Orange Theory pros & cons

kbmnurse
kbmnurse Posts: 2,484 Member
edited November 13 in Fitness and Exercise
Hello,

Before I invest big $$$ into Orange Theory I was wondering if anyone has utilized the program. I am looking for any input. TY

Replies

  • VegasFit
    VegasFit Posts: 1,232 Member
    I took the freebie class there. It was a good workout. I do think they should offer more like a week to really get a feel for if the class is for you or not. The night I went we did segments on the rower, treadmill and some handheld weights. I did think the price was a little high for what you get but cost is relative to the individual. I like to mix things up so I'm not sure it's something I would want to do more than once a week.
  • Mapalicious
    Mapalicious Posts: 412 Member
    If it's your jam to have your heartrate up on a screen in front of everyone else, maybe. That would not be motivating for me, it would scare me away from going. I don't like competition, it doesn't motivate me.

    I bought my own heart rate monitor and do my own 500-1000 calorie workouts for much cheaper ;)
  • VegasFit
    VegasFit Posts: 1,232 Member
    Mapalicious wrote: »
    If it's your jam to have your heartrate up on a screen in front of everyone else, maybe. That would not be motivating for me, it would scare me away from going. I don't like competition, it doesn't motivate me.

    I bought my own heart rate monitor and do my own 500-1000 calorie workouts for much cheaper ;)

    I can see your point. When I went the only info I cared about on the board was mine and trying to get and stay in the orange zone. But I don't like the fact you have to purchase their HRM to sync with the board.
  • DreesPerformanceTraining
    DreesPerformanceTraining Posts: 187 Member
    Good for cardio training.

    Poor for everything else.
  • Cherimoose
    Cherimoose Posts: 5,208 Member
    Do they even lift?
    I mean real lifting, not pink dumbellettes. :+1:
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Like a lot of other exercise plans--will it motivate you? Is it something you'll enjoy? Is it a complete scam? OTF is not a complete scam--it is IMO an overpriced workout that is extremely misleading about the benefits you will receive from it. But then so again are a lot of other programs, like P90X and its relatives.

    If you need a group setting and structured routine to push to a higher level of effort, then it might be a good fit for you, and if you have been doing mostly lower-level, steady-state endurance cardio, you will almost certainly see improvement with OTF.

    If you are only going because you think it is something unique that can't be duplicated anywhere else, then you are a) wrong and b) probably wasting your money.

    Even if it is technically "overpriced", if you think it's worth it, then it is a proper value. Motivation can be valuable.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I went to a couple of free sessions.

    Pros:
    1. Intense workout for the moderately fit.
    2. One hour and you are done.
    3. Classroom, coach based.
    4. Great for techno-nerds who get off on hitting a heart rate zone. On a screen, no less.
    5. You don't have to develop your own program.
    6. "Results Guaranteed". I believe it. Do an intense workout regularly and you will see cardio gains.

    Cons:
    1. Difficult to modify if you are recovering from an injury.
    2. Just as expensive as the clubs, but no free access to the machine - appointment only.
  • giantrobot_powerlifting
    giantrobot_powerlifting Posts: 2,598 Member
    My thoughts: at least it's not Planet Fitness.
  • Motorsheen
    Motorsheen Posts: 20,508 Member
    Is Orange Theory like Crossfit ??
  • BrowniesMommy
    BrowniesMommy Posts: 7 Member
    I thrive on interval training which is what Orange Theory does. I have been going 3-5 times a week for 3 months and my endurance and strength has improved immensely. It really is what you make it, if you continue to push yourself you will get results.
  • VegasFit
    VegasFit Posts: 1,232 Member
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    Is Orange Theory like Crossfit ??

    Not at all!
  • kbmnurse
    kbmnurse Posts: 2,484 Member
    OK thanks for all the comments. :)
  • iuangina
    iuangina Posts: 691 Member
    I've been going since the beginning of June. I still have a regular gym membership at the YMCA, so that I keep the cost of OTF down. I go twice a week (8x a month). The prices for this to be your only gym seem to be too high.

    Pros:
    I've definitely seen gains in both strength and endurance. I've also lost 6 lbs which would probably be more if I was being careful with my logging. As far as the workout, I've been modifying many of the exercises because I am recovering from an Achilles rupture, and it's still been a great workout (no treadmill for me, they have a bike and an elliptical). I love that it is scheduled and I can't cancel it last minute because I don't feel like going. I've also never had a problem getting a class when I wanted one.

    Cons:
    I don't really care about the buzz words and claims from the marketing because I had enough experience with working out that I know most of the time that's a bunch a crap. It's annoying that you have to buy their heart rate monitor, but I was able to get a used one on Ebay for much less than what they charge.
  • Jt70772001
    Jt70772001 Posts: 2 Member
    Cherimoose wrote: »
    Do they even lift?
    I mean real lifting, not pink dumbellettes. :+1:

    IT's not that kind of gym experience Cherimoose it is more suited for cardio but they do have the heavier dunbbells for those who do lift heavier.
  • Jt70772001
    Jt70772001 Posts: 2 Member
    Neolithx wrote: »
    Former customer. It was a decent workout depending on the instructor but I did not like some of the things about it.
    1) It is very expensive for a Gym. When I went it was $120/month
    2) Their scheduling policies are very restrictive: Popular class times fill up quickly, so you have to schedule far in advance for the class times you want. If you can't make it, you must cancel 24 hours in advance or you get charged a fee. ($12) So if you are like me and have a very unpredictable schedule you will never be able to get a class time. and have to be on the standby list. Nothing worse than getting up early, driving to the gym and being told you the class is full. There were 2 months that I only got in 3 workouts. This was the main reason I quit.
    3) The instructors you get are hit or miss. Some are great, others are not. Which is why good classes fill up quickly. I went to one of the "bad" instructors classes and did squats, lunges and ab work the entire session.

    Neolithx I was paying more for a PT then at Orangetheory and getting a extra half hour out of it. I still belong to a gym for $14 a month that I go do heavy lifting at. Location and demand could also be a thing where you live to so that's possibly why your location is very busy. I do agree with the times of classes though because anyone with a 8-5 job plus drive time wouldn't make it to their m-f classes. Also do agree about the trainers but not the classes as they do rotate what is being done on a daily routine because some are strength days then they have endurance days and mixed days and also the times on the machines vary depending on the type of exercise.
  • tennisalley
    tennisalley Posts: 8 Member
    I've been going for two years and I love it. I'm a 56 yo woman, but I'm older than most at my studio.

    Pros:
    1. It's fun--in spite of kicking my butt every time, I have fun,
    2. it is a really good workout--I would never be able to get myself to work that hard on my own, I burn about 450 calories per hour long work out,
    3. the trainers are positive and friendly, you can go at your own pace and still get a great work out--I see people who are totally out of shape come in and do well (pacing themselves) next to tri-athletes,
    4. working out in a group motivates me--I try to keep up with the people around me,
    5. I like having the classes scheduled so I know I need to be there--if I flake out and don't go, I pay a fee (yes, that is a pro, because I don't flake out),
    6. I like the mix of cardio and weight room,
    7. a full work out only takes one hour,
    8. I have always had great instructors,
    9. I've stuck with it for two years and I've never been a "gym" person before.
    10. I am in better shape and stronger and my core strength has definitely improved. I always thought I had a weak core before, but I think the rower really works.

    Cons: Expensive (but worth it).
  • JSGumber
    JSGumber Posts: 1 Member
    I joined Orangetheory June 2017. I love it!! Take the free class and decide for yourself. You can’t go by others reviews, because we are all different, in our likes/dislikes. The only person you are in competition with is yourself. I definitely push myself more than I ever have, and it’s to be a better version of myself, not to beat another member. We are all at different levels of fitness. You can’t expect to be better than anyone/everyone. That’s another thing I love, you modify workouts to your needs. I would give up my iPhone and Mac before I gave up Orangetheory. I’m addicted and go 5 times a week, trying to fit in another day. Just sign up for the free class. :D
  • MikePfirrman
    MikePfirrman Posts: 3,307 Member
    edited January 2018
    I went to one free class. If you like a group setting where others are working (relatively) hard, then it's probably a good class. For me personally, wasn't for me. I think a lot depends on if you (like others have said) need someone pushing you in order to workout hard. Also, you might like the idea of really seeing (in real time) how hard you're working.

    There's studies out that you will have significant progress if you monitor something (like HR/effort). However, if you monitor AND report, you will have much more significant results. This is universally true. So, basically, what OTF has figured out is that if people have their individual efforts up on a big board, some people will work harder. It truly shows you who's working and who's dogging it.

    For me, the "deal breaker" was it's based on HR training. I have a very high max HR. When I train, I push it very hard and utilize a HRR (heart rate reserve) method/formula to train. I was told that my HR would be based off of my age (age formula), which has been proven to be a wildly inaccurate formula for HR training (everyone is different and if you train often, your HRR will increase -- your resting HR will decrease the better shape you are in and your max won't go down as fast as you age). I was told I'd have to go to a doctor and do a stress test to prove that my HR max was as high as it was to use for classes. To me, it's absurd to tell people that you're going to use some scientific jargon to maximize calories burned when they don't even seem to understand basic HRR training, the standard for HR training.

    So, while possibly fun for some, I personally found it useless. I would have gone to their classes and had over 50 "splat points" every class not working particularly hard (for me). My HR on the screen was listed at "max" nearly the entire class (my real max is around 195 and I was at or near their "max" of around 170 the entire class). Certainly not worth as much money as they want to charge. I also found the weight lifting too basic and more importantly, too cramped.

    On the positive side, if you've never really (ever) pushed yourself, and you really try in the classes, you can learn/train to motivate your workouts to a whole new level. Pushing yourself really, really hard is something a lot of people never do. It's the very best way to improve your cardio functions and metabolism.
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    Mapalicious wrote: »
    If it's your jam to have your heartrate up on a screen in front of everyone else, maybe. That would not be motivating for me, it would scare me away from going. I don't like competition, it doesn't motivate me.

    I bought my own heart rate monitor and do my own 500-1000 calorie workouts for much cheaper ;)

    Except you're not going to actually get 1000 calories from their workouts
  • stanmann571
    stanmann571 Posts: 5,727 Member
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    Is Orange Theory like Crossfit ??

    certainly sounds that way
  • MikePfirrman
    MikePfirrman Posts: 3,307 Member
    edited January 2018
    stanmann571 wrote: »
    Motorsheen wrote: »
    Is Orange Theory like Crossfit ??

    certainly sounds that way

    I've never done Cross Fit, but my thoughts are it's like Cross Fit "light". Cross Fit is much higher weights, a lot of barbell work (and pullups), more intense and also (I think) more likely to get hurt, though the class I did at OTF I saw some absolutely horrific form and the one instructor for 20 people wasn't able to see everything.

    The class is broken down into three segments - treadmill running/walking, mostly lighter dumbbells (they have some heavier ones but you have to fight through people to get the ONE set of 40 lb dumbbells!) and body weight work and then rowing on a WaterRower.

    At least at the class I went to it seemed geared toward the treadmill most. 30 minutes on the treadmill doing intervals, around 10 minutes on the rower and around 20 doing dumbell/body weight work (AMRAP type stuff with a video showing form and the instructor correcting if she could see things wrong).

    I saw rowers completely loading stress on their backs looking to throw out discs, "deadlifts" that made me cringe and some bentover barbell rows where people were abusing their elbows. I nearly stopped my workout to help this one lady. I was afraid she was really going to hurt herself.

    I honestly think that Cross Fit (if done correctly) spends more time with decent form, but the methodology of AMRAP is inherently dangerous when you're talking heavy barbell work. I've also seen Cross Fitters, though, with horrible rowing form as well.

    The main difference is that Cross Fit is geared toward the hardcore cross trainer and OTF (in my humble opinion) is geared more toward the runner or casual gym goer that wants to take their training to the next level.

    I think either is heavily dependent on the instructor and how well they can see everything and teach and enforce correct form. AMRAP (as many reps as possible) isn't the greatest way to emphasize it though. That's why you're seeing so many strength consultants speak out against this approach.
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