We went to the park. It’s cold and drizzly and I’m exhausted, but we went anyway. Today didn’t start out very great. The perfect balance and preparedness it takes to get us to work and four kids to school with everything they need proved to be unattainable today. The wheels fell off the whole operation before 7:30 am.
I got to work frustrated and feeling a little defeated. Then this afternoon I met an older Mom in the Aldi parking lot, who after apologizing to me for parking too close as I tried to squish myself into my car, shared that she was distracted because she was having a tough day in motherhood herself. Her daughters are in college and she was dealing with stress, disappointment, and worry about something that happened with them.
I have no idea why she sat there talking to a total stranger except that I offered a smile and a “no problem” when she apologized. I’m so glad she did though. She helped me remember that this crazy stage ranging from daycare to junior high that we’re living in won’t last forever. Soon enough my four will be grown and I’ll be dealing with a whole different set of motherhood challenges. So we went to the park and I watched them laugh and play, and none of the hard parts of today mattered anymore.
Before committing to and sticking with an exercise plan I had so many excuses as to why I just couldn’t make it work. There’s never a dull moment with four kids and a full-time job, and I really didn’t know how I could add anything else to my schedule. I also hated the thought of missing out on any more time with the kids each day. Not to mention the cost of finding childcare while I worked out. As soon as I tried Burn Boot Camp Bentonville, I knew they really had answers for all the excuses I made for not working out regularly.
Burn Boot Camp Bentonville offers camp times starting at 5:00 am and running through 6:30pm. The 5:00 am is an express camp that lasts 30 minutes instead of the usual 45 minutes so you can still get in a great workout if you have to be at work at an early hour. They also offer morning camps on Saturday as well as one yoga session. This provides all the flexibility that I need to make sure my workouts fit in around whatever is on the agenda for the day. I like to plan what camp times I’ll attend at the beginning of the week, so I know which days I’ll go in before work, and which days the afternoon camps will work better.
Burn Boot Camp Bentonville also offers free child watch to all members. My boys absolutely love it! The child watch staff even goes above and beyond to make special crafts with the kids all the time. The coolest part is that my kids get to go to the gym with me so they can see me making fitness and health a priority. I hope that will help them set healthy habits they will continue as they grow up. The staff at Burn makes my kids feel like they are truly part of the gym family. Occasionally there are workouts scheduled for the kids and the trainers give them a chance to see what they’ve got on the floating floor. That’s always a highlight of being a Burn kid!
Another thing I love about Burn Boot Camp is that I can sign up for a focus meeting every few weeks to discuss my goals and progress. A trainer records my measurements and talks through my diet. We discuss what is going well and what I’m struggling with. Sometimes I haven’t made the progress I wanted to between focus meetings, but I always leave with clear goals that I feel like I can work toward. Focus meetings are the best way to stay motivated and accountable.
Probably the single greatest thing about Burn is that even after over three years of attending camps, I’ve never felt bored with the workouts. When they say that you never do the same workout twice it’s actually true. Every Sunday Burn headquarters releases the weekly workout protocol so you can see what the week will hold. An example of what you might see in a typical week includes leg day, metabolic conditioning, athletic conditioning, arm day, core conditioning, and a wide variety of other cardio and strength exercises. Each workout is designed to push you out of your comfort zone and help you to get a little bit stronger every time.
Of course with Covid requirements some things are a little different than usual at Burn. I can’t say enough how much I appreciate the way the staff has worked to ensure the health and safety of all members. We each have a marked off area on the floor to make sure we are properly distanced during the workouts. Sanitizer wipes are provided to wipe down any equipment you use. Burn also regularly brings in a sanitization company to spray down all surfaces and equipment throughout the gym. For now, camps are scheduled on an app to maintain a safe amount of members in each camp. It’s easy to do and there are always plenty of camp times available to sign up for. When you arrive at the gym, your temperature is taken and you are asked the Covid screening questions required for gyms to be open at this time. The few adjustments that have been made haven’t impacted the intensity and challenging nature of the workouts one bit.
A glimpse at a typical pre-Covid workout. High energy and lots of motivation from fellow Burn members.
I’ve had setbacks here and there during my journey, and most recently I’ve been out for three months to recover from a shoulder injury. Every time I’m out of my routine at Burn Bentonville, I can’t wait to get back to it. I actually miss the workouts and the consistency I have at Burn. Why have I stayed committed to Burn Boot Camp Bentonville for over three years? I really believe that it is because the mentality at Burn is so different than a lot of gyms. I feel like the owner and the trainers take a personal interest in my health and happiness. They take the time to know what is going on with me both at the gym and in the rest of my life.
Ultimately I know what I need to do. I know what works for me and for all kinds of women and men across the country who share my love for Burn Boot Camp. I need to set my goals, get refocused on my why, plan for consistent workouts, and utilize all the tools that Burn provides for me. I can’t wait to start seeing progress again and seeing what all I can accomplish in the next phase of my journey at Burn Boot Camp. The best part is that you can join me! If you want to truly feel supported on a journey to a happier, healthier you then reach out to Burn Bentonville today and ask about a free trial. You can try it with no obligation and find out why it might be just the thing you are looking for.
If you don’t live near the Bentonville, Arkansas location head over to https://burnbootcamp.com/ to browse the list of nearly 300 locations across the country.
This is a sponsored post, but reflects my honest feelings about Burn Boot Camp after three years as a proud member.
I’ve been so consumed with the stress of being stuck in the house with four bored kids for a week straight, the worry of possible frozen pipes and power outages, and trying to keep the kids learning and myself working that I almost missed something so important.
Friends, we have been given direct instructions from the powers that be to NOT do any laundry. Not only should we not do it, but it’s the best way we can help ensure that our communities do not lose power from an overloaded system in this crazy winter storm. So today there will be no shame when you walk by the baskets spilling laundry onto the floor, no fussing at your teenagers to wash their smelly clothes, and no feeling like you should be getting caught up on laundry instead of relaxing on the couch.
In this not-so-much-better-than-2020 year we’re living in where we’ve been introduced to another thing to hate with “forced rolling blackouts” we are going to embrace this freeing gift we have received and let that laundry sit as we proudly celebrate the way we are doing our part for one another.
Disclaimer: if you live somewhere that hasn’t been affected by this snowpocalypse I’m pretty sure you are still entitled to this laundry-free time because surely your support of our cause is essential.
