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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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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“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.

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!

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.

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!

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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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

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

Jen Van Cise – Naples, FL

When I walked into Burn Boot Camp 11 months ago, I had finally become fed up with myself.  I was feeling persistently exhausted and embarrassed at the example of poor health I was setting for my young son. I had gained 85 lbs. in two years in yet another cycle of yo-yo dieting and weight gain. My most recent weight gain was driven by a series of convenient excuses to eat poorly and to ignore my health, ranging from constant business trips to all types of career and parenting stresses. A former college athlete and marathon runner, I battled this cycle for 16 years as my career took center stage, and I never allowed myself time to benefit from any form of exercise at all. I worried that I had become too out of shape to work out in a Boot Camp format. Photos and videos of other women who looked like me and participated in the program encouraged me, so I decided I could probably do it too.

I have lost 75 lbs. so far as well as 25 inches on my measurements and 16% body fat. I am stronger and have some muscle tone, and I fit into the same jeans now that I could wear before I started gaining weight, 85 lbs. ago, even though I’ve “only” lost 75 lbs. of the weight I had gained.  Some of that difference is the weight of my increased muscle mass. Within one camp, I became committed to this place. I show up before dawn 6 days a week because I love it.  I’ve gained a new outlook about defining success, which is less about numbers and more about the great sense of accomplishment that I feel when achieving new fitness goals. I have run several 5K’s, improving my one mile run pace by about 3 minutes, and I have made progress towards many other goals that I continue to challenge myself to achieve.  I’ve also worked back up to 250 double-unders in a row and 13 triple-unders in a row with the jump rope, bringing me back in time to my school years when I competed and performed internationally on a jump rope team.  At least in some ways, I feel half my age again! I expected to get more fit when I walked through those doors, and I was prepared to put in the effort both in terms of fitness and nutrition. But there was more to the Burn Boot Camp experience than I had imagined. Over the years, I had barely noticed myself becoming rather private and introverted through eight job relocations and a myopic focus on career and family.

Now, suddenly, I was welcomed by a whole community of like-minded women of all ages, shapes, and sizes, all of whom encouraged me to succeed as they pursued their own fitness goals by my side. I didn’t realize how much I needed the friendship and support of the women I now proudly call my friends. Those relationships are incredibly important to me now, and I feel like I’m where I “belong” for the first time since I was on sports teams as a girl. I’d like to thank Holly Strickland and Ryan and Jen Day for their leadership, support, and talent as the owners and trainers of our Naples Burn Boot Camp. They are truly top quality, and they have now also trained a group of talented support trainers in their image. They are coaches, role models, and now friends as well. I’ve become an advocate for Burn Boot Camp wherever I go, and, as I take on the ownership of two new Burn Boot Camp locations in Florida myself, I’m delighted to be bringing the Burn Boot Camp experience to two more communities of women! 

We know that it’s not an easy decision to transform your life and change your mindset, it takes hard work, but we can guarantee you’ll be glad you did! Sign up below to get started on your own journey!

Lindy Mathis – Burn Boot Camp – Rochester, MN

Before I started working out at Burn, I was constantly exhausted and struggled with back and neck pain with arthritis from past injuries. Some days I felt twice my age. Same as a lot of my Burn ladies, I am always on the go with two kiddo’s (ages 6 and 10) activities, working full time, and trying to find time for our family. I spend all day taking care of other people at work and home, and this left little time for me to take care of me. I hadn’t worked out in or out of a gym in over 8 years. Last year, my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and it flipped my world upside down. Trying to manage life with this new stressor consumed me. It was time to make a change, and do something to take care of myself, to challenge myself, and to give me a focus. I continued seeing ads on Facebook for Burn opening a new location here in Rochester for free. I was skeptical because nothing is ever free!! A few friends and I decided to try it out together.

Six months later I am down 20 lbs., 12 inches, and over 7% body fat. I feel strong, healthy, energetic, and I have confidence back. This journey has been challenging, but it has changed my life, given me an opportunity to take care of myself, to have an outlet for those difficult days, and to challenge myself to be the best version of me. I have formed new friendships, support, and a family at Burn, and learned that I NEED to take time for me. Through my focus meetings, I learned how to balance my macros, ways to eat cleaner, and that “you can’t out train your diet”. I went all in, and haven’t looked back. The support, encouragement, and energy I have received from our Head Trainer, Leyton Bohr, has genuinely changed my life. He is truly one in a million.

If you’re interested in transforming your life and improving your personal health and wellness, just like Lindy, sign up below!

Angie Larson – Burn Boot Camp – Rochester, MN

“Before starting Burn Boot Camp, I knew I needed to start working out but I lacked the motivation. I had just bought a new rowing machine in hopes of getting fit, but it sat unused. I felt tired and worn out most of the time. I saw the Facebook post about Burn Boot Camp’s 30 day free trial. I signed up with no expectations. In the back of my mind I assumed I would go intermittently for a month and call it quits, as this had been my experience in the past when I started gym memberships. I went on the first day, then the second. I have been going 4-6 days a week for the past 5 months. Physically, I have lost 18 lbs, 6.6% body fat and 9 inches. I am amazed and thrilled with the changes I have seen! I have more energy, I am more patient with my 3 and 5 year old and I feel more focused and productive at work. I am so thankful for Burn!”

Health and wellness starts in kitchen and ends in the gym! Get yourself into gear by signing up for the latest and greatest Burn Nutrition tips and ebooks.