Lori Burge
My name is Lori Burge. I live in Highland Village and I’m a middle school teacher in Flower Mound. I’ve been in the Get You in Shape Program since January 2011.
Where you were in life before Get You In Shape? What did your life look like?
When I say my life has been changed by boot camp, I really mean it! When I started this program, I weighed 243 lbs. I was so tired by the time I got off work that most nights, I would lie on the couch watching TV until bedtime. I would get winded just walking up the stairs at work.
Why you decided to join Get You In Shape?
I decided to join Get You in Shape just to get more energy. I had no energy to hang out with my two very active and athletic teenage sons or even with my husband. Even though I was overweight and NEVER worked out, I foolishly thought I was in pretty good shape. I remember filling out the initial paperwork for boot camp and checking 7 (on a scale of 1 to 10) for how in shape I was. Boy, was I wrong!
What was your first experience or first impression with Get You In Shape?
At the first class, I couldn’t even jog around the softball fields…not even a SLOW jog! To be honest, I could barely even walk it. When we did pushups, Daniel (one of the Get You In Shape person trainers) had to pull me up by the back of my shirt. When we did sit ups, Daniel had to push my back up…but he never let me give up. By the end of that first workout, I was so sore I could barely walk. In fact, for the first two weeks, I would come home from boot camp and my husband would already have the hot bath with Epsom salts ready for me. It was pretty bad…but I was determined to stick with it. Everyone around me figured I’d quit and believe me, I thought about it….a lot. But I was determined to prove those people wrong. More importantly, I didn’t want to let Daniel, Cynthia, Brad, Chaney, Julie S. and Julie M. down. They worked too hard to push me and motivate me.
What are some of the tools from the Get You In Shape program you have used that has helped you?
In January, I lost 14 lbs. A lot of that was just by drinking water and giving up my sodas and iced tea. Brad tells you to drink half your weight in ounces of water. That’s a lot of water! I also followed the tips from the program about what to eat and when – it seemed like I was always eating. Eating better and more often also gave me the energy I needed to have a better workout.
What do you like most about the Get You In Shape Program?
The best part of this program is the people. Everyone that is part of Get You in Shape is so motivating – from Brad and Cynthia to the trainers to the other boot campers. I’ve never felt self-conscious or embarrassed – even when I was constantly the last one to finish running my mile. I’ve also made some really good friends and we always have lots of laughs between our burpees and star jumps.
How has the Get You In Shape program helped change your life?
Even if I had never lost a pound, my life has been changed completely. I’ve had a lot of stress in my life – especially this past year – and typically, that kind of stress would have made me gain weight but working out makes me feel better, relieves my stress, and puts me in a better mood.
What is your proudest moment or moment or results from the Get You in Shape program?
My proudest moment was when I finally got to “one-derland” (under 200 pounds). I haven’t been under 200 pounds since my youngest son was born fifteen years ago. I was so happy to celebrate this milestone with Cynthia. It was also the same week that I was able to run a whole mile, which I’ve never been able to do.
How has the Get You In Shape Program impacted other areas of your life.
Believe me, no one – including me – thought I’d ever stick with boot camp much less ENJOY working out. I’ve never been athletic and like I said before, I never worked out. The energy I have now is amazing. I can play basketball with my sons. We go hiking. It’s time I never would have had with them before. My work life has changed so much, too. Before, I would have to keep my class room so cold because I would always sweat while I was walking around teaching. My poor students would freeze! Not anymore. I can also climb those stairs five or six times a day and I never get winded or have to catch my breath.
What are the results that you have achieved from the Get You In Shape program and how has Get You In Shape played a role in your results.
Since January when I started Get You in Shape, I’ve lost 63 pounds. I feel like a different person and I owe it all to Get You in Shape. Never in a million years did I think I’d ever lose weight just by exercising and eating right. I know I couldn’t have done it without this program and the awesome trainers. I have so much energy, my metabolism has increased, and I feel calmer and less stressed. Get You in Shape has truly changed my life!
