“Orange Theory Fitness Roanoke” fitness class recap & review

I went to my first Orange Theory Fitness class a couple months ago and LOVED it! The first class is always free and includes borrowing their OT beat, although you do have to give them a credit card number to keep on file in case you walk off with their equipment.

The facility in Roanoke is pretty new, very clean and my trainer was VERY kind and helpful. They also have bathrooms and showers to use after class.

Orangetheory Fitness is a one-of-a-kind, group personal training workout broken into intervals of cardiovascular and strength training that produce maximum calorie burn. Backed by science, the heart-rate-monitored, high-intensity interval training is designed to maintain a target zone that stimulates metabolism and increases energy. Fitness coaches lead each 60-minute session using a variety of equipment including treadmills, rowing machines, suspension training and free weights, getting heart rates in the target Orange Zone for the desired time to produce the Orange Effect. The result is more energy, visible toning and extra calorie burn after the workout. Orangetheory Fitness has been recognized on Entrepreneur’s 2014 Franchise 500® list of the top franchises in the world.

Since it was my first time, I had to get there about 30 mins early to fill out paperwork, get an OTbeat, and to take a tour of the facility. After I signed in I was assigned a “station” (station number 5) so I knew treadmill #5, rower #5 and strength training station #5 would be assigned specifically to me for the entire workout.

For the first (30) mins I was on the treadmill and for the last (30) mins I alternated between the rower and strength training station.

I’m not a big fan of the treadmill but the first 30 mins went by really fast because we did intervals of walking, jogging, and running based on what zone we needed to be in.

I had never done a rower machine before and it was really fun!

We did exercises like: reverse flys, rows, single arm overhead press with Bosu, single tricep extension with Bosu, crunches, plank jacks… I LOVE the Bosu-I have one at home so I was familiar with how to use it.

They said they use the TRX strap (which I also love!) and other equipment-it’t not the same routine every day or every week.

Although the trainer reviewed the movements with us before each set, the TV screen above me also showed the movements in case I forgot or needed to check my form. Really cool idea!

The workout I did was called a 60 min Endurance day and the workout was divided up in 7 min blocks. The trainer would announce what we were doing during the block and what our target zone should be.

The goal was to earn at least 12 “splat points” before the end of class and I earned 14!

I also burned 530 calories according to their OT beat and 508 according to my FitBit Blaze.

What is Orangetheory?
Orangetheory is a 1 hour, full body workout, focused on training Endurance, Strength and/or Power. We use Heart Rate Based Interval Training, which burns more calories post workout than a traditional exercise. When wearing our Heart Rate monitors, your real time results are displayed on large screens throughout the studio. Intensity is based on your individual Heart Rate zones, making the workout effective for all fitness levels. To top it off, our fitness coaches to lead the workout to prevent you from over or under training.

What equipment do you use at Orangetheory?
Our workout room has a variety of equipment including treadmills (bikes and striders as alternatives), WaterRowers and floor equipment, including dumbbells, benches, TRX suspension trainers, medicine balls, BOSU trainers and Ab Dolly’s.

What is OTbeat?
OTbeat is our exclusive heart rate monitoring technology. Members have the unique experience of seeing real time data during their workout, enabling them to push themselves to new limits. After class, they can then monitor their improvements through emailed results and by using the OTbeat APP.

What do the 5 zones mean, and why is the Orange zone so important?
Orangetheory is 5 Zone heart rate based interval training using specifically designed and timed interval training blocks. During a workout, members focus on Zones 3, 4 and 5. The workouts are designed to produce 12 minutes or more in Zones 4 & 5 combined (to achieve the after burn) during the treadmill training portion of the workout.

What are Splat points?
Splat points indicate minutes spent in the orange and red zones. Aim for at least 12 splat points per class.

What is EPOC?
The physiological theory behind the Orangetheory workout is known as “Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption,” or EPOC. Our 1 hour workout is designed to produce 12 minutes or more of intensities at 84% or higher of maximum heart rate. This program design produces workout “after burn” effect, which is an increased metabolic rate for up to 36 hours after the workout.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS:

**I wasn’t thrilled with having to provide a CC number and fill out paperwork just to take a free class, even though I understand why.

**LOVE the OTbeat and science behind the workout! I am a numbers person and love to see how hard I’m working and what zone and splat points I needed to get. Although I could see the other participants stats on the screen, I was only focused on my stats and what I needed to do. It definitely pushed me to work harder but not too hard.

**I hate having to buy the OTbeat just to take the class. I already have a Polar HRM and a FitBit HRM so I don’t need a 3rd one. 🙁 They did say once you buy it, you could download their app and use it outside the class. I have no idea the life expectancy of their monitors.

**The price is WAY too much for what I can afford for a monthly pass, especially since I know I couldn’t go to a class every week.
Because of my personal work schedule, teaching Walk15 fitness classes, going to my local YMCA with my kids and the studio location; realistically I could go to an OTF class 1-2 times a month. They offered me the 10 class pass option which is $199, plus I would still need to buy the OTbeat monitor which would be $69 for the chest band or $99 for the arm band (which I loved!) That option is on my wish list for the new year.

**I loved the class, the variety and the concept. I felt energized and proud of myself after class. I will definitely be back once I save up my money for a OTbeat and class pass. Crossing my fingers they offer some kind of deal or special towards the end of the year.