Orange Theory Questions

[Tacocat]

Anyone here belong to Orange Theory? I’m thinking of joining but have a couple of questions. I’m reading that they meet you at whatever level you are at and you make adjustments based on your own abilities. Have you found this to be true? I do regularly workout but I am mostly a walker with some light strength training. So these workouts would definitely be a step up from what I’m used to doing.

A year ago, I was super sick with some type of pneumonia and couldn’t workout for several months because I literally could not stop coughing for 8 weeks. It took me quite some time to build my lung capacity back up. I would get winded quite easily for awhile. Now I feel back to normal and want to join a gym like this where they tell you what to do and I can increase my strength and abilities over time. I also would like to lose weight and increase muscle tone.

Any feedback on your experience with their classes I’d appreciate!

[EvieEthelGarland]

I hated OT and I generally like group classes and smaller studios.

The instructor I had did not do any modifications, even though I let the her know of my shoulder injury. That's an individual and can vary. What I really hated and why I will never go back is the colors up on the monitors--it was like announcing to the entire class I was out of shape. I know the other women weren't judging, but I felt uncomfortable with it.


I have friends and neighbors who love it though.

[countthestars]

I tried it a few years ago and also hated it. I didn't realize how much rowing it would be (and didn't realize I would hate rowing)! It was also super busy and loud so I didn't feel like I got much help during class. When I went to quit, I had to jump through 100000 hoops. This may be gym dependent.

[majesty318]

I have been going for more than 5 years and I love it! I even went during @@@@ pregnancy and also during COVID (we had to do it masked).

When I started, I literally could not run for one minute, so I did power walking. Many people work up to jogging/running, but many also stay power walking forever (when you put the incline up to 12% it's n no way easy). I can now run for half an hour straight, though I don't think I will ever be fast.

The rower - I suck at rowing - but it is what it is. I imagine I am better than when I started, but whatever level you are on is fine.

The "floor" - which means any combination of weights, resistance bands, TRX straps, or movements like push-ups - 100% at your own level. There is a girl in one of my classes who literally uses weights I don't think I could even pick up off the rack. And there is meanwhile an older woman using 5 lbs and then me using maybe 12 lbs. You can also always tell the coach if you have any mobility issues or injuries. For instance, I don't have great knees, so a lot of the things most people do as jumps, I just do as squats or lunges.

I would never work out if I didn't have a specific timed class to do it - plus if you sign up and don't cancel within 8 hours you are charged a fee. I need this accountability to get it done.

Some coaches are better than others, but overall in my studio they are fantastic and very helpful (will point out if you have the wrong form, for instance, or encourage you to use a heavier weight if they think you can). And most of the other members are very nice also - it's a community feel. And no one is judging your abilities (that took me a while to realize) - they are all focused on their own workouts.

The only negative to me is that it is pricey and each studio has different class times so potentially would or would not work for you.

Feel free to ask any more questions!

[majesty318]

I forgot to mention that I am older and heavier than most people in my classes so I am not exactly a fitness guru - but I love it anyway

[sdlaura]

Yes, I am an orange theory devotee. I’ve been going for like 7 years, with a couple years off during Covid/having my fourth kid. I go 3-4 times a week, go to a few local studios depending on timing, and go in other cities when I travel. I like to run, I have a peloton bike, and in the past I’ve done CrossFit and kettlebells, but IMO Orange theory is the best workout to get great strength and cardio exercise in one hour. I also love that every studio has a shower or two.

Anyway, I think they absolutely meet you where you are. It’s nice that every person has their own weights at their station. So no one cares what weights you use, if any. Most exercises can be done without weights. And every single workout I do has at least half the attendees walking instead of running. I am a relatively fast runner but the coaches never comment on who is going faster/farther at all. It’s very personal. I went to a class in Santa Fe, NM when I was at a work conference a few days ago and I was definitely on the younger end of the attendees at the age of 43. Every studio and time slot has different demographics. I’d be happy to answer any specific questions you have!

[livinitup]

I do not have experience with OT but I do have experience being the least flexible or capable person in a class with the expectation and promise of modifying to my ability. Yes, it’s very possible to modify almost anything, especially in a settling like that. It’s a weird combination of leaders/yourself pushing you past your comfort zone & ALSO modifying to your ability. It’s fine and it works, but know that you have to do it more than a leader will do it for you. For example, I can’t bounced to the floor to do a burpee, so, nbd, I modify with a step or mat or whatever. A good leader took the time to show me about 1-2x but then it was on me to maintain that modification moving forward. Not them. Which makes sense.

The only thing that kept me going back to a classes was that it was a VERY convenient time and VERY convenient location. It did suck that I was the “newest” person for over a year. So, I was always in the bottom of the class. I really had to get over myself because absolutely no one cared. It just would have been nice if someone came in after me sooner than a year!

I leave with this, classes vary so wildly by who attends and who runs it that you can have vastly different experiences even in the same place or organization. I loved the 5:45 AM class (for lots of reasons) and absolutely hated the 5:30 pm class (mostly because of the people who attended at night!). You’ll really only know if you try and try more than once and then give it a bit of a chance. And it’s okay to drop it if it’s not a good fit.

[lilypad1126]

I started orange theory earlier this year and shockingly I love it. I’ve always been good at getting cardio in, but not strength and this helps me with that. And I like that there is a coach that leads you through everything. It makes the hour pass super quickly for me.

I’ve had frozen shoulder for most of this year, and I modify most upper body work bc of it. At first I had no idea what I was doing so the coaches helped me. Now I know which exercises I can’t do and what some good replacements are. And, when they say things like “do 10-12 reps” if I can only do 8 reps, then that’s what I do.

I find that even tho I hate rowing, I really don’t do much of it. I almost always start on the treadmill, and when it’s a rowing heavy class I just go slower.

[starburst604]

Yes, I've been going to OTF since May and I love it. I love not doing the same thing for an entire 60 minutes and that every workout is different. There are people at all levels in my classes and it's totally modifiable. On the treadmill, plenty of people power walk rather than run and power walking is no walk in the park IMO if you're using the incline they recommend. But again, if that incline isn't achievable or safe for you, you modify. I started out mostly walking and now I exclusively run unless I'm not feeling 100% or have an injury. You can also go at your own pace on the rower - this was the part I was least experienced at but some of the instructors were really helpful in showing me what I could be doing differently to be more efficient and get a better output. On the floor, like PP said you select your own weights for the set that you're doing and no one is ever badgering you to go heavier. The coaches at my location come out to the waiting room to talk about what's on tap for the class and always ask that if you have an injury and need modifications to let them know.

If you do try it, there are two types of classes - 2G and 3G. In 2G there will be more treadmill/floor work and typically less rowing. In 3G you'll spend equal time at all 3 stations. I usually do 3G when I can but that's totally personal preference. As far as feeling self-conscious about the colors up on the monitor, wearing the tracker is voluntary. Most people wear them but not all. To me it doesn't tell anyone much about your fitness level unless they are like right next to you and really being nosy. Some people really push themselves to be in the orange/red zones as much as possible while others may be there a lot because they're still working on cardio fitness and move into those zones quickly. Others stay in lower zones because they may be modifying or that's just what they want while others are there because they're so fit that it takes a lot to really get their heart rate up. I was once next to this super fit looking guy (and yes I was being nosy) who was running at like 9mph for most of the tread workout but almost never went into the orange zone. I was like omg what does it take for this guy's heartrate to go up bc mine would explode after more than 30 seconds at that pace!

It's also a fun community if you're into that. Mine plans outings like at certain bars/restaurants in town or 5Ks. They do fun themed stuff the week of Halloween ("Hell Week") and different challenges like the Dri Tri or where you benchmark a certain thing like the 500M row to see how you improve over time.
Anyway, lmk if you have any questions!

[orangello]

I loved it when I went. If the studio has good coaches, they 100% meet you at your level. Give it a try - you can do an intro class and see how you feel. I loved how fast paced it was - switching off exercises really made the time fly for me. And I found our coaches to give good constructive feedback, allow you to go at your pace, and encourage you to level up when they found it appropriate.

Also, I gained a new appreciation for people who row. That shit’s HARD!

[shinyhappy]

I go to and love OTF. I run on the tread but plenty of people walk and you can absolutely always go at your own pace. In my opinion everything can be tailored to your personal capabilities. I love that the workouts are different each day. I think it’s a great overall workout.

[katyintx]

I loved OTF. The studio I used to go to had members with a range of athletic ability and age, and the coaches were very good about providing instruction on modification. People would be walking, power walking, running slow, or crushing it at the max pace, and everyone was just doing their own thing. I also found it helpful to see my heart rates and all that, but if it’s not for someone else, they just wouldn’t wear the monitor. I was also very lucky in that my studio had a great group of members and I made a lot of friends through it.

Unfortunately I don’t go anymore. We moved right before Covid and there wasn’t a convenient studio for me, so we built up our home gym instead. I didn’t find it was difficult to cancel my membership at all. I’ll randomly (like 2-3 times per year) get a text about coming back, but not enough that I get annoyed by them.

[AAM2012]

I’ve been going since after Covid and love it! We do have great coaches and it goes by quick.

I am not a fan of rowing, BUT it’s such a great whole body exercise so I understand why it’s used as part of the template on some days.

At first I was super paranoid about my results being displayed but after a while I stopped caring and don’t even think about it anymore.

You can try it once or twice to see if you like it before signing up.

[orangello]

I was paranoid about the results thing before I took class and realized that I don’t know who anyone is on the leaderboard except for me and H. Honestly, it’s pretty anonymous and was a really good way for me to track when I needed to back off and lower my HR (I tend to run high at all times).

[huskymom]

Yes!!! I love it so much, I’m like 1500 classes in and I never liked going to the gym. Now i just show up, get in a good workout and don’t have to think about a thing. I have a Peloton bike I haven’t touched in months but I do some of the peloton stretching and strength still.

I end up paying about $7 a class so when people tell me - but it’s so expensive, I disagree.

And I really like the strength (weight floor only) classes - I do about 2 per week and I’ve noticed a huge difference since starting that.

That said, it can really depend on your coaches and community - ours is great and I’ve made some wonderful friends there. I’m almost 7 years in and I can see myself sticking with it for the foreseeable future. I know it’s not for everyone - my DH would HATE it ha. He just wants to go in our basement, blast his angry music and not see people.

Wanted to add - yes, it’s totally up to you what level weights and speeds you use. I’ve transitioned more to power walking since I think it’s actually a better workout. We have a huge range of abilities at our gym and no one is paying attention to anyone else.

[Tacocat]

Thanks everyone for your responses! I’m trying my first class tonight. I’m planning to wear leggings and a workout shirt and bring my normal gym shoes and a water bottle. Anything else? I’ll let you all know if I like it

[brady2012]

Nov 4, 2024 9:23:14 GMT -5 Tacocat said:

Thanks everyone for your responses! I’m trying my first class tonight. I’m planning to wear leggings and a workout shirt and bring my normal gym shoes and a water bottle. Anything else? I’ll let you all know if I like it

Have fun!  Only other thing I'd bring is a small towel.  

I've been going 8 years and I've found it has been really easy to stick with because you don't have to plan your workouts.  I go to either the 5 am or 6 am classes and I like someone just telling me what to do for an hour.  I have enough to think about the rest of the day between work, home, kids. My father in law in another state is in his late 70s and just started going as well.

[Tacocat]

Nov 4, 2024 9:28:43 GMT -5 brady2012 said:

Nov 4, 2024 9:23:14 GMT -5 Tacocat said:

Thanks everyone for your responses! I’m trying my first class tonight. I’m planning to wear leggings and a workout shirt and bring my normal gym shoes and a water bottle. Anything else? I’ll let you all know if I like it

Have fun!  Only other thing I'd bring is a small towel.  

I've been going 8 years and I've found it has been really easy to stick with because you don't have to plan your workouts.  I go to either the 5 am or 6 am classes and I like someone just telling me what to do for an hour.  I have enough to think about the rest of the day between work, home, kids. My father in law in another state is in his late 70s and just started going as well.

This is exactly why it appeals to me as well. I make enough decisions in my daily life that just want someone to tell me how to exercise.

[sdlaura]

tacocat, I hope you like it! I also bring a small towel, but I sweat more than the average person

[Tacocat]

I did a 2G class last night and enjoyed it! The coach was great and everyone seemed super friendly. A couple that did the class before me when I was doing the tour said they’ve been there 10 years and love it. Everyone in my class were different ages/abilities so I didnt feel intimidated at all. The coach even told everyone it was my first class and they all clapped for me at the end

They were running a promo for $25 off the heart monitor and December is free so I decided to sign up for 8 classes/month. It will be a good way to stay accountable over these long winter months.

Thanks again for your responses!

[starburst604]

So glad you liked it tacocat! I also started with 8 classes a month. In the summer they usually mark down the unlimited plan, so when they had that deal I signed up for it. I knew by then I liked it and could commit to more than 2 p/wk.

[calmcosmo]

I have been a member since 2016. Started in Colorado and then continued when we moved to Virginia.

OTFs are franchises and I think the experience of a class is very coach driven. I LOVE some coaches and really struggle to enjoy classes with others. My OTF in CO was much more tight knit than my OTF in VA - but I'm okay with it and still enjoy it.

Overall, I like that the workout is consistent, timely, and I don't have to think. I know I will get 60 or 90 minutes of solid exercise and then can move on with my day. I was a crossfitter prior to OTF and walked away from that due to injury and needing more cardio in my life. I actually love the rower and find it to be a much better whole-body cardio workout than running/walking.

Anyway - good luck! I hope you enjoy it!

[mustardseed2007]

I just started.

Instead of running on the treadmill I walk. My heart rate is naturally high (I'm 4'9" and this is a thing I see consistently when I do heart rate monitored workouts) so if I ran I would be in the red most of the workout. But I feel like I get a good workout power walking on inclines so it works for me.

They have a couple elliptical machines in a corner and there is an older lady I have seen use it when the treadmill part comes up.

Then the other half of the work out is rowing combined with weights. It's not normally a huge amount of rowing but for longer sets I have a hard time finishing it because I am shorter and so I normally just do less. I'm in control of that so it's no big deal to me.

Then when working with weights or body weight exercises, to get modifications I think I'd need to flag down the instructor and ask for an alternative exercise. I feel like they would absolutely suggest one but they don't automatically suggest them. Instead it's more choose your own hand weight heaviness that's right for you or don't do any weights at all.

Overall I do like it. It's probably more expensive than a cheap gym but it's less expensive than like...Lifetime fitness.

[sdlaura]

Glad you updated tacocat! I just finished today’s workout and was thinking of you and wondering if you liked your first class!