orangetheory fitness

[Anonymous]

I’m so confused why you keep abbreviating it as OR, it’s OrangeTheory Fitness. OT, OTF make sense. OR does not

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want a version of OR that places more emphasis on lifting weights and building strength, you might give F45 a try. F45 typically has a strength emphasis on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and a cardio emphasis (but with more weight based exercises than OR) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Saturdays are hour long sessions with a mix. For unlimited, it costs about $160/mo, but Lou are tied to a one or few specific locations (no nationwide location access like OR).

If trying F45 with ClassPass, I suggest trying Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

What does the cardio usually involve for F45? OTF seems to be exclusively treadmill and rowers, unless you ask for an exception with bike (or maybe elliptical?). Is F45 the same, or are there other options?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is a lot of research about women and hormones and high intensity workouts that can keep you from losing weight. Daily orangetheory might work against some people.

I think this was my issue with OTF. I liked it when I was there, but it caused major energy crashes at night and such intense hunger that I didn’t lose weight because I craved so much.

But I do think being overweight and healthy is possible; the pp is being an a$$. I know some skinny people who have zero muscle; smoke and drink a ton. You think they’re healthier than someone who is overweight and works out hard? That’s just fat phobia.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m so confused why you keep abbreviating it as OR, it’s OrangeTheory Fitness. OT, OTF make sense. OR does not

THANK YOU!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a version of OR that places more emphasis on lifting weights and building strength, you might give F45 a try. F45 typically has a strength emphasis on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and a cardio emphasis (but with more weight based exercises than OR) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Saturdays are hour long sessions with a mix. For unlimited, it costs about $160/mo, but Lou are tied to a one or few specific locations (no nationwide location access like OR).

If trying F45 with ClassPass, I suggest trying Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

What does the cardio usually involve for F45? OTF seems to be exclusively treadmill and rowers, unless you ask for an exception with bike (or maybe elliptical?). Is F45 the same, or are there other options?

F45 has no treadmills. F45’s cardio sessions rely on combination of rowers, ski machines, recumbent bicycles, pushing weighted sleds, step up and jump boxes, and agility and body weight exercises. In a given 45min or 60 minute session of F45, you’ll never spend more than 3 minutes on any one machine or exercise. If you try F45 just once, go on a Saturday morning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you want a version of OR that places more emphasis on lifting weights and building strength, you might give F45 a try. F45 typically has a strength emphasis on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and a cardio emphasis (but with more weight based exercises than OR) on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Saturdays are hour long sessions with a mix. For unlimited, it costs about $160/mo, but Lou are tied to a one or few specific locations (no nationwide location access like OR).

If trying F45 with ClassPass, I suggest trying Saturdays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays.

What does the cardio usually involve for F45? OTF seems to be exclusively treadmill and rowers, unless you ask for an exception with bike (or maybe elliptical?). Is F45 the same, or are there other options?

F45 has no treadmills. F45’s cardio sessions rely on combination of rowers, ski machines, recumbent bicycles, pushing weighted sleds, step up and jump boxes, and agility and body weight exercises. In a given 45min or 60 minute session of F45, you’ll never spend more than 3 minutes on any one machine or exercise. If you try F45 just once, go on a Saturday morning.

All F45 gyms nationwide have the same workouts just like OTF gyms. F45 session workout schedules for the next 2 weeks are posted to the F45 Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/f45/. For example, below are the F45 workout schedules for next Thursday, January 11 (45 min strength focus), and Saturday, January 13 (60min combo of cardio and strength):

Thursday Jan 11: Gemini
you pick lower or upper body
Stations: 7
Pod: 1
Laps: 3
Timing:
Lap 1: 20/10 3 sets
lap 2: 40/20 1 set
lap 3: 60/30 1 set
+ 2 min of core exercises at end

sandbag bent over row wide grip pulse
dumbbell flat bench press
dumbbell bent over fly
push up staggered alternate
barbell bicep curl
ybell seated shoulder press
power band tricep pulldowns
dumbbell soft box step over
kettlebell rdl
balance trainer hip thruster
deadball good morning pause
revo front squat
plate overhead reverse lunge
barbell sumo squat

Saturday Jan 13: NoHo
Stations: 18
Pods: 1
Laps: 3
Timing:
Lap 1: 20” work 10” rest. 2 sets at each station.
Lap 2: 60” work 20” rest. 1 set at each station.
Lap3: 20” work 10” rest. 1 set at each station.

balance trainer side to side tilt
lunge jump + burpee
kettlebell sumo deadlift
dumbbell goblet sumo squat
dumbbell snatch single from hang position
rotational push up
suspension trainer neutral grip row hold
ybell gorilla row
medicine ball circle + 45 degree lunge
speed sprawls
bike erg upright
yogy push up
ybell flutter kicks
5x squat pulse + 2x squat jump
box march
10x speed squats + 2x shoot ups
dumbbell single alternating devil press
ski erg regular

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a lot of research about women and hormones and high intensity workouts that can keep you from losing weight. Daily orangetheory might work against some people.

Yes, for most of the women who post here, the HIIT format of OTF with the very little weightlifting it provides is a bad combo for that age group and hormonal stage. Nearly all would see better results with walking and lifting weights to sustain or grow muscle mass. Menopausal and perimenopausal women do not need high intensity cortisol raising exercises and I’m not trying to be mean but when you look at OTF clientele, it’s obvious. VERY few of them look like they work out as hard as they do because it stresses their bodies and makes them hold onto fat/weight. They don’t appear in shape because it’s the wrong workout for their body’s needs at this stage of life.

I agree with you on lifting weights and the importance of walking. But what is your suggestion to actually elevate heart rate for your cardiovascular system? Walking and lifting just don't compare to traditional cardio on that front.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it hard to believe that there is an OTF convent to you but not a gym. An OTF location needs a considerably higher population concentration than a traditional gym.

Where do you live?

OTF is just goofy. They got mad when I refused to wear the monitor. Not there for that BS. I can workout without my name on a screen, or being part of the “group” or competitive undertone. Pretty childish if you want to know the truth.

I don't do OTF anymore but it is great for a beginner getting back into it. I never wore a monitor and no one cared.

[Anonymous]

OP back. Thank you everyone for chiming in with your perspectives. I've been to a few classes, and think they're just what I need right now as someone looking to get back into shape. I don't imagine I'll do this forever but they are perfect for me for accountability, pushing myself harder than I would on my own, not having to think about what workout to do, and convenience.

I hadn't planned on buying an OTF heart monitor, but someone gave me an old one so I wear it but you definitely do not need one to do the classes. FWIW I wear a fitbit and the calories burned and time spent in the different heart rate zones look pretty similar.

For those interested, they're running a $24 special for unlimited membership this month. It means you also need to get the unlimited membership at the regular rate for February. But then you can switch to whatever you want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have done 800+ orange theory classes- and I love it - but I haven’t lost a pound. Still 30 lbs over my ideal weight (but I’m very strong and fit!)

What a waste.

Estimating $25/class, that's twenty thousand dollars.

The current rate for new members is around $130/mo for unlimited classes.

Assuming roughly 4 classes a week or 200 per year, that is a bit over $6000 total over 4 years.

In reality you are limited by class capacity, which negates the whole unlimited part

[Anonymous]

How about for a man in his 40s that wants to lose 5 pounds and get stronger

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a lot of research about women and hormones and high intensity workouts that can keep you from losing weight. Daily orangetheory might work against some people.

Yes, for most of the women who post here, the HIIT format of OTF with the very little weightlifting it provides is a bad combo for that age group and hormonal stage. Nearly all would see better results with walking and lifting weights to sustain or grow muscle mass. Menopausal and perimenopausal women do not need high intensity cortisol raising exercises and I’m not trying to be mean but when you look at OTF clientele, it’s obvious. VERY few of them look like they work out as hard as they do because it stresses their bodies and makes them hold onto fat/weight. They don’t appear in shape because it’s the wrong workout for their body’s needs at this stage of life.

I agree with you on lifting weights and the importance of walking. But what is your suggestion to actually elevate heart rate for your cardiovascular system? Walking and lifting just don't compare to traditional cardio on that front.

Yes, walking does, if you’re doing it right. You should be at a pace that gets your heart rate elevated-not jogging, but brisk walking. On a treadmill, I can achieve this at 3.8 mph. Mimic the same cadence on an outdoor walk. Doing this for 30-60 minutes has the same cardio benefits but is better because it’s steady state cardio that will help burn fat without spiking cortisol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have done 800+ orange theory classes- and I love it - but I haven’t lost a pound. Still 30 lbs over my ideal weight (but I’m very strong and fit!)

Not the recommendation you think it is. If you are 30lbs overweight, you may be strong but you are NOT fit. Not even close.

I’m in the same boat as the PP, still overweight after years of consistent OTF type classes but physical check up and blood work numbers keep improving, so concluding same as PP. 50s, don’t require any meds, content with life. Convinced that no single health parameter determines us all in the same way.

Classes like OFT increase hunger and then you eat what you just burned off.

This happened to me. Liked OFT but was hungry all the time. Tried increasing protein but honestly I was eating more calories than burning. Stopped OFT and focused on strength training and walking. Finally lost the weight

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a lot of research about women and hormones and high intensity workouts that can keep you from losing weight. Daily orangetheory might work against some people.

Yes, for most of the women who post here, the HIIT format of OTF with the very little weightlifting it provides is a bad combo for that age group and hormonal stage. Nearly all would see better results with walking and lifting weights to sustain or grow muscle mass. Menopausal and perimenopausal women do not need high intensity cortisol raising exercises and I’m not trying to be mean but when you look at OTF clientele, it’s obvious. VERY few of them look like they work out as hard as they do because it stresses their bodies and makes them hold onto fat/weight. They don’t appear in shape because it’s the wrong workout for their body’s needs at this stage of life.

I agree with you on lifting weights and the importance of walking. But what is your suggestion to actually elevate heart rate for your cardiovascular system? Walking and lifting just don't compare to traditional cardio on that front.

Yes, walking does, if you’re doing it right. You should be at a pace that gets your heart rate elevated-not jogging, but brisk walking. On a treadmill, I can achieve this at 3.8 mph. Mimic the same cadence on an outdoor walk. Doing this for 30-60 minutes has the same cardio benefits but is better because it’s steady state cardio that will help burn fat without spiking cortisol.

I’m a mid 40s woman and agree with you about weight loss and high intensity workouts. I tend to put on weight if I’m doing anything intense. But, and this is a huge but, high intensity workouts lower my blood sugar and blood pressure like nothing else. For a while, I was on a great regimen of yoga, Pilates, barre and walking (about 5 miles/day). I looked fit but my blood pressure was borderline and my blood sugar was pre diabetic. The second I started doing spinning classes 3-4 times/week my blood sugar levels fell, my blood pressure fell. Walking, actually hiking, just wasn’t cutting it for me. I need the high intensity workouts. (My BMI (21), didn’t budge either way.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is a lot of research about women and hormones and high intensity workouts that can keep you from losing weight. Daily orangetheory might work against some people.

Yes, for most of the women who post here, the HIIT format of OTF with the very little weightlifting it provides is a bad combo for that age group and hormonal stage. Nearly all would see better results with walking and lifting weights to sustain or grow muscle mass. Menopausal and perimenopausal women do not need high intensity cortisol raising exercises and I’m not trying to be mean but when you look at OTF clientele, it’s obvious. VERY few of them look like they work out as hard as they do because it stresses their bodies and makes them hold onto fat/weight. They don’t appear in shape because it’s the wrong workout for their body’s needs at this stage of life.

I agree with you on lifting weights and the importance of walking. But what is your suggestion to actually elevate heart rate for your cardiovascular system? Walking and lifting just don't compare to traditional cardio on that front.

Yes, walking does, if you’re doing it right. You should be at a pace that gets your heart rate elevated-not jogging, but brisk walking. On a treadmill, I can achieve this at 3.8 mph. Mimic the same cadence on an outdoor walk. Doing this for 30-60 minutes has the same cardio benefits but is better because it’s steady state cardio that will help burn fat without spiking cortisol.

I’m a mid 40s woman and agree with you about weight loss and high intensity workouts. I tend to put on weight if I’m doing anything intense. But, and this is a huge but, high intensity workouts lower my blood sugar and blood pressure like nothing else. For a while, I was on a great regimen of yoga, Pilates, barre and walking (about 5 miles/day). I looked fit but my blood pressure was borderline and my blood sugar was pre diabetic. The second I started doing spinning classes 3-4 times/week my blood sugar levels fell, my blood pressure fell. Walking, actually hiking, just wasn’t cutting it for me. I need the high intensity workouts. (My BMI (21), didn’t budge either way.)

Hm, interesting. So do you basically have to choose weight and aesthetics or blood pressure when you choose which workout to do?