Orange Therapy

After being off from OTF for a month for a foot injury, I can definitely tell you OTF makes a huge difference!   In total, I have lost 30 pounds.  However, as I have shared again and again, it is not the pounds that matter most.  What you can't see from the picture above is the mental clarity, happiness, and balance that are gained from working on OTF three times per week.   That difference is even bigger for me than the physical difference that people can see.  When I was off for a month, I tried other things, but nothing made me feel as good as OTF.  By the end of the month, I was sluggish, depressed, and feeling miserable.  I still had the weight loss because I was careful in my eating.  But, I did not have the stress relief and mental strength I get from going to OTF religiously.  I was so glad to get back.  After just three classes, I felt that happiness and joy come back.  It makes a tremendous difference for me...

As we were doing an ALL OUT on the treadmill last night, a lady next to me said, "Does it get any easier?"  I quickly said, "Oh yes!"  Then I realized I lied.  The workouts do not get easier because it is heart rate or effort based.  So, with time, you will DO better but you will also DO more.  That's the goal anyway.  For instance, while I started at 3 mph with no incline, I can now hit 5 mph with no incline on an ALL OUT (two minutes or less).  Not stellar for many, but in my category, I am shaking it! So, why did I tell her it gets easier?  Because the WHY becomes so evident.  The first two weeks do hurt more because you are moving muscles you never knew you had.  And, after they hurt, you know why you never knew you had them!  You are more tired because your body is exerting itself for the first time in a while.  And, most importantly, you cannot see any results.  All together, that is a tough challenge. I read s...

As I mentioned in the introduction, I was not looking for a typical gym.  I was looking for something that would meet my unique needs at this stage of my life.  When my son, John, found Orange Theory for me, I was intrigued by a number of things which interested me. First, Orange Theory pushes me.  Even at my first workout, I could tell that my home workouts were insufficient.  I have a nice treadmill, similar to the ones gyms use.  However, when I worked out on my own, when I got the slightest bit uncomfortable, I would back off.  I thought I was doing the right thing.  Having never been an athlete, I sure didn't want to do too much too soon.  At Orange Theory, however, I have learned that the discomfort I was feeling is a natural part of the process.  They call it the Orange Zone.  In that zone, you can expect to feel a little uncomfortable as your heart rate reaches 80% or more.  After several workouts, I am now comfortable get...

Orange Theory is a different model from most other gyms - it is definitely a model that works for me.  Instead of the gym being a supplier of expensive athletic equipment, Orange Theory, as a gym, provides the entire experience.  When you sign up, you will also purchase a heart rate monitor.  As a side note, when you do this, they allow you to select your name that will show up on the workout board.  Since John and I did this together, we were Momma Bear and Baby Cub.  It was kind of fun to have nicknames at Orange Theory so come up with something fun that will make you smile.  You will need it when you reach the Orange Zone! The workout is 55 to 60 minutes.  At the beginning, you choose if you want to start on treadmills ("treads") or rowers.  At the beginning I started on treads but later found that if I started on the rower and did weights first, my heart rate was more responsive during the treadmill workout.  So, now I do the rower and ...