even on your busiest days. Follow us on Instagram so that you never miss a new workout!

#3: Workout Wear

A good workout outfit is made up of two things: comfort and versatility. We love bike shorts because of the extra coverage and comfort they give to get us through the last of the humidity and warm weather—so in Burn Nation, this August is all about bike shorts. Not only are they a style staple for gym-goers and moms, they also protect against chafing and won’t ride up during camp—it’s a win-win!

Try this:

Pair a cute graphic top with a pair of bike shorts to show off how much you love being a part of Burn Nation. There are plenty of options available for purchase at your local Burn Boot Camp. We love seeing how you style Burn apparel. Pick yours up today, snap a picture and tag us for the chance to be featured on our social media.

#4: Encouraging Others

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the chaos of the back-to-school season. Even if you don’t have children, the close of summer can stir up a number of thoughts:

“I never hit my goal weight this summer.”

“I didn’t have enough time to go on vacation.”

“The holidays are right around the corner and I don’t have enough time to get where I want to be!”

These thoughts can overwhelm us and often shift our minds to focus solely on what’s going on in our world, making us forget there are other people around us experiencing the same things. If we recognize our tendency to focus on the things going wrong in our own lives, we have an opportunity to flip the script and change the way we use our energy, thoughts and words.

Try this:

Go out of your way to encourage someone who might be struggling or even help someone who is succeeding to keep going! Whether it is at camp, on social media or in line at the grocery store, we all have the power to provide encouragement for others. Your words have the power to change someone’s day, week, month, and maybe even year. Something as simple as a high-five at camp or telling someone their smile is infectious can mean the world to them. Check out how Burn Boot Camp Newport News, VA helps members share words of encouragement with their Burn Sisters!

#5: Meal Prep

Back to school means shuffling kids to school and sports practice, scheduling appointments around work and trying to figure out what to make for dinner with the little time you have left. It’s easy to default to fast-food options to get you through the chaos, which is why we love meal prep!

Try this:

Take 30 minutes to an hour on Sunday to prepare easy and healthy breakfasts on-the-go, snacks, lunches and dinner. Making these meals in advance will set you and your family up for a week of healthy eating. To get you started, here are some tips from Burn trainers to help make meal prep easier.

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Most of us know the feeling after enjoying a night out with friends—maybe you enjoyed it a little too much. The headache, nausea, the overall feeling of “Can today be canceled?” Hangovers are the body’s way of reminding us about the hazards of overindulgence. It makes sense when you break down the science of it all. The symptoms that we experience begin after blood alcohol levels start to fall. In fact, according to some experts, the worst symptoms occur when levels reach zero. How much you drank is just a small factor in the equation. Some studies even suggest that light and moderate drinkers are more vulnerable to getting a hangover than heavy drinkers. All that aside, we can all agree that recovery is the number one goal the day after indulging.

Usually, recovering from a hangover includes hydrating with some type of electrolyte-filled mixture. You might associate this with some version of a generic sports drink, loaded with fake sugars and artificial flavors, which is meant to aid you back to health. Problem solved—or maybe not so much. Although a pre-made, quick-fix drink sounds like a great choice, all the added artificial sugars, colors and flavors may be doing more harm than good. The common artificial ingredients found in typical sports drinks have been known to cause symptoms that include headaches, stomachaches, cravings, inflammation and irritability. Ironically, these are some of the same symptoms we experience with a hangover—which the sports drink was supposed to cure in the first place!

Instead of loading up on a blue or purple flavored drink with a hint of electrolytes, opt for one of these natural options instead.

Water

Maybe this goes without saying, but nothing hydrates better than water—simple as that. After a night out, dehydration is common. This is because alcohol depletes your body of water and vital nutrients. If you are dehydrated, you may experience unpleasant symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue and vomiting. Next time you are out on the town, remember to drink one 8-ounce glass of water between alcoholic beverages and then continue to load up on H₂O the next morning.

Coconut Water

We’ve already addressed that alcohol doesn’t only make you lose fluid—it washes away essential electrolytes. Potassium is one of the electrolytes depleted, which can leave you feeling weak and crampy. Potassium helps control the amount of fluid in the body, maintains a healthy blood pH level and is vital to cell function. Coconut water is a great choice to replace your sports drink. It has more potassium per ounce and is free of artificial colors and sweeteners.

Orange Juice

Another classic choice for morning-after recovery. Vitamin C is one of the major vitamins depleted by alcohol. We need vitamin C to support our immune system and act as an antioxidant to scavenge for free radicals, which cause inflammation and tissue destruction. Ever wonder why your skin looks so lackluster after a hangover? Vitamin C also helps your body produce collagen, which makes your skin appear hydrated and rejuvenated! Freshly squeezed OJ is the perfect drink to reach for when you’re on the mend.

Ginger Lemon Tea

Nauseous? Ginger is your new best friend. It works wonders to alleviate nausea. Add lemon in the mix for the ultimate recovery drink. Lemon supports your liver, which goes into overdrive trying to metabolize all that ethanol (aka alcohol). You can make it yourself by boiling some water and adding fresh slices of ginger and the juice of half a lemon.

Bone Broth

Before you turn your nose up at the thought of drinking bone broth, hear us out. Bone broth has tons of benefits. It contains L-glutamine, which supports the health of your small intestine, and glycine, which supports detoxification. While homemade is best, store-bought versions are still a great option. Just make sure you look for one made with whole food ingredients—like grass-fed beef bones and pasture-raised or free-range poultry bones—without additives, coloring or flavor enhancers.

Miso Soup

Let’s talk about another important electrolyte: sodium. Our body requires small amounts of sodium for nerve and muscle function as well as fluid balance. Drinking alcohol drains your body of normal sodium levels, so it is important to replenish those levels after the fact. Fermented soybean—otherwise known as miso—has naturally higher levels of sodium and contains probiotics and antioxidants that help sooth digestion, making it the perfect thing to sip on. Make sure when you are purchasing store-bought versions that you stay away from any ingredients with GMOs. As always, organic ingredients are best.

Beet Juice

After consuming alcohol, the liver is hard at work processing all that ethanol. You might feel achy or run down—but not to fear, beets are here! Beets contain betaine, which is an antioxidant rich in anti-inflammatory compounds. A clean pressed juice containing beets will help your liver cleanse your body and put that pep back in your step—just make sure it contains 100% juice and no preservatives if you go the store-bought route.

Virgin Bloody Mary

They say a little hair of the dog will do the trick, but your best bet to recover as fast as possible is to give your body a break from the booze. The ingredients that make up a Bloody Mary are a surprisingly great mixture for detoxing your body. Omit the alcohol but keep the tomato juice, lemon, olives and celery, and you have yourself a great recovery drink. Tomatoes have natural sodium, potassium and, most importantly, lycopene—an antioxidant that helps with detoxification. The lemon juice adds a nice kick of vitamin C!

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The “Re-Fuel” Window

In the first hour after exercising, look to replace the important nutrients lost during your workout. Many people in the fitness world call this the “refuel” or “anabolic window.” The goal here is to replenish muscle glycogen fuel stores to help repair the muscles. Glycogen is what keeps you going when your body isn’t getting energy from food—we love glycogen. When you break it down, glycogen is made up of glucose molecules, which are the main source of fuel for our cells. The way your body makes glucose is through breaking down the food you eat. The human body is incredibly smart when it comes to storing energy. When you don’t need the energy from food right away, glucose gets put into storage in the liver and muscles to use when you’re ready. These guys hate being alone, so they huddle together and call their new group “glycogen.” Then, when you do end up needing a boost of energy—to crush your next camp, for example—the group of glycogen is broken apart to release each glucose molecule into the bloodstream to be used as fuel for the cells, leaving the glycogen “storage facility” empty. Our job is to fill that storage container back up, which requires protein and carbohydrates.

Not every workout is created equal—even Burn Boot Camp’s weekly protocol balances strength and high-intensity cardio days. That being said, it is something to consider when choosing your post-workout fuel. After an intense workout, you want to make sure to get protein and carbs with foods like smoothies or an apple and peanut butter. If you need inspiration, check out these recipes:

After a strength-based workout, adding a scoop of protein to some water or your milk of choice is a great way to make sure you don’t miss the anabolic window. Try to use a high-quality protein powder that is minimally processed for maximum absorption. Some key things to look for on the label:

• Contains zero artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners or preservatives 
• Non-GMO
• Grass-fed, non-denatured whey 
• More than 20 grams of protein per serving 

Two options we love that meet all these requirements : 

• Chocolate Protein Powder
• Vanilla Protein Powder

The International Society of Sports Nutrition suggests active people aim for an overall daily protein intake of between 0.64 and 1 grams per pound of body weight—for example, a 150-pound active person needs roughly 95 to 150 grams of protein per day. If you find that you are falling short of the recommended amount, a serving of AfterBurn protein powder will give you 23 grams per serving.

10 Ways to Use Protein Powder

• Coffee 
• Smoothies 
• Yogurt 
• Oatmeal 
• Pancakes 
• Cookies 
• Brownies 
• Shakes
• Added to Milk
• Waffles 
• Cake 

If you are feeling adventurous, these Burn recipes are so delicious, you won’t believe they pack a protein punch:

• Funfetti Afterburn Protein Bars
• Baked Maple Protein Oatmeal
• Protein-Packed Afterburn Pancakes
• Giant Triple Chocolate Protein Cookie
• Sugarless Sugar Cookies with Whipped Protein Frosting

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