Joining "Orange Theory"

After a year of kickboxing classes, I felt it was time to try something new. The long 30-minute drives to the gym were getting tiring, and I wanted to find something closer to home. Despite visiting various gyms, none seemed to attract me enough to join.

Recently, my friend Donnie joined something called "Orange Theory," following Brett’s recommendation. Curious about their experiences, I met with them to ask questions about the pros and cons. Brett, who has been a member for three years, provided a great reference, while Donnie, despite only having a month of experience, already showed visible results, particularly in weight loss.

What is Orange Theory? Orange Theory is a dynamic fitness program that combines strength and cardio training to supercharge your metabolism, burn calories, and build lean muscle. The workouts are designed to be fun and effective for all fitness levels, guided by certified coaches. The key feature of Orange Theory is its heart rate-based interval training, where you adjust your effort based on your heart rate to maximize results.

On Tuesday, I decided to visit the Orange Theory studio to understand better how the classes work. They even offered me a free class, which I scheduled for Wednesday. The friendly staff answered all my questions and gave me a tour of the studio, 30 minutes before class. 

My first class was both fun and different from what I expected. I had envisioned a more challenging workout based on my friends' experiences. They provided me with a sensor to wear on my arm, which tracked all my information in real time and displayed it on the TVs during the workout. This feature was quite handy and gave me a good understanding of my performance.

The instructor was very attentive, knowing it was my first class. She guided me through using the treadmill and rowers. Running, rowing, and weightlifting weren’t too hard for me since I’m used to such activities, but fitting all that into a one-hour session was definitely fun, though not as challenging as I had anticipated. The instructor even confessed that she thought I wasn’t being serious about running, which added a bit of humor to the experience.

Overall, joining Orange Theory has been a fresh and enjoyable change. I’m looking forward to seeing how this new fitness journey unfolds.