PEACE OUT Orange Theory
Leggings | Shoes | Sweatshirt | Bag (similar)
After my show in September, I found myself in a bit of a rut. When you have something so exciting coming up that you’ve been looking forward to for a while, there is this period of ‘okay, what now?’ after it is over. I wasn’t doing anything to workout and I really missed it! I had been doing Shed in the past but wanted to switch it up a bit. As new year rolled around and after not doing anything for a while, I felt the urge to start my new life in the new year.
I had heard so many great things about Orange Theory. Even one of my girlfriends had amazing results! When I saw her get off an airplane with a new figure I was like “HOLY MOLY! What are you doing?!” and she told me Orange Theory! So after hearing it over and over again, I wanted to try it for myself. And as it turned out, there was one right next to my house so I thought this is perfect! I am gonna give it a try.
TRYING SOMETHING NEW
I went in and decided to do one of the free trial classes. I got all the paperwork filled out and the girl working there was extremely excited for me to be there…maybe a little too much honestly. The whole crowd there was very enthusiastic. I am not usually a fan of gyms, I like to go in, get my stuff done and get out. But I decided, you know, this is fine, I should just get into it!
The trainers suggested that I start out on strength and then the second half I’d go into cardio. So I got on the rowing machine, which was great! I was sitting next to a girl who was also new and we just got after it, and I was actually really enjoying being back to working out! I’m usually a weights girl, I don’t love cardio but I thought Orange Theory would be a great way to work on my cardio.
After finishing the strength portion of my workout, it was off to the treadmills. I made my first mistake by not following my number. If you’ve never tried Orange Theory, you are given a number so that each time you transition to different stations or equipment, you have to use the machine with your number on it. They aren’t always clearly labeled and I didn’t want to run staring at a dark wall. I mean running sucks enough already. So I moved to one of the treadmills by a window. I was just getting started when I feel a little tap on my shoulder, and it was a woman saying “Excuse me, you are on the wrong treadmill.” I apologized and asked where I was supposed to be, I didn’t know we had assigned seating. And of course my treadmill was back in a dark hole. All I could think was, man I’m gonna hate this for the next thirty minutes.
So the treadmill portion was a mix of sprinting for a while and then coming back down to specific levels. I had to keep checking my monitor to make sure I was in the orange portion but my monitor wasn’t working that well. Obviously it was just a technology error and that happens sometimes, so I got my monitor switched out and I just kept after it. Now I hadn’t done anything since September and I don’t love cardio, I have honestly never done much cardio, but I decided I wasn’t going to let the girl next to me beat me. I was thinking, oh I’m gonna bury this chick. I just ran as hard as I could on an eight incline and give it all I had in the tank. I ended up over exerted and winded myself, and when I stepped off the treadmill I was met with a slightly intrusive high-five. Multiple times throughout the workout I was approached for a high-five or comments like “Alright girl! Good Job! High-five! Welcome to the team! Welcome to the family!” All I could think was PLEASE stop touching me. Please do not high-five me ever again! I don’t know about you, but I just don’t enjoy being touched when I’m all sweaty and out of breath.
Not only was the over-the-top enthusiasm and touching an issue for me, but the whole process seemed a little sell-y. As soon as I was finished, they were super quick to whip out a clipboard and jump right into prices and packages. WOAH! The pressure! I mean I hadn’t even caught my breath yet. They are very good at making you sign up, and I gave in. I signed up for the $99.00 a month package. After I did that, I got in my car and realized I was kind of in a bad mood. Usually the endorphins kick in and I feel much better after a workout, but not this time. My chest was burning (probably because I was out of shape) and I just really didn’t want to high-five ever again. The crabby feeling stayed for a day or so and I just didn’t know if that environment was for me. I had another class scheduled but I went out of town so I wasn’t able to make it. When I was back in town and actually able to make it, I really wasn’t that excited to go.
NOT FOR ME
Now everyone works out differently and I am sure that Orange Theory is fantastic. Just because I didn’t enjoy it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try it for yourself! I just felt that it is not for me. I have still heard so many success stories and for some it is an incredible workout. If you love it, then more power to you!
I will be going back to Shed. I like weights and hit training, so Orange Theory isn’t for me. But just a helpful hint, it is a very difficult place to break up with. So, if you do sign yourself up and want to quit, you better quit a month before you want to stop. They do not let you out of those contracts very easily!
Even though I wont be going back, I still encourage you to try it if that environment sounds like it would fit your style. I honestly have heard amazing things so maybe it is just me, but finding what you love doing is the most important thing when it comes to working out.
LOOK THE PART
