Exercise. It can seem like a dirty word, right? Like a curse. I’ve never been that big on exercise. For example, in gym class as a kid, I would purposely get hit with the dodgeball so I could sit down. I was tall, uncoordinated, and fat. Starting in 2nd grade I was almost always the tallest and biggest girl in class.
I have tried many things over the years, some of which I enjoyed and some I hated – almost exclusively for the purpose of losing weight. Now, that’s not 100% true – I loved tap dancing in college and the two years of karate I did, but otherwise, most things were punishment for being fat and eating too much.
Enter working with my nutritionist. We had been working on mindset, feelings about my body and Intuitive Eating but not much about movement. During one session I mentioned that I enjoyed going to Curves back in the day and only stopped because the rents in Manhattan are insane and they were sorta forced out. I followed the owner to another gym but I hated it – because I really don’t like traditional gyms. So, Diana asked me what about Curves I liked the most and I said, “I knew what to do – you go in, you do your circuit, and you get out. I liked the music and the coaches and the community aspect”
She then said something that pretty much changed my life. She said, “Oh, that sounds very similar to this new place I heard about called OrangeTheory, and one just opened down the street.” Well, I immediately went home and started doing what I do best – research. I looked at the company’s main website, I watched YouTube videos, I read blogs, and I searched on Pinterest.
I was pumped and wanted to try it, but I was also scared. I’m still fat and haven’t worked out in any real capacity in years. I’ve dabbled and done things at home here and there but I didn’t stick to anything longer than two or three weeks (if that). I thought about walking and losing more weight and getting more fit before I started. BUT I couldn’t stop watching YouTube videos and reading blogs and basically obsess over this gym. My husband finally said – just go and try it! And my Mom agreed – she said, “What are you waiting for?”
I hemmed and hawed a few more weeks, walked past the place a few times and looked through the windows, and finally, I walked in and talked to the nice woman at the front desk and she signed me up for my first FREE class during Mayhem. The 2nd hardest week of classes at OrangeTheory (the first being Hell Week). AND I did it and I didn’t die – in fact, I distinctly remember feeling proud of myself. I had so much fun – it was the hardest thing I’ve done since giving birth to my son and I loved every stupid minute of it! And I signed up right then and there for a membership.
That was the middle of May 2019 and I have consistently gone 2-3 times a week since. Have I lost weight? Probably – I don’t do the scale anymore, but my clothes all fit better – I’ve gone down a size in shirts, pants, and had to buy new bras. Have I gained muscle mass? YES! I can actually feel my biceps and my legs are super shapely. Have I become a fitness person? You bet…it’s crazy, but I love going to my OrangeTheory classes. I look forward to them, I miss them when I have to be away, I adore the people I’ve met there from the other students to the staff. The coaches are phenomenal, they play the best music, and there is so much community – exactly what I was looking for.
Is it for everyone? No. If you hate group classes or hate the rower or treadmill or weights – then you are not going to like it. I love it. Hands down, the most I’ve stuck with anything since those dancing days so many years ago. I have gained confidence, respect for my body in ways I didn’t have, and I’m just super proud of myself.
It’s crazy to call myself a fitness person, but I really am and it’s amazing!
What does your fitness journey look like? What do you do for exercise and why do you love it? Please share below!
Resources
Looking to obsess and research the crap out of OrangeTheory Fitness (OTF)? Look no further than this list of cool YouTubers and books!
OrangeTheory’s Website – here you can see what makes them different and check to see which studio is closest to your house
Andrew Coleman Smith – the MAIN man of OTF YouTubers – he also has a Facebook Group
Grace Keller – Very down to earth Mama who keeps it real
The Fat Gay – Hilarious. Downright hilarious – he is fluffy and he is killing it at OTF.
Hashtag Sab – She is sooooo amazing and her Instagram content keeps me motivated
Splat! – The funniest book I’ve read and totally relatable. Want to know what Hell Week is really like? Read this book.
PUSH – One of the main founders of OTF’s book – I haven’t actually read this yet but it’s on my TBR list.
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