9 Reasons Why You Should Give Burn Boot Camp a Try

If you have never heard of Burn Boot Camp, I am here to educate you. To an observer, Burn may seem like any other small gym. However, if you have talked to any members of Burn Boot Camp, myself included, they will probably tell you that it is so much more. You may be wondering if it really lives up to the hype. Read on to find out more about Burn and the top nine reasons why you should give Burn Boot Camp a try.

1. Burn Boot Camp creates an encouraging environment for women.

As a woman, there are several reasons why working out at the gym is just not very pleasant. Women may feel as though they are on display, feel intimidated, or feel overwhelmed. When walking into a gym, it can be hard to know where to start. It can create an environment in which women are constantly comparing themselves to other women and are self conscious around the men exercising.

This is not the case at Burn. Although all of the camps are co-ed, the members at Burn are predominately female. There is a strong sense of female empowerment while working out. I have never felt uncomfortable around the guys at Burn like I have at other gyms. The majority of the men who work out at Burn are husbands, boyfriends, or friends of the ladies who work out there.

The other thing I love about the environment at Burn is that it is female-focused while still being challenging. Oftentimes, exercise routines created for women seem a little “dumbed down,” if you know what I mean. It feels like our society doesn’t expect women to be capable of achieving the same kinds of physical goals as men. At Burn, the workouts are challenging for men and women alike. I never feel like I am doing an easier version of a workout because I am a woman.

2. They offer complimentary childwatch!

That’s right, free childwatch! It comes with your membership. As a mother of three small children, childwatch was definitely a part of Burn Boot Camp that I was very excited about. When I joined Burn, I was primarily a stay at home mom, so being able to bring my kids with me to the gym gave me a whole new sense of freedom when it came to finding time to work out. No more waiting until my husband got home to go to the gym. No more doing workout videos in the living room quietly while the kids were napping, or even worse, while they were awake. No more having to rely on going on a walk as my primary form of exercise. At Burn Boot Camp, I can bring my little monsters with me and actually focus on myself while I work out.

I know what you’re thinking. Several gyms offer childwatch. What sets Burn apart is the quality of the childwatch. The childwatch room is right next to the gym, so your little ones are never far away if you are needed for some reason. I know at my previous gym they offered childwatch, but it was a huge room that looked like a McDonald’s Playplace. I never brought my kids to that gym because not only would I have to pay extra for it, but I’d worry that if one of my kids needed me it would take too long to find me in the huge gym. Prior to starting Burn, my kids had never been in a daycare type of setting so this was a perfect first experience for them. I felt comfortable leaving my kids to play since I knew they were being watched and were close-by. Granted, my daughter cried for 20 minutes straight the first time I left her at childwatch, but now all of my kids love playing with the other kids at the gym. They actually ask to go to the gym because they have so much fun there.

3. The workouts fit into my schedule.

In the past, I always felt like I didn’t have enough time to go to the gym. Oftentimes, when I would go, I would feel like I didn’t do enough. This is never the case with Burn. Most Burns offer seven or eight camp times and once you find the time that fits into your schedule, you can go to that time daily. I used to try to do group fitness classes, but the schedule changed every day, making it more of a chore to make sure the class I wanted was available. At Burn, the schedule is simple, with early morning, late morning, afternoon, and evening times available. Instead of deciding whether or not I have time to go, it is just a part of my routine now. Also, I know that no matter what time I go, I will get the same great workout.

Another part of Burn that makes it so easy to add to my routine is that the camps are only 45 minutes and I can park and walk right in. I can get there two minutes before camp begins and still have time to bring my kids to childwatch and use the restroom. Compared to the typical hour long fitness class, those 15 fewer minutes make a world of difference. I can get in and out of the gym quickly and there is a great workout packed into those 45 minutes.

4. Burn Boot Camp is challenging and goal oriented.

In my past gym experiences, I never felt like I was working out hard enough. I would go to my regular class or use the elliptical, but I never felt like I was really improving physically. I was just going through the motions. All I cared about was that hopefully I would lose some weight eventually.

At Burn, the camps are not easy. I never leave the gym feeling like I could have worked harder. With each exercise we do, there are always small challenges and goals that I set for myself. The great thing about the camps is that for the most part, you are never doing one exercise for very long. While each exercise might be difficult, you know you only have to do it for a little bit longer. It makes me feel like I am capable of doing it right. Instead of just mindlessly squatting, I try to squat with heavier weights, or complete more jump squats in a row. I feel like I have accomplished something when I am finished.

5. All levels of fitness are welcome.

I know that in the past when I would challenge myself to do a more difficult class or consider trying a different exercise while at the gym I would feel self conscious, like those around me would know I didn’t know what I was doing. I felt defeated. I felt like I would never be at the level of the people around me.

At Burn, I have always felt challenged, but the environment is so positive that I always feel like there is the possibility that I can do even the most challenging task. I have had several friends say they needed to get in shape first before they were able to work out as hard as we do at Burn. I am here to tell you that everyone can participate in the camps! You will get in shape by participating.

The way the workouts are designed allows us to “mod up” or “mod down.” The trainers demonstrate each exercise and give options to make it more challenging by modifying up or less challenging by modifying down. No one will think less of you and no trainer will be hard on you if you mod down. Everyone has to start somewhere. Even if you feel like you are not able to do the workouts, there are many options to allow you to do it at your own pace.

6. The workouts are designed with purpose and are always different.

The camps at Burn Boot Camp are designed so you work different parts of your body each day in the Monday through Saturday schedule. Usually, there are three cardio days and three strength days. The protocol is designed so you can work out every day and not over or under train any part of your body. I love this because I don’t have to think about what exercises I need to do. I can focus on doing my best and know I am getting a great workout.

The camps themselves each follow a similar order, but they are always different. They start with a warm up for three to five minutes. Next, the trainer demos the main part of the workout while campers stay moving by doing jumping jacks, butt kickers, boxer stance, or something similar. Sometimes we work in partnerships or groups of three. Sometimes we rotate through five or six stations. Sometimes the gym is split in half to create mini camps. You never know what the actual activity is going to be so it never gets stale. The last part of the workout is called the finisher. This is usually a one to three minute long exercise where you give any last bit of energy you have left. It forces you to refocus and tell yourself you can do it. Those parts, along with a fun soundtrack to listen to, makes every workout fun and different.

7. Burn Boot Camp offers personal training in a group setting.

The trainers at Burn Boot Camp are exceptional. Since most campers come every day, the trainers really get to know each person’s abilities. They know when to push you and when to come over to offer a modification if they know the exercise might not be right for you.

Your Burn membership also comes with “optionally mandatory” focus meetings every three weeks. At the focus meeting, the trainer measures your weight, body fat percentage, and a few other measurements. I know some people are intimidated by these meetings, but I love them. They give me a time to really know where I am physically and I can see if I am making progress or not. During these meetings I have asked my trainer many, many questions and she is always more than happy to help and offer suggestions I would have never considered. The meeting gives you a set time to set a goal for yourself, whether it be lose ten pounds, feel more confident, do 20 push ups, or complete a marathon.

The focus meetings have been a huge help to me when it comes to my nutrition. Like many women, I have had a complicated relationship with food for as long as I can remember. Before starting Burn, I would either try to eat as few calories as possible or eat whatever I wanted without a second thought. Now, I track my calories as well as my protein intake and I try to eat food with fewer artificial ingredients so the food I eat actually makes me feel good.

8. The community at Burn Boot Camp is welcoming.

I have gone to several gyms and workout classes throughout my life, but I have never felt as comfortable and taken care of as I do when I am at Burn Boot Camp. Many gyms remind me more of a factory—people clocking in and out, getting their work done, and leaving as soon as possible. At Burn, that is not the case. The trainers and employees know my name and are always friendly and welcoming.

During camps, trainers always encourage people to get to know each other's names and high five throughout camp. It may sound a little cheesy, but it is much more fun to work out with people that you feel a sense of camaraderie with. It is nice to have a fellow Burn Sister to struggle with during your workout and high five when you have completed a seemingly impossible task.

I have met some of my closest friends at Burn. We socialize all the time, in and out of the gym, and our kids are friends as well. Meeting others with a similar mindset and family lifestyle has been invaluable in adding to the beauty in my life.

9. Burn Boot Camp works and I actually want to work out every day!

When I look back on my attitude and confidence before I started Burn Boot Camp, I can say that I have completely changed my mindset. When I started, I had just given birth to my third child four months earlier and I felt like I was not capable of much physically. I actually found out about Burn Boot Camp because I bid on 20 free camps at an auction. I figured I could take the 20 camps and lose the rest of the baby weight. However, after working out at Burn regularly for a month, I didn’t want to quit.

For the first time in my life, I work out five to six days a week, and sometimes even go running on Sundays. I look forward to going to the gym because it is fun and I always find a new way to challenge myself. Since I started going to the gym regularly, it felt natural to work on creating better eating habits. Both of these changes have really helped me physically, mentally, and emotionally.

At first, the only result I was really looking for was to lose weight, but I have gained so much more than that. Since starting Burn Boot Camp I feel stronger and I’m not apprehensive about doing physical activities. I look forward to going hiking or running a 5K. I used to think that running a marathon was something I could never possibly do, but now, I feel like if I set my mind to it and trained properly that goal is not so out of reach. Over the past four years as a Burn member, I have gone through fluctuations in my weight and body fat percentage, but my new normal is so much healthier than before. Even when I feel like I am "struggling" I have still made huge changes that have remained consistent.

As I said before, anyone can try Burn Boot Camp. What are you waiting for? Burn Boot Camp always offers different free trials and promotions that I highly suggest you take advantage of to see what Burn is really like for yourself. Check out your local Burn today and maybe you will be like me and finally find what you have been looking for in a gym.

*Edited and updated in September 2023.