Like most people, in December I’d decided that recommitting myself to my health and fitness was a top new year’s resolution of mine — but this time, I was committed to making it past the month of January. Not only because I’ve got goals, but I didn’t want to be another statistic: most people are likely to give up on their New Year’s Resolution by January 19 (i.e. Quitter’s Day).
The next question I had to ask myself was, how was this year going to be different? And how would I keep up the momentum?
While I’ve lived in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area for just a few short years, I still didn’t have a gym “home” and very rarely participated in group fitness classes (with the exception of the occasional dance pop up class at and8fitness on Mondays and Saturdays at Trinity University). As a plus size workout gal, inclusivity was my primary concern, and my ability to feel comfortable in the environments and spaces that I worked out in. I wanted to be challenged, but also have options for modifications if need be.
That’s when a friend recommended Orangetheory. She swears by this workout because it’s never the same, it’s a calorie blaster, and she loves the combo of weights and cardio. After a little bit of research, Orangetheory College Park (MD) became my new home.
While I normally get bored just focusing on cardio, the three-pronged format OTF offers — time spent running, rowing, and lifting weights — really suited me. And though OTF (as the OGs like to call it) has been around for quite some time, there’s nothing like testing out a tried and true regime. In just over a decade — 13 years to be exact — this fitness studio has amassed a cult following of one million members in more than 1,500 studios in 25 countries across the globe.. In short, Orangetheory is a one hour long, HIIT-centric workout that relies on your heart rate to torch calories. And because I had a few weeks of stillness before the new year (no travel, no overly crazy schedule), I’d decided to kickstart my goals early.
So if you’ve been thinking about joining Orangetheory —and you totally should — here are some things that happened to me during my first month, and why I’ll keep coming back all year.
I gained a sense of community.
Starting a new fitness routine or class environment can be intimidating — especially when you’re the new kid on the block. But what I love about OTF College Park, is that from class #1 to class #15, everyone was encouraging, would spark up conversation, and all of the staff remembered my name and welcomed me through the doors. They’ve created a strong community vibe, high energy, expert instruction and just the right amounts of intensity — all of the ingredients for a fantastic workout Not to mention, a great environment to expand your social circle. During the month, I’ve even brought along friends to join me (even one who decided to join me in becoming a member!), which makes the experience that much better.
I felt stronger.
While the highlight of my OTF experience is being down 15 pounds in just 30 days, I’ve also noticed a definite change in my ability to exercise more intensely and feel stronger doing it. This was reflected by how I felt and by the metrics Orangetheory Fitness emailed after class.
I became addicted to the “orange zone.”
Like most HIIT workouts its science is rooted in the “caloric after burn” science of Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption (EPOC), “which enables you to continue burning calories even after your workout is over. The focus is based on your individual effort translated into a “splat number,” calculated by your heart rate and measured against your age, and then splashed across a board for everyone to see. The ultimate goal? To get into the “orange” zone, which is basically the highest level of effort. I haven’t perfected how to control how and when I accumulated splats (they tell you to aim for 12-20), but it’s definitely exciting to see the numbers grow with each workout. In my first class, I had 12, and then the next I had 5, and have even gone up to as much as 20, but that’s the exciting part.
Overall, I had a great time.
While each session follows the same general formula, no two classes will be exactly alike. Not to mention, each instructor had a completely different style (though each of them are there with you every step of the way). For example, I knew that if I went to one of Gabe’s classes, the playlist would always be fire, which kept the energy high; during Emma’s classes, she’s always going to be there to assist me with form, and Maria would consistently keep members motivated and aid with modifications if need be.