I hate working out. I’ve never been one to get addicted to the runner’s high–mostly because I don’t run. I enjoy yoga. I might hike. But all in all, I hate exercise.
This hatred, however, has been to my detriment. I’m in the worst shape of my life. Although I played high school sports, I am not (or at least was not) the most stellar of athletes. I did enjoy kicking a soccer ball. I did not enjoy all the running.
Now that I have kids, and specifically kids who are just beginning to be old enough to play soccer, I’d like to be able to run around on the soccer field with them. Or at least walk/jog around on the soccer field with them. I knew I had to do something, but I am notorious in my family for not following through on exercise programs. I’ve been talking about walking at the Tabernacle ball field trail for three months now, but have yet to set walking shoe to finely ground gravel.
The Radio Host
I began hearing Chris Kelly on the Two Guys Named Chris Show talking about Orangetheory. He detailed what it was like, how it was difficult and very intense. It didn’t sound like my thing. For one thing the workouts are an hour long. That’s nuts to someone who can’t make herself walk for 20 minutes around a baseball field. It sounded too intense for me.
Then Chris Kelly started talking about “Rowvember” though they can’t call it that due to some copyright issue. Now, I love a rowing machine. This piqued my interest. I began looking online for pricing. I knew it was expensive and apparently, it’s so expensive they can’t tell you online or they’d never get anyone through the door.
They do, however, offer a free introductory class in order to try and get you hooked. Now, I’m made of sterner stuff than that. I can tell you, I’ve quit just about every exercise program I’ve ever started.
I decided to try it.
The Class
I went to the class on a Saturday at high noon. Actually, I had to get there early because it was my first class–high 11:30. I was nervous and legitimately afraid I might die. Like, legit. I’d seen a glimpse of a class a few days prior. Those people were working. Hard.
I sat through the spiel on heart rate and the orange theory, and the logistics of the class. I got my heart rate monitor that would tell the whole room what my heart rate was while I was working out.
Finally, it was time for the class to start. Myself and Zara, the other first-timer, sat side by side on our rowers and warmed up. Half the class was on rowers and the other half on treadmills. After the rowers warmed up, we went over to the weight area and learned the exercises we were to do. Then we were told to row 800 meters, followed by completion of the four exercises.
I rowed my little heart out. Then on jelly legs, I stood up and tried to walk to the weight area. I told the instructor that I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to step that high. She lowered the step-bench for me. I did the exercises, though I have no recollection of doing the proper number of repetitions. My brain was slightly numb by this point and I had to concentrate on not falling six inches to the floor, likely maiming myself for life.
After this, we went to the treadmill. Now, at this point I had a charlie horse in my leg. I’ve never experienced that while working out and I think it’s safe to say, I hadn’t worked this hard in many years. I was dubious that I would be able to actually walk on the treadmill. To my astonishment, I was. I started off at the lowest suggested speed and my heart rate quickly rose into the red zone, proudly displayed on the monitors above us. I kept up that pace, though the instructor came to me to ask if I was feeling ok. I said I was and during the next base speed, I knocked my speed down 1 mph to 2.5 mph. I then stayed there until my heart rate came back to the orange.
I maintained my orange rate by going at a speed I was comfortable with, not the speed the instructor or anyone else recommended. Being extremely out of shape, I couldn’t go as fast as the others, but my heart was working just as hard.
After the treadmill time, we went through the whole circuit once more. I was able to ask for modifications to the workout that would help me complete it. I wasn’t made to feel less because I couldn’t do everything.
All in all, I was impressed by the class. It might just be enough to keep my interest for a few months!
The Catch
There is a catch. It’s expensive. At this location it is $109 per month for eight classes. In order to feel that you are getting the Orangetheory experience, you must buy or rent their heart rate monitor which is $69-$109 depending on the type. There is no contract but because of billing cycle nonsense, you have to commit to at least 2 months.
The cost comes to $13.63 per class, which doesn’t actually sound like a lot when you’re getting a certified coach. But compared to other health clubs where you get many more options for workouts for lower rates, the monthly cost seems way too high.
I have decided to give it a shot for two months to see what happens. I feel like because I have to reserve class times and get penalized if I don’t show, it would make me more likely to stick it out. Also, if I say two months then, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I might be more motivated to do all I can in those two months.
There is also the outside chance I might become addicted to Orangetheory and get so buff the only choice I’ll have is to become an Orangetheory coach myself. I won’t hold my breath, though.
I’ll check back in at the end of one month and again at the end of two months.
