This blog post is a reader request (from more than a few of you!) about what you can expect when you step into a Burn Boot Camp facility for the first time. Burn Boot Camp is a rapidly-expanding franchise with locations primarily located in the southeast United States (North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida… and one location in Wisconsin!) and additional locations are set to open in Georgia, Tennessee, Virginia, Alabama and New York. It’s a workout that has kicked my butt and captured my heart from the first time I attended a training camp! Here’s what to expect at Burn Boot Camp.
Ever since I started regularly attending Burn Boot Camp (BBC), I feel like I cannot shut up about it because I love it so darn much. It is, without a doubt, my favorite group exercise class I’ve ever taken (if you can even call it a class – it feels more like a group personal/athletic training experience) and it’s a workout I truly look forward to on an almost-daily basis.
Why Burn Boot Camp?
So what motivated me to try it out in the first place? Childcare. Yep, the fact that Burn Boot Camp offers free childcare was all I needed to hear to try it out for the first time after Chase was born and I was cleared to resume a fitness routine again.
I also heard my friend Brittany rave about it and even though we don’t live close enough to each other to attend the same BBC location, all BBC locations follow the same workout schedule which is published on the BBC Facebook page every Sunday evening. (The workouts BBC trainers create are unique to each trainer and location but follow a similar format.) Brittany highlighted the fact that the workouts are never the same and that they are seriously challenging (but still scalable to all fitness levels) which sounded right up my alley. I love variety and a good challenge, so I was instantly intrigued.
Now that I’ve been regularly attending BBC for more than six months, if someone were to ask me why they should try Burn Boot Camp, I could list a myriad of reasons ranging from the quality of the trainers and the supportive environment to the challenging workout and the seriously motivating (and friendly!) women who attend.
(Also, I should note that even though Burn Boot Camp’s tagline is “A Community of Fit Moms” it is definitely NOT only open to mothers. While it is wonderful for moms who need childcare, there are tons of women who regularly attend BBC who do not have children.)
What to Expect at Burn Boot Camp
A Burn Boot Camp workout lasts 45 minutes and includes a warm up, challenging workout and a finisher.
- The Warm Up
All Burn Boot Camp workouts follow a similar format and begin with a warm up that focuses on dynamic exercises (think less stretching and more movement for an active warm up). Depending on the day, the warm up will include anything from push ups and high knees to running and lunges. All exercises performed during the warm up are bodyweight-only exercises meant to warm up the muscles and prepare your body for the workout to come!
- The Workout
Once the warm up is done, your trainer will explain the workout of the day. Burn Boot Camp workouts follow a circuit format so there are multiple exercises to perform in every workout. If you’ve been a PBF reader for a while, BBC workouts are very similar to the circuit-style workouts I’ve been sharing on this blog for years but with the added benefit of a trainer who is there to push you!
What exercises are included in the workout depend on the day and often include challenging strength training exercises and high intensity cardio exercises such as burpees, mountain climbers and tuck jumps. (Trainers are always available to offer modifications for any exercise.) Tip: When the workout protocol calls for Metabolic Conditioning or Athletic Conditioning know you will be sweating up a storm!
Workouts are spaced appropriately through the week to prevent injury (you won’t be strength training your upper body two days in a row, for example) and you have a head’s up about what to expect each day thanks to the workout schedule posted on the BBC headquarters’ Facebook page.
- The Finisher
As the name implies, the Finisher takes place at the end of the workout and is meant to kick your butt one final time before the workout is over. Finishers usually last five minutes or less and are often the most challenging part of the workout. I have yet to do the same Finisher during a BBC workout but know I can expect them to often include plyometric exercises, sprints or challenging isometric holds.
Burn Boot Camp Inspired Workouts
To give you a better idea about the structure of the workouts, below you will find a small sampling of Burn Boot Camp inspired workouts I’ve shared on PBF in the past:
- Burn Boot Camp 15 Minute Leg Workout
- Burn Boot Camp Pyramid Workout
- Upper Body Superset Workout
- Leg + Plyo Workout
What Does It Cost?
- Free Saturday Workouts
First, you can attend Burn Boot Camp for FREE at any location every Saturday morning at 9 a.m. This is a great way to see if the workouts are a good fit for you (and also a wonderful hassle-free way for current members to invite friends). For the most part, Saturday workouts are full-body and often have a cardio focus, so they’re a great way to see how tough BBC workouts can be right off the bat!
- 14 Day Test Trial
All BBC locations offer a complimentary two-week test trial. If you really want to get a good feel for Burn Boot Camp, this is a great way to immerse yourself in the workouts for two weeks to make sure it’s a good fit for you!
I’m not sure if all BBC locations have embraced Groupon as a great way to attract new members, but the BBC locations in our area are all about it! A Groupon is almost always available for $35 for a one-month trial or $55 for a one month trial for TWO people. (This is actually the route I went at first!)
- Membership
Membership prices vary depending upon location and contract duration but generally range from $99 – $199 a month. Definitely reach out to a location near you for a better idea of what a membership at your local BBC location would cost!
In full disclosure, my membership fees to Burn Boot Camp have now been waived, as the owner kindly offered to do so since I’ve been blogging about it so much. I have never been paid to mention BBC and this post is not sponsored in any way. I just love the workout SO darn much and wanted to answer reader questions and share a little bit more about something that has quickly become a highlight in my day with you guys! I hope this post helps you know what to expect at a Burn Boot Camp workout!
Questions of the Day
- What is your all-time favorite group fitness workout?
- Is there a group fitness workout out there that you are dying to try that you haven’t been able to experience yet?
Burn Boot Camp is my favorite though BodyPump was definitely my first major group fitness love. I’ve also tried Orangetheory (see here) and I would love to try Orangetheory and CorePower Yoga. And if you want to try my favorite at-home workouts, you can browse the entire library here!
