I walked through the doors of Burn in August of 2016. I was terrified! After having 3 kids and never being athletic or in shape, I was needing something to help me become a better me. I was tipping the scales at 230 and was so depressed. I had tried basic gyms in the past and never stuck with it because I never really knew what I was doing.   

From day one at Burn Boot Camp I fell in love! The trainers were amazing, the women were welcoming and the workout was top notch! Eleven months later and  I am on the right track to becoming the best me possible. Burn Boot Camp has become a home for me and is part of my daily routine. Ashley pushes me to work harder than I ever thought was possible. The people that I have met at camp are more like my family.

When I started I wanted the number on the scale to drop and drop quick. I soon realized that it isn’t all about the number on the scale. While I have lost several inches and 20lbs, my muscle has dramatically increased. My husband finds it quite humorous when I chase him around making him feel my muscles. I am no longer depressed because I feel better about myself. My self confidence is at an all time high! I love that I’m on this journey with so many beautiful women and it makes me proud to be apart of the Burn family.

Jessica Benson, Burn Boot Camp Huntersville

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Walking  and mowing my yard has been my only exercise in the past. I love to cook so my meal Prep has become very creative and filling. I am inspired by so many strong women everyday who are positive and confident. I am a nanny and I care for Burn Boot Camp kids so I need my energy to be high!

I’m proud to say that at 53 years old I’m in the best shape of my life! Love yourself first and you can do anything, one day at a time. #StrongNotSkinny

Christine Byrnes, Burn Boot Camp Huntersville

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Burn Boot Camp has become an integral part of my life in a short period of time. I originally became a member a little over 2 years ago. I enjoyed the camps and found them to be a very good, challenging workout. However, I had a pretty busy schedule and never really got into a good routine of going. Then I became pregnant which added to my inconsistency. I did keep my membership even though I wasn’t going very often, because I knew I wanted to get back to working on my physical health after my son was born. I figured that having the free childcare while I worked out would be the best way to do that.

Once my son was born in April 2016 I decided to stay at home with him instead of going back to work. As soon as I was able I started attending camps and taking him along. I found that going to boot camp helped me establish a new routine and was a great way to get out of the house with a newborn. Those 45 minutes of camp were a way for me to turn off my new “mommy brain” and have no worries focusing on myself, because he was just in the next room in very capable hands.

This January when the “Raise My Bar” challenge was announced I decided that was my time to really go all in. I committed to the challenge and started attending camp 5 days a week. I could see progress in my abilities during camps and results in my body. I’ve lost 28 pounds since then and have gained so much more. I’ve gained an amazingly supportive community, feelings of accomplishment towards my goals, along with a good routine and social interactions for my son. I look forward to going to the gym now and that’s not something I would have said in the past

Jennifer Hopkins – Burn Boot Camp, Cornelius

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It has been nearly three years since I joined Burn. To say it was life-changing would be an understatement. I was parenting three kids ages five and under at the time, including a baby who didn’t let me get much sleep. I am also a teacher, so I felt like I was giving to others all day long without much left for myself. My self -confidence was low and my energy levels were lower. I would drive past Burn Boot Camp and I would see women running or inside lifting weights and I was curious but too scared to stop and sign up.

Then one day I found out one of my coworkers was attending the 5am camp and I asked if I could join her. Everyone who has had a first day at Burn knows how intimidating it can be. You have a million questions: Will I embarrass myself? Will I get yelled at a ton? Will I be able to keep up with the other women?

In hindsight, I now know I shouldn’t have been so apprehensive to join. Everyone was so welcoming and encouraging, and immediately I felt at home. One of the most unique thing about Burn is the sense of
community. My 5am tribe has become a family to me. We challenge and support one another in the gym, but we have also forged friendships outside the gym too. I am so thankful to Burn every day for bringing my “swolemates” into my life!

Today, I am a happier and healthier version of myself. At 35 years old, I have never been more confident or felt more comfortable in my own skin. The challenges that I conquer inside the gym have taught me that I can conquer anything outside the gym too. I have so much more energy to get through the day – even with 4am wakeup calls! I am proud of the person that I am today and I know that my children and my husband see that every single day.

Chrystal Cavanagh – Burn Boot Camp, Huntersville NC

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I had no idea that a 30 day Groupon would be a life-changing purchase. Burn Boot Camp was my last resort. I had lost and gained weight more times than I can remember. I have an 11 year old daughter and 4 year old twins, and thought that my body just wasn’t meant to snap back to the way it was before having them. I had all but given up when one of my colleagues told me, several times, to come work out with her at Burn. I knew about Burn Boot Camp, and decided that I would take her up on the offer. I thought it would be a great way to jumpstart my workout routine. I was hooked after the first workout, and knew that I would be joining as soon as my 30 days were over.

I have lost 36 lbs. since starting, but have gained so many other things! I am stronger than I have ever been. When I started, I was looking for the 5 lbs. dumbbells (there weren’t any) and now I don’t go lower than 25 lbs. My energy is through the roof! I start my day at 5 a.m. with a great workout, and that carries me through the day. My confidence is at an all-time high. I feel good about myself, and I like how I look. Most importantly, my husband and my children see the difference, and also reap the benefits of my new lifestyle. I can play with them without getting tired, and they love how strong mommy is LOL! Even though my oldest daughter has always been confident, I see that my self-confidence has caused hers to increase. People always tell her that she looks just like me. I never thought about how she felt when she heard that before, considering that I didn’t speak highly of myself. Now when people tell her that, the smile on her face is priceless, because she knows that I feel good about myself.

Burn has become my second home. The trainers are awesome. They have pushed me WAY outside of my comfort zone, and it shows in my results. The women that I get to sweat beside have become family, they are my tribe. We hold each other accountable, and push each other to keep going. I love Burn Boot Camp and will always be grateful for the new lease on life that it has given me!

Jemekka Richardson – Burn Boot Camp, Huntersville, NC

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It was time for a reset! I think my story starts off like most; I was eating too much, not exercising enough, staying too busy with my children… the typical things that keep us all too busy to focus on
ourselves. I started at Burn three years ago, exactly one year after my first child was born, and I honestly haven’t looked back since. I immediately fell in love with the challenging workouts, positive atmosphere, motivating trainers, and the friendships and sense of community that I felt while here. Burn is the first thing I do everyday; getting out of bed, going straight to camp, and starting my day with a positive attitude and the energy that I need to carry me throughout my day. It is amazing to me that the days that I miss Burn are the days that I actually feel more tired.

About 6 months ago, I realized that I seemed to be missing a part of the equation to see the changes in my body that I wanted. I had the exercise part down… I was coming to camp 4-5 days a week, but my body seemed to have hit a bit of a plateau. I met with my trainer (Devan), and he and I talked about where I was, and where I wanted to be. I knew what I needed to do, but after talking to Devan, he helped me shift my mindset from thinking in terms of what I “need” to do to what I “must” do. If I wanted to see change in my body, then I MUST make some changes.

And, I did. I started making small changes in my diet, starting paying more attention to the things that I was putting into my body, and within a few months, I lost ten pounds. The best part though, is that I felt stronger, faster, and leaner. I would like to think this is only the beginning; now I want to lose ten more, I want to hold a plank longer, do more push ups, and continue to push myself to get stronger every day. My favorite part about Burn Boot Camp is the variety of all types of women (and men), at all different ages, in different stages of their lives with different goals.

The thing is, although all of our goals may be different, we are all working to achieve them together. Thank you, Burn for being such a huge part of my journey, and helping me work towards achieving my goals!

Caroline Norris – Burn Boot Camp, Huntersville, NC

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My Burn Bootcamp journey began with an invitation to exercise at a time of day that seemed way too early in the morning. I politely declined. A year later, in September 2013, I decided to give Burn Boot Camp a try when my pants buttons were threatening to pop off, and I was not willing to buy the next size up. My first days at Burn I was sick to my stomach with nerves, and I knew no one in the room. It was painfully clear how out of shape I was when we went running at the post office. Luckily, I met another new person, Brenda Jackson, and was also encouraged by Daniel Ballard who was an intern at the time.

If I could talk to my former self just starting at Burn I would say:

• Don’t be intimidated by the other women in the room – everyone has that “day 1” moment.
• Try to get to the gym often – even when you are sore – when you get moving it makes the soreness feel better.
• Make a friend in class – the women around you are generally supportive and enjoy working out together – having a friend gives you accountability and makes it more fun! (I am especially thankful for Amy Bennett and Laurie Hutchinson)
• When you think “it has gotten easier” – watch out – your trainer will notice and challenge you to pick up heavier weights, move faster, or modify up the exercise. This is all a good thing! (Thank you Devan Kline, Ashley Beasley, and Shannon Lamendola)
• Understand that you are never done – exercise should be a part of your daily routine.

I am still amazed at how Burn has changed my life. I look at athletes differently, since I have a small sense of how hard they work. I was one of those “last one picked for the team” and “hated PE” kind of kid, so sweating, running and doing athletic things are all new to me.

Some of the unexpected, lasting effects of Burn are:

• I need less sleep and have more energy.
• My cholesterol numbers have improved dramatically.
• I am strong.

I am so thankful to have a place to exercise that involves different routines and challenges, where the trainers know your name and your strengths. I love having familiar ladies in the room and welcoming newcomers.

As I mentioned before, you are never done and I have several things I am still working on:

• I continue to try heavier weights and always hope to get a little more endurance and speed.
• I still wrestle with the reality that “you can’t out train a poor diet.”
• I may never master double unders with the jump rope, but I will always keep trying.

This is my second most important transformation story. My first began when I surrendered to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of my Life, and I have nothing but praise about that too.

Cheryl Nelson – Burn Boot Camp, Huntersville, NC

You know when you hear of these weight lose stories, that the people have this “AH-HA” moment as if they are sick and tired of being sick and tired? Well I had mine just before I found out about the transformation project. I had a focus meeting with Devan and he asked what my weight loss goal is?!  I said I would like to lose 40 LBS before my son turns two. Then he told me that they are started a transformation challenge. So I did all the paperwork thinking that there is no way he is going to pick me because I had only ever read about or watched these things… nothing like this ever happens to me! Then I get the email saying I was one of the lucky women chosen for this, and oh boy was I excited!

I can’t believe how much I have changed in 3 months! It amazes me everyday. I am getting my energy back and feel amazing! This is an amazing adventure Devan and the Burn Boot Camp community has provided! I did get a little discouraged because about a month in to this program I found out I was pregnant with our second child! As a family we were excited, but getting involved in this great opportunity I was nervous that Devan was going to be upset. When I built up the courage to tell him he was seemed just as excited as we were!

The first couple of weeks were brutal with pregnancy sickness. I still managed to get up every morning and do my work outs! So for those who make pregnancy an excuse for not being healthy, you shouldn’t! All my doctors are on board which makes it easy to continue this incredible opportunity that was given to us! Now that the sickness is kind of wearing off I’m feeling better. I would say my eating has been a struggle. I highly recommend meal prep because if I didn’t have my meals prepped I don’t think I would eat, but since they are prepped it’s all ready for me!

In the past six months I have learned that there are no short cuts, magic pills or special drinks to get you to a healthy lifestyle! You have to want to be healthy for yourself. Nobody is going to do it for you. Also,  I feel it’s important to have a great support system because it if wasn’t for all the my family and friends encouraging me everyday I wouldn’t have been as successful. I would have to say my mental focus has been the most challenging to me. With being 30 weeks pregnant you have to fight the hormones and cravings everyday, which can be quite hard. I keep reminding myself why I started this transformation in the first place! Physically I feel great. Never thought I could push myself the way we do at boot camp. The trainers make me want to do better each day I go and I could never do the workouts by myself. Emotionally I have mixed emotions because some days I feel great and other days I just want to lay in bed and sleep in, but I know I made a promise to myself and everybody who has supported me this whole time! So that keeps me motivated to keep going. So once again thank you to everybody who has been there encouraging me to keep going!

When I started this body transformation I started out 250 pounds. Now I’m 215 pounds. Which is amazing to me because when I found out I was pregnant never thought I could lose weight like I have. You always hear everybody gaining at least 25 LBS during pregnancy, and I have lost that and some! I am doing this the healthy way… but don’t worry my doctors are okay with eating healthy and working out! They say keep up the good work!

So when we had our first meeting I was thinking I was going sit and talk to “fun trainer Devan” … boy was I wrong. Now, don’t get me wrong because Devan is a nice guy and fun to train with, but stuff got real when I walked in. He got down to business really quick, telling us all the things we had to do like write blogs and do live social media posts and I was like ‘I thought this is just for weight loss?’ I quickly realized this is more then just how much weight you can lose, this was about how to get healthy and stay healthy.

After having a baby and being out for 6 weeks, not being able to do physical activity other than power walking is tough, but I’m back at it and so excited to get back to my routine. Although my little guy decided to wake up 30 minutes early on my first day back, I could have easily went back bed, but I made a commitment to myself and to the people that love and care about me which makes it easier to get up!

I can’t believe it has been a year already, wow! Some many things have happened. I had a baby by c-section which is surgery in its self.  Then trying to take care your family while your recovering from a c-section is also a challenge. I couldn’t have done it with all the help of my loving family, especially my husband. On top of that, trying to get healthy was tough as well. Being pregnant was the easy part! Now you have an extra person relying on you to take care of them. This is the part where I could have easily given up and gone back to my old ways, but I told myself I have come too far to do so. Plus I have such a great support system and I couldn’t and still can’t let them down. They’re cheering me on!

I never in a million years thought I would be a person to inspire someone to change their life style. I’m saying this because three of my family members – my mom, sister and sister in-law, have joined the Burn family! They said I have inspired them to live a healthy life style, which is great because now we can continue on our journey and we can do it together.

I would like to give special thanks to my support system. Starting off with my workout buddy (WOB) Melissa, for being there everyday at 5:30 am even when she didn’t have to be! You are so great! You have made my journey so easy. Thanks for sticking by me, pregnant and all!

For my husband Joe for encouraging me the whole way and taking care of our kids during the crazy hours I wanted to work out. I love you!

For my mom and dad for also encouraging me and keeping positive the whole way.

For my siblings for not thinking I was crazy for doing such a crazy transformation! Y’all were always staying positive.

Thank you to Devan and the Burn Boot Camp family for sticking by me and encouraging me the whole way.

Now that this year has come to an end I feel like it’s the being for me and my family. Turning 30 is not looking so bad! Now I’m on to doing things I never thought possible, because now I have that voice in my head saying  “you are stronger then when you started!”

Jen Creveling – Burn Boot Camp, Huntersville

A year ago when I started this transformation with Burn Boot camp, I had high hopes & expectations for myself. After all, I have always been a high achiever and a perfectionist. What could go wrong? I had the opportunity of a lifetime in my hands with the promise to help me! I thought I had found my answer to finally losing my weight and I had the illusion that everything would fall into place in my life! Because, after all, it was the weight holding me back from living my life… right?

I can say that I was nowhere prepared for the many challenges I had to face in 2016. My world as I knew it would forever be changed for many reasons. I was blessed with the opportunity to take two teenagers into our home and I had the privilege to see how amazing these kids are and to talk with several teenagers. I quickly realized what teenage girls felt today about their own body image and the pressures to be beautiful, over achievers. They reminded me of myself and how I never felt pretty as a teenager, and since suffered with a life of self doubt and never feeling like I was enough. Today these girls are influenced by so many airbrushed pictures of models, and some think pro-anorexia and bulimia are the answer to having the perfect body. 50% of teenage girls and 30% of boys use unhealthy weight control behaviors. It is estimated that 1 in every 200 teenage girls cut on a regular basis, so many use self harm as a coping mechanism. These numbers are on the rise! This information was a game changer for me because it is preventable and people recover from eating disorders, depression and anxiety everyday! I have seen it happen!

I found that exercise daily & positive self talk are the best way to regain mental clarity to fight the challenges we all face everyday! I am a mother of an 8 year old daughter and 9 year old son and I also had this beautiful 15 year old girl looking up to me everyday! What I want for my kids is that they are happy with who they truly are, that they know their worth and give them the confidence to believe in themselves… little did I realize that was a lesson that I really had to learn myself! Because its important for a mother to be the example of self- love and acceptance so our children do not suffer from low self- esteem.

I was so caught up taking care of everything & everyone else that I did not know how to take care of myself anymore. I had no idea where to even start because it was all so overwhelming. Even though I went to boot camp and worked so hard, I was still struggling with my emotional over eating and the high stress of my personal life. I lost weight and then gained it back. Because I was not focusing on what I truly needed to do in my life. And I felt like a huge failure. So I kept spinning my wheels & pushing myself until I had nothing left to give anymore. God has a way of making you slow down if you desperately need it & that is exactly what happened to me! I tripped on a stick my kids left outside the door & fell flat on my booty! My ankle hurt so bad I could not get up. That night was spent on a very expensive date with my husband to the emergency room, to x-ray my swollen foot. Luckily it was severely sprained and not broken. As my husband pushed me in the wheelchair I felt so helpless because I’m so fiercely independent and not used to being taken care of. It had always been my job to take care of everyone else. Then he kissed me on the top of my head and at that moment I realized how far we had come. I needed him to help me recover because he was my partner in life. He was patient with me because my struggle was not over. I could not exercise, go to work or keep going like the energizer bunny. That was a very uncomfortable place for me to be in, because I had too much that I needed to accomplish and get done! Then my anxiety took over and I had a severe panic attack, which scared me. This was followed by a month laying in bed with depression, but I was determined that my breakdown was going to turn into a breakthrough! Its not the load you carry that breaks you, but how you carry your load.

As I was taking my much needed sabbatical from life I knew that my goal was to live a life of joy and peace. The first step was self acceptance and responsibility. I read books, listened to lots of TED TALKS & searched Pinterest for ways to live the happy and healthy life that I was so craving. I searched for answers but the answers were in me all along. I just had to be still and listen to my heart! My plate was so full of so many responsibilities, it made it difficult for me to accomplish my goals and live a comfortable life. I had to remove things out of my life and off my to do list. I had to evaluate the things I was doing and I asked myself is this working for me and my family? If the answer is “NO” its okay to say “NO!” It will not always be popular to someone else, but its your life to live. I believe its important to do what you love and live the life you want! A few months ago, my husband and I went on a trip to the mountains to celebrate our anniversary. I realized that for the first time I was not ashamed of my body. I was starting to be happy! This was crazy because I was bigger than ever before. I had to learn to accept my body and myself for what it was and love myself first! When life gets hard I try to remember to count my blessings and remind myself of what is right. That makes it easier to recover and move forward.

So today I chose to do what is important to me! Body positivity is important, no matter what shape or size you are! We are all beautiful in our own special way. The number on the scale should never determine our self-worth. Sure I have some extra junk in my trunk, but that does not mean I can’t change it! My goal is to be healthy and enjoy the journey. My body will take many shapes and sizes in my lifetime. It is my character and what I do in my life to make the world a better place that matters most to me! I’ve learned to focus on what I have done right and not beat myself up for the things I did not accomplish yet. Due to my consistent exercise I am so much stronger physically and mentally! I now have the strength to not let adversity hold me back anymore, and so can you!

Nina Espinal – Burn Boot Camp, Huntersville, NC

Kristina TRANSFORMED her body and her life through Burn Boot Camp!

She went from 233 LBS to only 200 LBS; losing a total of 33 LBS and gaining a new found appreciation for health and fitness!

“I have struggled with my weight for as long as I can remember. I come from a family that loves junk food, hates veggies & uses every excuse in the book to hit up a fast food restaurant. I’ve tried countless fad diets, pills, starvation- you name it. And yet there I was still unhappy, still crying every time I looked in the mirror because I hated what I had let my body become. I have an amazing man in my life and found it so hard to accept his love because I didn’t love myself. I’d see friends of mine lose weight and pull themselves together so desperately wishing it could be me but it never was.

The only way that I can explain how my life felt would be to say that I felt like I was stuck in a prison that I couldn’t get out of. My body was that prison. I felt trapped. I felt helpless & overwhelmed with despair. My life seemed to be passing me by and I was fighting the exact same battle day in and day out. When Devan chose me as one of the Transformation Girls I balled my eyes out and called everyone I love to share the news. Although I knew it would be a tremendous challenge, I was overwhelmed with excitement and for the first-time had HOPE in being able to break this vicious cycle. I figured if this couldn’t change me then nothing could!

I always knew HOW to lose weight, I knew the bottom line was to eat less, eat cleaner & move more. However, for whatever reason, I failed every single time. I had deep-rooted issues that I couldn’t seem to conquer. I would plan ahead, prepare my meals ahead of time, go to the gym & feel amazing but when I left and went back to the ‘real world,’ like clockwork I’d mindlessly shovel a disgusting amount of food into my mouth and kill every ounce of work I did beforehand. This left me feeling guilty, depressed, disgusting, pathetic, unworthy, disgraceful, etc.

I cannot even begin to tell you what this year has meant to my life. I have changed for the better in every single way possible, physically, mentally and emotionally. I have become someone I never knew existed. I have a new understanding of my body and what it likes, dislikes, needs, wants, and the limitless things I can accomplish. I have overcome that binge eating disorder that controlled me for most of my adult life, I can do push-ups on my toes, I believe in myself, I can say “no” to unhealthy foods, I am obsessed with going to Burn Boot Camp and with how I feel after a camp. I’m several sizes smaller, the scale is 33 LBS lower than when I started, I have a confidence I’ve never had and I’ve made some amazing “swolemates.” I can see some muscles finally peaking through, and this list could go on and on forever.

This year has been the toughest year of my life but it’s also been the absolute BEST year of my life. I finally have control… I’m the one holding the reigns. Although, I may not have hit the exact goal I set for myself and may not be exactly where I’d ultimately like to be, I am so much closer than I was before I went through the Transformation Program. I am forever grateful for this opportunity from the bottom of my heart and I will never go back to where I came from.

I may not be where I want to be, but I’m not where I used to be.”

Kristina Manger – Burn Boot Camp, Huntersville, NC