Hey there, everyone! If you’ve been following me along on my Burn Boot Camp journey, thanks for checking back in one more time! And if you’re new, I have been wondering for a while now, “Is Burn Boot Camp Worth It?” So, I decided to try it out for 30 days. You can read all about my experience with my first week here and then weeks two and three here. But without further ado, here is my detailed progress for week four and my final results (Click here to jump right to the results- Don’t worry, I get that you don’t have a ton of time ;)!
Saturday, Burn Boot Camp Day 22 – Feeling Like an Energizer Bunny
Today was “Burst Training” with a Five Round Finisher with Nick. We did things like lifting heavy bags and then jumping over them (although I sort of trotted over them). Weights, burpees, squats, mountain climbers, kettlebells, etc. It felt like we moved through each station so quickly that while it felt like a total body workout for me, it also was very cardio-intense.
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Nick said a phrase today that I absolutely loved. When he was describing an exercise and talking about how not to bend/hunch over but keep your chest up, he said, “Keep your chest proud.” I don’t know why, but using that language really hit home for me. It’s just another example of how impactful positivity can be.
By the way, have I mentioned how Burn likes to finish their workouts? After every session and stretching, the trainer always says, “Alright! Two Claps on Two! One…Two…” and then everyone claps twice. I don’t know why, but it feels like a great, very brief way to applaud not only yourself but everyone else in the group for accomplishing what you did that day. It’s become one of my favorite parts of attending.
I left feeling totally wiped out and drenched in sweat. However, after getting home and showering, I took my kids to not one but two Fall festivals today, where we did a LOT of walking. So, even though I felt like I gave it my all, I was still able to recover and have a full day with my family.
Sunday, Burn Boot Camp Day 23 – An Emotional Kind of Day
There was no Burn Boot Camp on Sunday. Honestly, in terms of physical activity, this was probably one of the least demanding days that I’ve had in the past month, and I think my body was happy that I rested. According to my Fitbit, I still hit 10,000 steps (a walk around the park, a trip to Costco, and running after my kids was all it took!) But today was mostly restful.
However, today was… different for me. I found myself reflecting a lot on the past three weeks. I became emotional as I thought back to how my health was about seven years ago when I was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, aka POTS.
POTS is actually much more well-known now than it was a couple of years ago. Ever since COVID-19 and subsequent cases of long-term COVID-19, the discussion and research going into POTS and associated autonomic dysfunction has exploded. But back when I was diagnosed, it was a much lesser-known syndrome.
Seven years ago, I struggled to stand up and walk around without getting lightheaded and feeling like I would pass out. I went through a barrage of tests and finally got a diagnosis. I had to take medical leave at my new job as a Family Nurse Practitioner, which I worked incredibly hard to get because nothing seemed to be working despite all my efforts to improve my health. I couldn’t handle the physicality of being on my feet, seeing patients all day long.
I had to do special physical therapy for autonomic dysfunction in a therapy swimming pool just to begin to handle exercise without feeling like I would pass out. I still remember pausing my walking in the water so that the physical therapist could come over and check my heart rate and blood pressure every couple of minutes. Those sessions would completely wipe me out for the rest of the afternoon. Physically, mentally, and emotionally, that was a very hard time for me and my family.
Fast forward to the present day. I am now able to jump rope (albeit very uncoordinated), do modified burpees, lift hand weights, do jumping jacks, modified push-ups, squats, etc., without even feeling lightheaded, as long as I keep up with my lifestyle changes like eating plenty of salt, avoid overly hot environments, resting when I really need to, chugging lots of water throughout the day, and closely watching my stress levels.
I realized that this experience with Burn Boot Camp has taught me what I am capable of and opened my eyes to what is now physically possible for me. I feel a little less fear than I used to about exerting myself and a little less worried about passing out just because I’m breaking a sweat. Being able to test myself like that in a controlled, supportive, air-conditioned environment was something that I didn’t know that I needed, but I am so glad I found it.
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Oh, and by the way…Today, I found myself at Costco purchasing organic chicken breast, no-sugar-added protein bars, organic spring mix, and Atlantic salmon. It feels like the old, healthier Taylor is coming back. I made these purchases not because I’m worried about counting calories or sticking to a particular diet but because I wanted to fuel my body better for this week’s upcoming camps.
The biggest shock of all was when Sunday sundaes rolled around after our dinner tonight. After scooping out sundaes for everyone else, I opted to enjoy some strawberries and whipped cream instead. I knew I could have the sundae and be fine with it, but I just didn’t really want it. Now, for me, THAT is some serious progress.
Monday, Burn Boot Camp Day 24 – Lesson Learned: Stretch!
Today was leg day with Brea. Unfortunately, as I began the camp today, my lower back started hurting within a few minutes of trying to do jumping jacks during the warm-up. Like, a lot. I didn’t lift or twist in any particular way for me to cause an obvious injury. I gently powered through the rest of the workout as best I could (and definitely still ended it sweaty and breathing hard).
I tried doing all the back stretches I could think of. But, by the end of the afternoon, I was hobbling around and grimacing when lifting my kids. My husband stepped in and took over later in the evening so I could lie down. I was exhausted and in a lot of pain.
Tuesday, Day 25 – Is Burn Boot Camp Worth It? Dealing with Back Pain
Well, today was tough, to say the least. It was supposed to be my core strength and conditioning day, but my lower back had other plans. Thankfully, both of my kids were in preschool today, and my husband took some time off from work to drop them off and pick them up since I had to spend a big chunk of my day in bed with my back screaming at me. So much for hoping to hit a full week’s streak of attending camp. But if there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that when my body shows signs that I need rest, I need to rest.
Wednesday, Day 26 – I’m Not As Young As I Used To Be
Today was back and glutes day. But once again, my back had a different plan. I spent the good part of my day trying to stretch, not lift my kids too much, and slept with an electric blanket underneath me so the heat could help me out.
Thursday, Burn Boot Camp Day 27 – Is Burn Boot Camp Really Worth It? The Pain of National Burpee Day!
I’m back, baby! Well, my back is back. It was still a little sore today, but I was able to power through National Burpee Day and the metabolic conditioning workout. I want you to know that this was probably one of the toughest workouts I have ever done in such a short period of time. Every burpee I did was modified to some degree because of my back and level of physicality, but I still was dripping in sweat by the time I was done. I actually felt like I was going to throw up once or twice because this one was so intense.
But, I was SO thankful to Cassie, who was there also attending a workout but chatted with me before about modifications. Afterward, she gave me a variety of lower back stretches to work on. I am so grateful for her help and support along the way, particularly when she was there to focus on herself but still gave her time to me.
Friday, Burn Boot Camp Day 28: Feeling All The Feels About Wrapping Up My 30 Days
Today was “Chest, Triceps, and Biceps” day. I came to a session I had never gone to before- the 12 p.m. one, which was probably the least busy session I have been to so far in the program. But, for people looking for a more one-on-one experience, if your schedule allows it, definitely come to the noon sessions! By the time I was done, my arms were shaking blobs of jello again. If there is one thing I have learned, it’s that moving forward, I really need to work on my upper body strength.
I also had my last focus session with Nick today. He weighed and measured me. According to Burn’s scale and initial weigh-in, in 28 days, I lost 6 pounds, with 4.5 lbs of that being fat (so we can’t just blame it all on water weight)! I was pretty astounded by that, considering how my diet cleaned up a little bit, but I definitely still indulged a good amount over the past month.
But these measurements were before boot camp today (mid-day), and I still have one last camp to attend tomorrow. I also took my own set of measurements at home before starting, so I’m going to base my final measurements on the ones I will take on Sunday morning. And yes, I will post before and after pictures!!! 🙂 (See below!).
One of the hardest parts about today was telling my kids that this was the last day we would come to the “play center” here. They both had so much fun today with Ms. Danielle, who also happened to make a really sweet pumpkin/witch house craft with them. They were both pretty disappointed with that news. I told them that if we could, we would keep coming here for many more months or years while Mama gets stronger, but we can’t keep coming for now. Maybe someday again in the future.
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I definitely want to come back someday. It’s been tough for our family to figure out how to balance affording me to stay at home while the kids are still so young, affording a high-quality half-day preschool for two little kids, and putting money towards my/our outings and adventures for this blog (oh, and the rest of life!). But if you are wondering, “Is Burn Boot Camp worth it?” then know that I told my kids, the Burn Boot Camp Knightdale staff, and my husband that if anything ever changes for us financially, I’m hopping right back in!
I’d love to see if going to Burn longer term and following their nutrition protocols more precisely could help me reach the weight/BMI and fitness goals that I’ve had my whole adulthood but have never been able to accomplish. Most importantly, I see some of these people working out here, and the way they can move their bodies and keep going (no matter their age, gender, or body size) is amazing. I want to get to that level of athleticism one day, too! So, Burn Boot Camp, whether it’s in a month, a year, or multiple years from now, I’m coming back!
Saturday, Burn Boot Camp Day 29 – A Rainy Morning Last Day
Today was an interesting day. I attended the 8 am camp. It was a rainy, cool morning, and none of the staff that I was familiar with today were present. It was athletic conditioning day (aka tons of cardio). I had to pause multiple times because I was pushing myself a little too hard.
Madison came up to me at the end of the session and shared with me Burn’s pricing list one last time, so I’ll share that with you, too, for all of you wondering, “Is Burn Boot Camp worth it?” since it’s hard to make that determination without knowing pricing!
As I left my last workout, I felt a few tears well up in my eyes. But I got in the car and said aloud, “ I am grateful for this experience that I got to have.” And then I headed home.
Sunday, Day 30: FINAL RESULTS! Is Burn Boot Camp Worth It?
I’m honestly a bit bummed that my last day happened to fall on a Sunday, so I didn’t get a chance to enjoy Burn on my last day. But today is meant to be a day of self-reflection, measurement, and honoring my body. So, without further ado, Here are my results:
- Total Camps Attended: 18 (so I averaged 4 ½ camps per week)
- Total Weight Loss: 7 lbs (according to my scale at home)
- Body Fat: 4.5 lbs of fat lost, according to Burn’s Body Fat analysis device (measured on Day 28).
- Total Inches lost: 8.5”
- Hips- 1.5 inches
- Arms – 1” (x 2)
- Waist – 2”
- Chest – 1.5”
- Thighs – 0.75” (x 2)
- Resting Heart Rate: It started at 65 beats per minute but is now down to 57 beats per minute. This means my heart is pumping more efficiently! I have less swelling and fluid for my heart to work against, which can help it work better as long as my body remains healthfully hydrated! If there is one muscle that I am glad to have helped condition during this month- it’s this one. <3
In case anyone is still wondering, “Is Burn Boot Camp worth it?” take a look at these pics. Here’s me holding 4.5 pounds of butter (to represent fat). THAT came off of my body. In ONE month. And I still enjoyed a few drinks and ate pasta and ice cream. I continued to live life and saw those results. That’s pretty amazing!
Immeasurable Results (But Just As Important!):
- My skin is softer, I’m noticing less breakouts than before
- I am less winded going up the stairs than I was before. I have more energy than before and want to move my body more.
- My clothes fit a little less tightly now.
- Despite my kids having a few sick days while in preschool, I didn’t get sick the entire month I attended Burn.
- I am starting to see some definition in my arms that I haven’t seen in a very long time.
- My children are becoming more interested in moving their bodies. They even wanted to try some kids’ yoga because they saw me doing some yoga stretches at Burn! Building generational healthy habits is everything!
- My allergies are better.
- I cut back on drinking alcohol naturally because I didn’t want to feel bad for boot camp the next day.
- I’m making healthier food choices with higher lean protein intake, whole grains, and more fresh fruits and veggies again. But I also learned that I can see results without going hard with a dieting, “all or nothing” mentality.
- I feel more capable and more confident in myself and my physical abilities. I am motivated to keep going and have just signed up for my first ever 5K (and ya’ll…I hate running! Who is this person? Lol).
- I invested in some better workout clothes and shoes, setting myself up for success to be more active despite whether or not I continue to attend Burn.
- I reminded myself not to judge a book by its cover. Each one of these trainers is different. Various ages, men and women, and they all have different body types. But they are all fierce in their own physicality and are patient, kind, supportive, motivational, and excellent teachers and trainers.
Things I wish I had done differently:
- Jumped on healthier eating earlier. It would have helped to fuel my body better during the first two weeks
- Got more sleep (although this problem goes way back before Burn- thanks, motherhood!).
- Stretched more!
- Is Burn Boot Camp worth it if I keep going? I would be curious to see what progress I could make if I followed Burn’s advice to a T- including trying more of their supplements and following their dietary advice more closely.
- And I wish I could have Kept Going! <3
As promised, here are my Before and After pics (taken in the same clothes, same makeup, same lack of sucking in the belly, same spot, same photographer, and trying to recreate the same poses as best as possible):
Thank You, Burn Boot Camp Knightdale!
For any readers who are new to this blog, this write-up was done without any incentive or sponsorship. I tried to relay my experience as unbiased as possible so that I can help you make the best-informed decision on your own health journey. I hope this was helpful!
Thank you to all of the Burn Boot Camp Knightdale staff. You are all amazingly professional, kind, understanding, motivational, and serious role models for me.
To Dee, Thank you for offering to be there as my partner at the first Burn camp. I honestly don’t know if I would have survived and signed up for the 30 days without your help and support. To Brandy N., Thank you for sharing your Burn story with me on Facebook (losing 50+ lbs and becoming a runner is Amazing!) and piquing my interest to begin with! <3
To all of the Burn sisters and brothers I met along the way- you are all so inspiring. Thank you for all the high-fives and the words (or breathless nods) of encouragement, and thank you for being so open, warm, non-judgmental, and inviting to a newcomer. What an amazing community you have all built here. <3
So, for one last time… Two Claps on Two. 🙂
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