The Class: Science is the name of the game at this studio. Based on the concept of excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC), this 60-minute fitness regimen combines intervals of cardio and weights. The class claims to have you performing at 84 percent or higher of your maximum heart rate. At this level, you will burn between 500 to 1,000 calories per workout and have increased metabolic function for the next 24 to 48 hours.
The Appeal: Working out at 84 percent or higher of your maximum heart rate creates an “afterburn effect,” which the studio says keeps you burning calories past the workout.
The Instructor: Paul has a wide-range of experience in the business, from personal training to aerobics to everything in between. One of six instructors at Orangetheory’s Plano location, Paul is enthusiastic, extremely knowledgeable, and checks in mid-workout to make sure you know what’s going on.
The Space: The Plano location consists of a lobby area complete with lockers, two restrooms, and a sizable studio. The studio itself is divided into a weight room – filled with various dumbbells, mats, TRX bands, and a TV screen with video demonstrating the workout – and a cardio area, containing 12 rowers, 12 treadmills, and TV screens projecting heart rate data. The equipment is state of the art and exceptionally clean, and a great sound system pumps upbeat music throughout the entire workout.
Who’s There: A mix of men and women of all ages and fitness levels.
How It Went: I was greeted by a friendly staff and fitted with a heart rate monitor. Since it was my first time, Paul took me and the other beginners into the studio ten minutes before class started to show us around and how to work the machines (this was also my first time using a rower.).
We started promptly at 11:00, and split into two groups – half beginning on the treadmills for a 30-minute cardio workout, and half on the rowers to warm up before weights. I like to end my workouts with intense cardio, so I opted to start with the rowers and strength training.
From the rowers, my group transitioned into the weight room. We began by alternating between squats with dumbbells and push-ups. Then, it was back to the rowers before launching into alternating reps of TRX lat rows and hamstring curls using an ab dolly.
After 30 minutes, I switched to the treadmill, where we did intervals of base pace (our comfort pace), push pace (one to two miles-per-hour faster than our base), and all out (one to two miles-per-hour faster than our push pace). This was intense!
Orangetheory is unique in that it has TV screens positioned around the studio displaying the results from everyone’s heart rate monitors. As our heart rates increased toward our maximum percentages, our names on the screens changed colors. When we were warming-up on the rowers, our names changed from blue to green. As the workout increased in intensity, our colors changed to orange, our target zone – where, if maintained for 12 to 20 minutes produces the afterburn effect – and red when we were pushing all out. I reached and maintained my orange zone on the treadmill.
After cooling down, we ended the class with some light stretching. When I got home, I had an e-mail awaiting me to show my heart rate monitor data and summarize my workout results.
The Aftermath: I felt energized for the rest of the day, but the next morning my upper body and hamstrings were sore.
Loved: The heart rate monitor really made the workout. Running on the treadmill and seeing my stats change as I went from base pace to all-out effort encouraged me to keep my energy high and maintain my orange zone.
Hated: At times, it was difficult to hear Paul over the music. And, because the class was split into two, Paul’s instructions sometimes didn’t apply to what I was doing. This got confusing, so I frequently needed to look over at my classmates.
Cost: Your first session is free, and after that you can purchase single session drop-ins for $25, or packages ranging in price from $180 (10 sessions) to $450 (30 sessions.)
Difficulty Level: You determine the workout’s difficulty. Having a slow day and want to power walk at four miles per hour on the treadmill? That’s fine – the push and sprint intervals are based on your starting pace and will adjust accordingly. Your experience can be as intense or laid back as you want to it be.
Bottom Line: If you like a heart-rate based, upbeat interval workout that combines strength training and cardio, Orangetheory Fitness is for you.
