Transformation Archives - Burn Boot Camp https://burnbootcamp.com/tag/transformation/ The Fitness Solution for Every Woman Tue, 20 Sep 2022 06:36:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 138450544 Client of the Month: Jessica Benson https://burnbootcamp.com/jessica-benson/ Mon, 31 Jul 2017 13:25:23 +0000 https://burnbootcamp.com/?p=17080 Jessica was hesitant to join Burn Boot Camp because she had never been considered fit or athletic! After day one, she knew she was on a journey to a healthier life!

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

If you’re interested in transforming your own life, sign up for our weekly newsletter and find out how!

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Client of the Month: Christine Byrnes https://burnbootcamp.com/christine-byrnes/ Sat, 29 Jul 2017 20:29:03 +0000 https://burnbootcamp.com/?p=17073 I have been driving by Burn Boot Camp every day for the past few years and my husband who is my biggest fan, was the one who motivated me to join a year ago… and I’m never giving up!

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

If you’re interested in learning more about becoming a part of Burn Boot Camp, sign up for our weekly newsletter below!

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Client of the Month: Jennifer Hopkins https://burnbootcamp.com/jennifer-hopkins/ Fri, 28 Jul 2017 13:34:25 +0000 https://burnbootcamp.com/?p=17071 Jennifer gained a community of supportive women and strength and confidence in herself!

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

If you’re interested in transforming your life and becoming our next ‘ Client of the Month’ sign up for our weekly Burn Boot Camp newsletter below!

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Will It Be Worth It? https://burnbootcamp.com/will-it-be-worth-it/ Tue, 06 Jun 2017 17:13:44 +0000 https://burnbootcamp.com/?p=16930 Another week where we’re tracking the amazing journey of Maggie and her life changing transformation through Project 90!

She has learned so much, gained strength, increased her endurance and bettered herself little by little… and it’s not ending any time soon! Maggie is adopting habits and routines that are more than temporary – they’re a lifestyle.

Read her latest journal entries below…

May 22

“Take pride in how far you’ve come and have faith in how far you can go.”

My baby girl graduated from Elon University this past weekend! I am so immensely proud of her and look forward to watching her move into her next adventure.

Of course, graduation weekend meant eating out several times but I am proud of the choices I made. Before we went out I would pull up the menu of the restaurant so I could take my time reviewing the best options.

When we went to a franchise place, I used the tool on the Lose It! app to look up food and nutritional information specific to that place. It really helped to have a game plan going into the meal and not feel pressured to make a quick decision. Was I perfect with everything I ate (or drank…)? No, but it was all in moderation and I enjoyed the celebration with family.

Project 90

May 24

Will it be easy? Nope. Will it be worth it? Absolutely.

Have you ever noticed that there are no light weights at Burn Boot Camp locations? I tend to  underestimate myself and I like the option of starting a little lighter and working up. You know, bicep curls with say….six pounds. Nope, not a thing for Burn Boot Campers.

It is funny though to see a handful of us heading straight for the limited number of 10 and 12 weights when an exercise is announced. I admire the ladies that can do reps with the massive 30 pound weights; hoping to get there one day.

Project 90

May 25

“The difference between try and triumph is UMPH!”

My daughter is home for a couple of weeks before heading off on a post-graduation trip and then onto a new career in New York City so I brought her along to a boot camp this week. She’s a relatively fit young person, but the intensity of a 45-minute camp definitely came as a surprise to her. Maybe she thought that dear old mom was doing a fun little “jazzercise” class with a bunch of other ‘mature’ ladies…. She kept up, but I think she was surprised how intense the whole thing was.

She’s only home for the month of July before her big move and when I asked if she was going to do a short-term membership at Burn Boot Camp I was first met with silence and then the noncommittal answer of, “We’ll see…” Rack one up for mom and her high intensity workout program – take that you young whipper-snappers!!!

May 29

“The only bad workout is the one you didn’t do.”

I have to be honest; I was just not feeling it this morning. I debated with myself about whether to even go to camp. I was up late and then woke up super early for some reason and that all just put me in a bad mood. But I pushed through and started the drive (still agitated and dreading what was to come). Today’s camp was Strength Training and it was Tough (yes, that’s with a capital T)! My face was red as a tomato by the end but I had challenged myself more than I’d done before and that felt really good.

It’s been 13 days since my last Focus Meeting – I’ve dropped another .7% of body fat for a total loss of 4.2%. I’m only down about a pound but had a good conversation today about building muscle and that whole process. Most notably, my clothes are fitting differently (in a good way!) and I know my stamina and cardio is improving.

Project 90

 

Want to read more and keep track of Maggie’s journey? Sign up for our weekly newsletter and get an inside look at her 90 day transformation!

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Be Kind https://burnbootcamp.com/project-90-be-kind/ Wed, 31 May 2017 17:13:10 +0000 https://burnbootcamp.com/?p=16902 May 12

“Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” –Plato

I hope you’ll indulge me while I share a post that has nothing to do with my journey, but one that might touch someone in their personal journey. Yesterday, the mayor of my city committed suicide. His name was Rudy Wright and he had served as the city of Hickory mayor for 16 years. I had the pleasure of working with him in various positions I’ve held in the community and have to tell you that I never, ever, ever saw that man without a HUGE smile on his face. Even if I hadn’t seen him in years, he always greeted me by name and would give me a great big hello. It saddens me, and many, many others in my community, that his personal demons were too much for him to handle.

Depression is something that can get so stigmatized, that a person may not have the strength to reach out for assistance or is too embarrassed to say, “I need to talk to someone.” Our ‘public’ face and our ‘private’ face can often times be very different.

Exercise is definitely something that has not only physical benefits but mental ones as well, especially if you are in a supportive environment. If this message resonates with you please know you are never alone and there are resources. And if you are in a stable place right now, remember that your words and encouragement just might be what someone else needs to turn their whole day around!

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-8255

 

May 14

“Be Strong. Be Confident. Be You.” –Tia Sparkles Singh

Thankful that this Mother’s Day was bright and sunny! Enjoyed an afternoon walk with the dogs and giving my body a little rest from camps.

Project 90 Dog Walk

May 15

Don’t forget, you are what you eat. I need to eat a skinny person…”

Last week I wrote how difficult my second week had been, and without minimizing how hard it truly was I think I may have figured out at least one small reason why I was thrown for such a radical loop. Plain and simple, I changed my coffee last week and I think there was such an increase in my caffeine intake that it affected my workout and my heart rate. I switched back to another brand and reduced the amount over the past few days and saw a bit of a difference in how my body reacts during the workout.

Further verification that what you put in your body, especially when doing strenuous camps, really can make a difference! Of course my other beverage of choice is water, lots and lots and LOTS of water; so much water that I have to think back to my pregnancy days when I knew where every bathroom was in every store I might possibly go into!

Project 90 Water

May 16

Don’t wish for it – work for it!

Woohoo! Had my second focus meeting today and I am pleased to say that I am down three pounds but, more importantly, I dropped 3.5% body fat! Also had a great conversation with the trainer about strategizes to increase my daily calories and ideas for exercise while I’m away from Burn Boot Camp over the weekend for my daughter’s college graduation.

Project 90 Body Fat

May 18

“Take care of your body; It’s the only place you have to live.” –Jim Rohn

I wasn’t able to get to a camp today so I ventured out to walk at a community track. As I approached the track I realized I was going to intersect with an older woman walking laps. I figured I would say hello and then with my nimble speed I would forge ahead and be on my way. Let me tell you, this woman not only stayed up with me but I had to hustle to keep up with her! Thirty minutes of walking later I learned her name was Helen, she is 80 years old and she has walked virtually everyday for the past 30 years! What an inspiration!

We are all given only one body to get us through life and how we treat it will determine the quality of life we will enjoy into our golden years. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that taking care of my body has not been a priority at various times of my life, but it is something that I truly see the importance of now and I need to stay committed to getting stronger and healthier. I want to be that grandma that has enough energy to run around with my grandkids, being silly and crazy and making awesome memories together. That vision is several years down the road, so I better keep up my Burn journey and stay in tiptop shape.

So to my new friend Helen I say, Thanks for the inspiration and Rock On!

 

Maggie is learning so much on her journey, and her transformation is clearly external AND internal! We are so thankful that she is participating, and we know these 90 days are going to change her life. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter so you can stay updated as she continues on this adventure with Burn!

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Nuff Said… https://burnbootcamp.com/project-90-nuff-said/ https://burnbootcamp.com/project-90-nuff-said/#comments Wed, 24 May 2017 14:19:04 +0000 https://burnbootcamp.com/?p=16879 With each new week at Burn comes new obstacles to face and goals to chase. Maggie is working hard and she’s not letting anything stop her! Read her latest Project 90 post and see what’s she been up to over the last few weeks…

 

May 8

“The gym is my playground.”

Do you remember recess as a kid? Back in my elementary school days we had multiple recess sessions and we had jungle gyms, monkey bars, metal slides, swings and all sorts of other playground equipment that is probably deemed unsafe today. My favorite was always the monkey bars. We’d patiently wait our turn in line to try and break a speed record going across or try to use one hand per bar as you made it over an imaginary moat of alligators. Getting blisters on your hands was the one sure-fire way to be sidelined, and that was long before your arms gave out on you. Now, decades later, those “monkey bars” may be my newest nemesis.

Today was ‘upper body’ and for one of the circuits you needed to hang from the bright blue monkey bar set up (I’m sure there’s a more official name for this) in the middle of the gym. A great thing about Burn is that the trainer will demonstrate the exercise and then offer a modification in case you need that – and I usually need that! Today I wanted to challenge myself so I stepped up onto the platform below the bars, got my grip, went to left my feet off the platform and promptly dropped to the ground. I know my upper body has a long way to go, but that did not make me feel like the kid who could fly across the playground bars all those years ago. I modified the exercise and still got a really great workout, but lemme tell ya – I WILL conquer that exercise eventually!! Kudos to the women in my camp that held that exercise throughout the whole circuit, and to all the women who walked in the door today!

May 9

“Friends don’t let friends skip leg day.”

Today was leg day and we had to run outside in the rain. ‘Nuff said…

 

May 10

“You gotta hustle for the muscle!”  

One of my favorite outdoor activities is kayaking. I hit the water for the first time about two years ago and from that point on I have enjoyed the rhythm of paddling; the quiet that surrounds me and the up close and personal view of wildlife. Although, when I gained a little too much weight, I felt uncomfortable sitting in the kayak and was surprised to find that I got tired just a little quicker with longer paddles. One of my goals with Project 90 is to improve my overall fitness so I can better enjoy this favorite pastime. Nothing stinks more than paddling a couple miles down the river and then remembering you have to paddle back. My trusty kayak companion is my dog Sandy and I know she is ready and waiting to get in the water this year!

 Project 90

May 11

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.”

For some reason this week has been really tough; I mean really, really tough. I would have expected week 1 to kick my butt, but week 2 has been a different kinda beast for some reason. Maybe the circuits are set up to be more challenging; maybe my body was in denial last week and thought all this working out stuff would pass; I really don’t know…. I must have really looked like a hot mess a couple times this week because I had more than a few ladies high fiving me while switching between circuits. Maybe they were quickly checking my pulse to see exactly how high those numbers were getting. But the encouragement was welcomed and gave me some added energy.

I’m continuing to log all my food this week and I’m still not getting to my target amount of daily calories. That is such a mental block for me to get over; eat more so I can lose more weight. Seems counterintuitive. Next focus meeting is next week so hoping to see some movement on those stats!

 

Comment below and offer Maggie some encouraging words as she continues her Project 90 journey! How cute does she look kayaking with her dog? What a fun way to stay active and spend time outdoors! Leave your email below to keep track of Maggie’s adventure!

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Project 90: The Beginning https://burnbootcamp.com/project-90-the-beginning/ Fri, 12 May 2017 14:12:04 +0000 https://burnbootcamp.com/?p=16852 As Burn Nation continues to expand, we’ve come to the realization that relatability fuels relationships! When readers visit the Burn blog, they’re coming to our website with the desire to read posts where, within the text, they recognize a piece of themselves! That’s why we created Project 90.

Maggie Greene, the mother of one of our headquarters staffers, willingly volunteered to blog about her ninety day journey with Burn Boot Camp! Maggie is taking it back to the basics – starting with day one. She’s providing you, our readers, with the ability to walk through the Burn Boot Camp journey; the good days, the hard days, and the days where you achieve more than you ever thought possible.

Let’s start at the beginning….

May 1

“Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end.” – Robin Sharma

I embarked on a new adventure today. Not one where I get to sample all sorts of new wines from around the world or sample new and creative desserts; instead I agreed to work with Burn Boot Camp for the next 90 days to fully immerse myself in their program and share my experiences. Crazy? Sure. Intimidating? Definitely! Outside my comfort zone to share something as personal as my fitness journey and details about my body? You bet!

But I am at a point in my life where I really need this challenge. We’ve all heard the term, “dad bod,” and I think society is a little scared to utter the phrase “mom bod” because that just wouldn’t fly. I’m here to tell ya, I have a mom bod. I’m 49 years old, have two grown kids, been happily married for 25 years and have spent the past few decades caring just a little bit more about the three of them than myself. Sure, I walk on the treadmill every now and then, walk the dogs, try to follow the newest exercise circuits on Buzzfeed or Pinterest, but I needed something challenging, inspiring and consistent.

Enter Burn Boot Camp! Full disclosure here…I learned about Burn because one of my kids works for them. As a proud (maybe nosy) parent, I was checking out the website and social media of this company my son, Will, was now working for. I would look at the workouts posted on Facebook and was completely intimidated, but also a bit curious.

Today was my first camp and though I don’t know if the word ‘fun’ is necessarily accurate, I did walk away with a huge sense of accomplishment. Was I the fastest or strongest? Um, NOPE. Did I collapse on the floor after the first set? Proudly, I did not (nor did I collapse after the last set!) It honestly felt really good to be in a room with women that are at all different fitness levels, but were working side-by- side in the journey. I had a complete stranger tell me after class, “good job!” I don’t care how old you are, getting that validation from another woman felt really great.

The nerves of day 1 are done and behind me. I took the leap, I pulled on the old sports bra, laced up my shoes and I walked through the front door – now I just need to do it 89 more times! (Ok, maybe not 89 times but you get the idea!) Besides working on my own physical and mental health, I hope that in some way I can inspire another woman with a little nugget to nudge them into taking the first step through the door!

May 2

“The first step to getting anywhere is deciding you’re not willing to stay where you are.”

Kjflspmerkwkfkdg…. Wooo, excuse that massive misspell. That’s what happens when you hit arms and upper body at Burn Boot Camp. My arms were literally feeling like noodles when I walked out of the gym. Have you ever been presented with an exercise to do and you think, “okay, that looks tough but I got this?” I had that happen to me today.

Picture this, you have a mini hurdle, aka an equalizer bar, in front of you and you lay down under it and try to do a pull up. My body did not move the first few times. I felt like a roach stranded on my back just flailing around! Eventually I managed a couple, but it was tough.

Another good camp with many encouraging women. So excited to see how my body feels tomorrow! LOL.

Here’s what I ate today…

Breakfast: Egg on toast with avocado spread, cold brew coffee with milk
Snack: Banana
Lunch: Chicken breast on flatbread with hummus, spicy mustard and spinach; cantaloupe
Snack: Greek yogurt and strawberries
Dinner: Grilled chicken breast and cauliflower salad with kale and sun dried tomatoes; “mocktail” (V8 juice and low cal orange juice)
Snack: Strawberries with cool whip

May 3

“If it’s important to you, you will find a way. If it’s not, you’ll find an excuse.”

Happy Hump Day! I’m someone that likes routine and structure and I know with this new exercise routine I have to stay at it 110% to really get in the groove. I had an appointment this morning that went longer than planned and I knew I would be pushing it to get to the gym in time for the last morning camp.

I think the old me would have said, “well, I planned on going, have the workout clothes on, but it is not worth the effort to fly down the road to get there. There’s always tomorrow.” But I’m proud of myself that I shut off that conversation and hopped in the car to get to the gym by the skin of my teeth (not proud that I probably broke a couple speed limits to get there, but we won’t focus on that…)

I’m so glad that I rushed to get to the camp because it was LEG DAY. I did a camp Monday and Tuesday that were not called “leg day,” but somehow my leg muscles were already making themselves known… and a full mini camp of all leg exercises was tough. But I persevered and made it to the end, along with my fellow campers.

Maybe it is the honeymoon phase, but I am still pleasantly surprised each time another woman gives me a high five for a job well done. As I continue on this 90 day journey, I hope I can give someone a high five that helps them get through a tough set.

Here’s what I ate today…

Breakfast: Egg on toast with avocado spread; toast with Simply Fruit spread; cold brew coffee with milk
Snack: Banana, almonds
Lunch: Vegetable soup, salad, Coke Zero
Dinner: Turkey burger on bun with cranberry/apple relish and spinach; sweet potato fries

Wow! Maggie is working hard and hitting the ground running. What advice would you give her? How did you handle your first 90 days at Burn Boot Camp? Sign up below and tune in next week to see how Maggie tackles week 2 of Project 90!

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Client of the Month: Jemekka Richardson https://burnbootcamp.com/client-month-jemekka-richardson/ Thu, 27 Apr 2017 15:27:15 +0000 https://burnbootcamp.com/?p=16720 Jemekka signed up for 30 days, not knowing how her life would be transformed! Now she’s down 36 pounds and feeling happy and confident!

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

 

If you’re interested in TRANSFORMING your life and taking your health and fitness to the next level, sign up below!

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Client of the Month: Caroline Norris https://burnbootcamp.com/client-month-caroline-norris/ https://burnbootcamp.com/client-month-caroline-norris/#comments Wed, 26 Apr 2017 13:30:42 +0000 https://burnbootcamp.com/?p=16711 Caroline wanted to hit the reset button, and that’s exactly what she got by joining Burn Boot Camp! Only half a year into the process and she’s already down 20 LBS!

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

 

If you’re interested in TRANSFORMING your life and taking your health and fitness to the next level, sign up below!

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TRANSFORM – NINA ESPINAL https://burnbootcamp.com/transform-nina-espinal/ Tue, 18 Apr 2017 18:55:48 +0000 https://burnbootcamp.com/?p=16684 Nina turned her “unhappy, hot-mess life” into one that brings her joy and peace!

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

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