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My Trainers are Better than Yours

train·er
/ˈtrānər/
noun
a person who trains people or animals. (Google definition)

When I first considered Burn Boot Camp-Asheville I had the same questions everyone else does when they hear "boot camp." What are these people going to be like? Are they going to be in my face yelling? Does this guy think he can actually teach me how to do this stuff?

Of course, before I even walked in the doors at Burn, I was intimidated. Why would I not be? I was morbidly obese and never been a part of a long term physical commitment. One day I got a pre-opening email from Zach, our head trainer in Asheville, and I decided to reply. The response I got from him is forever the reason my life changed. I took the chance of stepping in to the doors of the gym for my first focus meeting, which took place two years ago today.

That response was encouraging, positive and made me believe in something in myself that I had so much doubt in. I walked in and met with Zach that Friday evening days before our orientation. Again, nothing less than encouraging, supportive and positive. I left there that evening excited to be there and to be back. The rest is history.

The trainers at Burn Boot Camp are your biggest cheerleaders and most honest support you will ever have. They know your physical and mental limits. They can see you fatiguing to the point of wanting to quit, and know when to say your name to hit your adrenaline back in to overdrive. They know when you are able to increase your weight because you are doing bicep curls just way too easily (not that I experienced this recently, hah). They also move with you to keep you moving if you are doing something that you were not so confident in doing. For example, when I started at Burn, I obviously could barely move for 10 minutes, let alone 45 minutes. The modifications I was given allowed me to keep moving for 45 minutes. I had to stop frequently at camp to breathe. When I was told our finisher one day was going to be line sprints (aka suicides), I died inside before I even started. The intimidation of the mere thought of going from line to line to "run" was not anything I knew I could do. That day, Zach walked to each line with me, and encouraged me to keep going to finish. That was the defining moment, I knew I was in the right gym home.

Zach (Head Trainer)and I, Halloween 2019

 Another moment, Amy saw me do my first power roll. Not only did I stop in shock and have tears in my eyes, but I turned to see her with tears in her eyes too. Those moments, those little moments of connecting with clients matter. They say your name randomly to let you know they see you working, but do not quit. They high five you and anyone else in passing to keep you encouraged throughout your entire workout. Who knew a high five would mean so much to me?

Amy and I, 4/27/19, my first power roll

Another stand out moment is when Maya took time away from her personal time to walk with me at the local park one Saturday because I wanted to walk to see how far I could go.  She kept me walking and moving the entire time by talking to me. There was no pressure, but absolute support and love.

Back: Me and Teresa, Front: Maya, Out for a Walk at Fletcher Park (date unknown)

There are also moments where you are absent from the gym. They notice and reach out to you to see what you having going on as well as how they can help. They take time to respond to you when they are on their down time if you have a question or concern that you message them privately about. They attend your focus meetings to put work in to making productive goals for their clients. They work endlessly building a community within the gym for every client to feel accepted, encouraged and supported. They do these things selflessly in addition to their regular duties as a trainer because they want to see success in everyone.

The trainers at my gym are far from intimidating. They are encouraging and as invested if not more than I am in my journey. They have uplifted me in some of the darkest times in my life the last two years. They are selfless in all they do, and honestly, some of the best people I have met in my life. They are family just like each client I have a relationship with, and I'll forever be thankful they care about my progress as much as me.


Next up... Two Year Reflection



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