07/14/2026
June 11, 2024. Just over two years ago, I walked through the doors of Burn Boot Camp Weddington for the very first time. Looking back now, it was one of the most life-changing days of my life.
But my story started years earlier.
In 2021, I was the heaviest I’d ever been at 242.5 pounds. After having my second child, I experienced rapid weight gain, painful swelling, and lumps in my legs. I no longer recognized the athlete—or the confident woman—I used to be. I tried everything I knew, from training for a 5K to completing Whole30, but nothing explained what was happening. Doctors told me I was simply obese, but deep down I knew something wasn’t right.
After months of searching for answers, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Lipedema, a connective tissue disorder that affects many women after hormonal changes like pregnancy. In 2022, I underwent two surgeries that removed over 20 pounds of fibrotic fat from my legs. Over the following months, I lost 80 pounds and got my life back—but something was still missing.
Then I found Burn.
I joined on a three-month summer special, hoping to rebuild the muscle I’d lost after surgery. What I gained was so much more. I kept showing up, even on the hard days, and slowly I found myself again. I celebrated milestones I never imagined possible—250 camps in my first full year, my first box jump, double under, surrender squat, and unassisted chin-up. Along the way, I found encouragement, confidence, friendships, and joy.
Burn has transformed me physically, mentally, and emotionally. I’m a better mom, wife, friend, and person because of it. Camp has become one of my non-negotiables—45 minutes each day where it’s just me versus myself, silencing the voice that says I can’t.
I’ve also attended a Focus Meeting every month since joining. Living with an incurable condition means the scale can be a difficult thing to navigate, but those meetings and InBody scans have completely changed my perspective. While my weight hasn’t changed much over the past two years, my body composition has. I’ve gained muscle, lost fat, and learned to enjoy life without guilt or fear.
Continued in comments….
