Get Fit And Energized With Orangetheory | Discover Powerful Workouts

What is Orange Theory and What’s It All About?

Orangetheory workouts differ every day but remain consistent across all locations. The studios are equipped with treadmills, water rowers, and a weight floor. The weight floor has a variety of equipment such as weights, TRX straps, mini bands, BOSUs, adjustable benches, medicine balls and mats. A coach will demonstrate or explain each component of the workout, providing clear instructions on how to perform each exercise.

Splat Points Explained

Have you ever noticed a big orange sign with a circle and four blobs hanging off of it and wondered what it was? It’s called a splat and it’s the central idea behind Orangetheory. When you take a class, your heart rate is monitored using a wearable device called an OTbeat. It measures the intensity of your workout by assigning you to one of five color-coded zones that range from gray to red. The optimal goal is to spend the majority of your workout in the “orange” zone. The total number of minutes spent in the orange and red zones is used to calculate the splat points. The goal is to reach 12 or more by the end of class to reach EPOC.

EPOC

EPOC stands for excess post-exercise oxygen consumption. Once you reach 12 or more splat points, your body activates the EPOC, which increases your metabolism for the next 24-36 hours. Your OTbeat will track all this information for you, including calories burned, and display it on a monitor for you to see. The coaches also use this information to motivate you during class. While purchasing an OTbeat is an additional cost, it is a one-time transaction and well worth the investment.

Types of Classes

Orangetheory has various classes such as Orange 60, Tread 50, and Strength 50. Tread 50 and Strength 50 are recent additions and run simultaneously although you will be focusing on one workout rather than both. Strength 50 is a replacement for Lift 45 and is a focus on weights and strength. Each strength class targets either upper, lower, or the body as a whole.

There are also 2G classes and 3G. The primary difference between 2G and 3G is the time spent at each station. In a 2G class, you typically spend half of the class on a treadmill or treadmill/rower and the other half on the weight floor/rower or weight floor. In contrast, a 3G class divides the time evenly between all three stations, making it suitable for a larger group of people.

Every orangetheory class includes a warm-up at the beginning and a cool-down stretch at the end.

Before Your First Class

To try out the first workout for free, simply call the studio to schedule. The sales associate will provide a brief overview, but it’s recommended to arrive early to complete paperwork and receive a thorough explanation of the workout. Keep in mind that when you visit different studios, you’ll need to fill out paperwork and provide a credit card. Prior to the class, it’s advisable to stretch at home and stay hydrated throughout the day. Wear comfortable athletic clothing and shoes suitable for the treadmill, rower, and weight floor. Bring a water bottle and consider packing a sweat towel if necessary. After the workout, the coach will review your exercise summary, including your splat points, heart rate, and calories burned, and offer suggestions and answer any questions you may have.

How Social Is it?

In my opinion, the social aspect of Orangetheory largely depends on your location and how you approach it. I follow Orangetheroy groups on Facebook and have noticed that some studios are very social, where coaches and members often hang out together, while others focus mainly on the workout. If you want to make friends, being a consistent member can help you connect with other regulars. Challenges like the Dri-Tri and the Transformation Challenge are also great opportunities to meet and support other members. However, if you prefer to keep to yourself and just focus on the workout, that’s perfectly fine too. No one will pressure you to socialize. Many Facebook and Reddit groups with active members can help connect with others from different studios. These groups can also be entertaining, with members sharing everything from complaints to accomplishments. The Reddit group is particularly useful for asking questions and getting guidance on workouts. Ultimately, the Orangetheory community is what you make of it, and you have the power to shape your own social experience.

The Many Reasons I Love It

I joined Orangetheory in May of 2020 right after the pandemic hit and right after the lockdown. My first class experience probably wasn’t the same as it would have been if I had joined today, but it was definitely captivating as I am still a member today! I also have the premier membership, which gives me the flexibility to go whenever I like, however often I like. The best part for me is how close it is to my house! I can leave 5 minutes before class and still make it on time. Even though not everyone has this perk, there are so many more great reasons to love OTF and why it keeps me coming back. Here is a list of pros and also some downsides.

Pros

1. The structure and diversity of the workout: I really like that the entire workout includes treadmills, rowers, and weight floor and the components change every single day
2. Coaches: This was one of the main reasons I chose this gym! There is nothing better than a coach fixing your form or giving you advice and motivation.
3. Visual Summary: I love seeing my hard work on the monitor and watching my calories burned go up!
4. App: The app is so easy to use and also tracks all of your workouts, challenges, and keeps you up to date. You can pay through the app and also reach out for tech support if need be!
5. Challenges: This is such a fun part of OTF because every month and every year there are challenges that track your improvements. Every year there is also a transformation challenge, Hell Week, and many others!
6. Convenience: Classes are held throughout the day starting from 5am and ending typically at 8pm. This does vary from studio to studio.
7. Travel: If you travel for work or are on vacation, you can visit any location! They also have studios internationally! I have been to the studio in Paris and you should know to book by calling or visiting the studio ahead of time. You will have to pay for a workout when traveling internationally whether or not you have unlimited at your home studio.
8. Don’t have to create a workout! When I was signing up for a gym I was looking for a place that showed me what to do rather than set me free into the wild of gym equipment that I did not know how to operate. Just show up, and do the workout!
9. Mind and Body strong. You will not only see physical changes but also a mental shift for the better.
10. Competitive: You are competing with yourself to improve and become stronger.

Cons

1. Late cancel fee: There is a late cancel fee if you cancel in less than 8 hours before the start of a booked class. This can add up quickly so be mindful when you prebook.
2. Classes can book up fast: Sometimes there are waitlists for certain classes during specific times. Sometimes it’s easier to travel to another studio or book the class in advance to guarantee your spot.
3. Childcare: There is no childcare as there are at some gyms, but this can be a pro as you can fully dedicate the 60 minutes to yourself without any disruptions.
4. Can be expensive: On top of the membership rate, some of the challenges require an additional fee to participate. The OTbeat has to be purchased but is a one-time fee. Joining OTF is an investment and whether or not you choose this investment is all up to you!
5. Full class/ every station is taken- This is definitely a very big pet peeve of mine and doesn’t happen that often but when a class is completely booked (3G), there is little space, especially on the weight floor. You won’t really know that the class is full unless you call the studio so it’s more of a surprise when showing up. I have been to a studio where I was on the rower and hit the elbow of a member that was next to me without doing anything but rowing and keeping in my bubble. That’s definitely not ok and makes me agitated because the person next to me and I, both have the right to be there and should not be crammed into a tight space. The weight floor can be difficult to maneuver as well because there won’t be that many common weights available and definitely not enough space for everyone to jump around or complete exercises that require lots of space. This hasn’t happened that often but definitely has been somewhat of an annoyance when it has.

Final Thoughts

Throughout my 3 years as a member, I’ve never once regretted joining or renewing my membership at Orangetheory. It’s truly been an investment in myself that has helped me immensely. I love being able to show up to class without worrying about planning a workout or losing motivation. Working out has become enjoyable for me, and I’m constantly pushing myself to improve and become stronger with every class. I highly recommend giving it a try if you’re interested – not all exercises are for everyone, but you won’t know until you experience it for yourself!

Please Note

If you are doing this only for weight loss then I would highly encourage you to re-evaluate and consult with a dietician. Remember that weight loss is heavily driven by dietary changes, and that although exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle, it alone is likely to be ineffective in changing weight without significant and comprehensive alterations to your lifestyle.

I would love to know if you have any questions or thoughts! Please feel free to leave me a comment.

Check out my other lifestyle posts here!