Here’s what to expect at Burn Boot Camp, the homegrown Charlotte-area fitness franchise that’s whipping me into the best shape of my life

The 45-minute, women-centric boot camps have a national footprint but were born right here in a parking lot in Huntersville. Today, husband and wife owners Devan and Morgan Kline have grown the concept to 300+ awarded franchise locations in 36 states.

So it’s safe to say I’m not the only fan. But perhaps I’m the biggest.

I landed at Burn Elizabeth at an ungodly hour one morning in April because I needed some novelty in my life — something to shake up my daily routine and, quite frankly, kick my ass.

I found it at Burn with a two-week free trial and never turned back. People ask me about it all the time (because I rave about it all the time), so here’s the deal…

The 45-minute circuit workouts are high energy, fast paced and accessible to all ability levels.

Coming off of a long stint of self-directed workouts using various fitness apps, I found the energy of a group fitness class pretty intoxicating.

Admittedly, I’m also kind of a lone wolf and hate being in large group settings but I’m so in the zone trying not to die at Burn that I just feed off of it. It’s a great community.

Your trainer will keep an eye on you and modify your exercises up or down according to where you need to be to really push yourself.

This is both the best and worst thing about Burn because every once in a while (read: daily) I just want to skate by with a lighter weight, but they catch me every time and make me actually push myself.

My body thanks them, but I roll my eyes. It’s a love/hate thing.

Personally, I started to notice a change in my body, performance, attitude and energy level by the end of the two-week trial period.

Within about a month, I ran into a friend I hadn’t seen for a while (who also happens to be a fitness professional) who greeted me with “You’re looking fit. What are you doing?”

Bam. Done. Sold. Sign me up.

Three months in, I don’t weigh or measure myself (I guess I should) but I notice a change in my arms and back being more muscular, in my clothes fitting better, in a newly formed butt I’ve never had before and in performance things like finally being able to do push-ups on my toes, finally being able to do double-unders and gradually lifting heavier weights (when a trainer catches me trying to skate by, anyway).

Honestly, never felt better.

13 quick things to know about working out at Burn Boot camp:

Memberships are available in 6-, 12- and 18-month contracts – Pricing is dynamic and varies by location so check individual gyms for exact numbers. In general, monthly rates range from $160 to $200 depending on length of contract with paid-in-full discounts available. Also, keep an eye out for frequent promotions.

Your first two weeks are always free – I’m a huge fan of free fitness trials. It gives you a low-risk opportunity to see if the workout and facility and trainers are for you and it gives the gym a chance to show you what its got. I was hooked after my two weeks.

Saturdays are always free – It’s a great time to bring a friend to show them what it’s all about.

Classes are offered almost every hour from 5 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. – It’s hard to come up with an excuse as to why you can’t make it to your workout when you have that many opportunities to get in the door. Stuck in traffic? No problem. You’ll probably catch the next class.

It’s a women-centric gym but men are invited to work out evenings and Saturdays – This keeps with the original positioning as a workout for moms. It has since evolved to target all women and, in some classes, men too.

Class sizes aren’t capped and you don’t have to sign up in advance – I love the flexibility of knowing my work and personal schedules can shift without feeling like I’m tied to a reserved spot at the gym. I also like knowing I can show up unannounced on a whim and there will always be room for me.

Free childcare is available at 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. – I don’t have kids but don’t even get me started on how much I love an organization that makes life easier for people who do.

Free focus meetings are available to check in on nutrition, performance, weight loss and more – I’m too lazy to eat right at the moment (but I imagine my results would be 10x better if I would) so I haven’t been checking in, but if you’re disciplined you’d do it every 3-5 weeks to check your progress. There are before and after photos everywhere so trust me when I tell you the system works if you do.

You get universal access to every Burn location in the country – There are three in Charlotte proper — Elizabeth, SouthPark and Steele Creek — and at least a dozen more in surrounding suburbs from Fort Mill up to Mooresville. And if you’re traveling, they’ve got locations in something like 36 states at this point. You just can’t get away from this place.

Workouts are built on body weight exercises and equipment like dumbbells, kettlebells, medicine balls, gliders, bands, etc. – No CrossFit-style barbell work or machines like rowers and stationary bikes in here. Buckle up for a whole bunch of burpees, push-ups, pull-ups, sprints, jump lunges and other forms of torture using your own body though.

The workouts are formulaic but with enough freedom for trainers to shine – I love the consistency and predictability of a well honed fitness formula. With a franchise-wide framework for each workout, you always know what you’re going to get when you walk in the door. You can come any time to any location with any trainer and know you’re going to get the same Burn experience. At the same time, it’s not rigid or robotic. Trainers have the flexibility to piece together different exercises within the formula so that no two workouts are the same and you get to know their individual styles. You’ll find your favorite.

All exercises can be scaled up or down according to your abilities – That means anybody can do it. The trainers do a great job of making sure each person is at their their max, which is different for everyone. I’m super lazy and love to try to skate by but they always catch me and make me lift heavier. I whine about it but that’s what I’m there for. I love it.

You’re in and out in 45 minutes and they always start and end on time – Warm up, workout, cool down… boom, done! And you’ll work your butt off. Classes are fast paced with little down time so you never really get a chance to look at the clock. Before you know it, it’s over.

Want to give Burn Boot Camp a try for yourself? Newly opened SouthPark and Steele Creek are currently offering 30 days for $30, and all locations have free two-week trials to start. Find the location nearest you. If it’s Elizabeth, I’ll see you there. You can be my partner.

Header photo of Burn Boot Camp Elizabeth via Facebook