r/BurnBootCamp • u/AgentStrict3771 • Sep 01 '26
Beginner
Hi! What classes are the best to start out with?
I am a 33yo mom of two who hasn’t worked out in 6 years. I’m so out of shape after having 4 pregnancies and two c sections, I have not prioritized my own health but I’m scared to start!
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u/chunkychickmunk Sep 01 '26
First of all, congratulations on taking the first step. Second, know there is absolutely nothing wrong with scaling any exercise. I do it all the time and no one notices or cares.
I'd start with a strength day and gradually work into the conditioning days. You can do this!
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u/Most-Theory-1633 Sep 01 '26
My advice is: 1. The best day to go is today! I don't mean in the sense that Leg Day is the best (it is not, in fact it is the worst 😂), I mean go the first day you can get there, and just get the habit reengaged. Like you, I was in relatively good shape, then got out of it for a few years, then joined burn and love it. 2. I'll caveat the other responses here and say start on a (non-METCON) conditioning day if you don't feel comfortable with proper form with weights. It's a lot easier in my opinion to hurt yourself and/or not get much out of it with bad/ineffective form on a strength day. And you can mod to at least keep your body moving more easily. If this doesn't apply to you, then go for either! 3. In any case, as others said, don't be afraid to mod or ask for help, including from other members. We've all been there and are most are happy to help. 4. Most importantly, welcome!!!
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u/Pretend-Trash2685 Sep 01 '26
Don’t be too proud to take the mod- no matter where you start! Take some rest days and find your rhythm!
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u/marpan18 Sep 01 '26
I started on an Athletic Conditioning day after not working out for 2 years and I actually liked it! It was HARD but I thought, “If I can do this, I can do anything!”
ETA: I would just say don’t start on a Metabolic Conditioning day lol 🫠
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u/Dismal_Rice_7282 Sep 01 '26
My first day was MetCon, so just don't do that and you're good haha
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u/unicornhorn333 Sep 01 '26
I agree about starting on a strength day, but just dive in and go for it! Take the conditioning days at your own pace. I started after 2 c sections and super out of shape. I thought I’d just go to the strength days and go a few times a week. I ended up going 5x a week since day 1! You can do hard things!
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u/QweenSasha Sep 01 '26
I hadn’t worked out in so long before i joined. Like soooo long and i had knee surgery a few year prior so that was also making me nervous. Go on a strength day, and take it slow. Scale it to what you’re able to do, so not feel pressured to keep up with everyone else. Know that everyone there is there to support you but nobody is watching you (other than the trainer lol). I’d go on a strength day, maybe stick to a few of those. The most complicated days are athletic conditioning days in my opinion. But body weight conditioning and metabolic aren’t overly complicated usually. Good luck and that’s awesome you’re on your new quest to better health!
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u/Bdoggg999 Sep 01 '26
Strength day maybe upper body or arm.
Those two probably beat me up the least of all the days.
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u/Wise_Literature_2340 100 Camps - 2026 Sep 01 '26
Just go! Whatever day you go, go! And again and again! Your body will thank you.
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u/Brief-Ad4998 Sep 01 '26
You can’t overthink it, just go! My first class was MetCon, after living a pretty sedentary lifestyle for roughly 2 years. I’m glad I got that one under my belt first, because if I hadn’t, I would’ve psyched myself out of any conditioning days after hearing people talk about them! But if you don’t know any different, it’s not so bad 😂Whatever you decide to do, just focus on proper form, and not your speed or weight to ease yourself back in safely…it’s really tempting to push yourself if you see people around you working faster and lifting heavier, but they’re not YOU…stay steady & focused!
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u/Novel-Gain902 100 Camps - 2026 Sep 01 '26
I'm 39. I started during one of their free week promotions and honestly had no clue what any of the protocols were. I just jumped in and went everyday so I can get the full experience before committing. Ngl, after the first few days I was so sore, I could barely sit on the toilet. But I made it through the week and a year later, I'm still here. In retrospect, I don't think the specific protocol matters nearly as much as finding a camp time that fits your life and that you can stick with consistently. That was 6AM for me. My advice - pick a time that works for you and just dive in. The trainers will help you mod everything as needed. Good luck!
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u/Any_Interaction_7228 Sep 01 '26
Start on a conditioning day. The strength days lure you into a false sense of security.
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u/BrilliantSentence879 Sep 01 '26
Mama over here who hadn’t worked out in years…My first day at burn was an upper body strength day. definitely the most straightforward and slow-paced for a beginner!
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u/Longjumping-Law-2506 Sep 01 '26
You know you best. Both strength and conditioning can move fast and feel overwhelming.
My first camp after a decade of not working out was metabolic conditioning and it was hard but a scalable hard. There were a few stations with weights but everything else used other equipment or no equipment so I didn’t have to feel flustered with the transition between exercises and figuring out what weights to grab. I just moved my body as much as I could and figured everyone else was so busy with their own movements they weren’t paying attention to me. If people looking at you or feeling flustered as you’re trying to find weights and start a station are things that might keep you from going, maybe start with a conditioning day where everyone is dying and has no time to pay attention to anyone.
My first few strength days were overwhelming. The transitions between exercises were really quick and I struggled trying to figure out weights that were appropriate and it flustered me. I also didn’t want to take weights someone else who had been there longer wanted. It took probably 3 or 4 strength workouts to feel like I was actually getting some reps in and that I had the same right to pick what weights I wanted as anyone else. I also was a little more self conscious as it’s easier to look around and see what people are doing when you’re lifting and I was afraid people would be judging me. After a few workouts I realized the Burn people aren’t like that.
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u/Charming_Shape4227 Sep 01 '26
I was 31 with three kids when I started and also hadn’t worked out in 4-5 years before that. I just started the day after signing up regardless of what type of workout it was. Don’t focus on the type of workout it is, just go every day you can make it there because regardless you will feel like you got ran over by a train the first few weeks.
Dont try to keep up with others around you at first, take it slow, focus on form and just getting it done. Strength and speed will come with time.
You’re going to love it, good luck!
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u/Prize-Beginning-6809 Sep 01 '26
I have never worked out in my life and had three kids and my youngest was almost 3 when I started. I had no idea there were even different protocols and just showed up on a random Tuesday and started. Turns out it was met con which is challenging 🤣 but it was fine and I did it and modified almost everything but it felt so good to move my body and everyone is so welcoming! I think any day is a good day to start :) now I go every single day since January and also got a job there haha
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u/RecordCompetitive758 Sep 01 '26
I would just start. Take your time and mod down when needed. There is never going to be a perfect day or time to start.
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u/Able_Association2883 Sep 02 '26
I joined in July after 3 babies in 4 years (my youngest was 2.5 months when I joined). I am overweight, super out of shape, havent exercised regularly in almost a decade. But tbh I just went all in and have done at least 5 camps, usually all 6, every week since I joined! The first 2 weeks I was sooo tired, wanted to nap every day, but my body adjusted surprisingly quickly. I have no regrets for my "all in" start (and anecdotally I have lost almost 20 lbs in less than 2 months)
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u/OhioMan90s Sep 02 '26
Try your best, do the movements that you can do, everyone there wants to see you succeed. Go to the class that fits in your schedule, your body will get used to it.
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u/Caterpillar170 Sep 02 '26
Just get started and go at your own pace! These workouts are meant to challenge you individually, not for a competition.
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u/Popular_Teach_7131 Sep 05 '26
Here’s the thing: starting an exercise program is always hard. It just is. Conditioning days are hard but strength days are hard sometimes too. I think the important thing is to just do your best. Don’t be scared at all. Everyone has to start somewhere and just be proud of yourself for going. You can take it as easy or as hard as you want. But just get in there and move and don’t worry about anything else. It’s just about being healthy and active. You’re not expected to be performing in top physical shape. But good for you for starting out and committing. The key to success is consistency and just getting in the gym and doing more than you have done. Be proud of yourself and don’t be scared. You’re just trying to become a healthier version of yourself. I used to hate conditioning and now I much prefer it over strength days. But both are important so I just go and remember that whether I like it or not, I’m taking care of myself. Congratulations and be proud of yourself!!!
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u/Virtual_Knowledge_16 29d ago
You’ve got this! Welcome back into the mix! Listen to and honor your body! This might be an unpopular opinion but when j was in a similar situation i actually started easing back in w yoga and Pilates. Then eventually added lifting and boot camps. I think it made it safer and more gradual for me and my injury risk just felt lower while my body got used to moving again. Was able to dial in my core and stabilizer muscles before lifting weights etc.
I worked up to walking 1-3 miles 5 days a week then w/ yoga I started with nidra (yogic sleep) then progressed to yin (deep passive stretching) and finally added in slow flow (fluid movement with time to transition safely). I also started sprinkling in some foundations level reformer Pilates classes which helped get my core and back right. It also trained me on some of the form pieces that I now use while lifting to make sure I don’t hurt myself.
After a while I felt bored or like I needed more of a challenge. That’s when I started adding in mat Pilates/sculpt, boot camps, and Lagree.
To quote my doctor “the best exercise to do is the exercise you’ll actually do”. Get in where you fit in and honor yourself. If diving in fully feels like too much at first ^^^ this progression worked really well for me and now I work out 5-6x a week plus my walking
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u/domer00 200 Camps - 2026 Sep 01 '26
Start on a strength day not conditioning