r/orangetheory

Long time lurker, first time poster
I wanted to get your thoughts on the flow of the floor blocks lately.
I’ve noticed a pattern in recent templates where we are given a strict one-minute block to heavily engage or max out a specific muscle group, but the exercises leading up to it don't actually prime that area. For example, being asked to go as heavy as possible on something like a chest press, but we haven't done any chest prep or lighter compound movements beforehand to wake those muscles up.
With only 60 seconds on the clock, it feels like there isn't enough time to safely build up to a heavy weight or properly activate the muscle group from a dead stop. Is anyone else finding it tough to logistically manage these specific blocks without feeling like you're rushing into a heavy lift cold? How are you handling the transition?

They forgot to celebrate my 50th class! I care but I don’t want to seem whiney by mentioning it..
Edit to add more info: I don’t work out for recognition, but I think it’s a fun thing that OTF does! I’ve never worked out this much in my whole life, and I’m super proud of myself. I’ve also made lots of workout friends, and we all enjoy celebrating each other!

Earlier this year, my studio announced they were moving monthly fees up $10 to $199. I was recovering from surgery and didn’t give it any thought. I later found out other members committed to a 1 year membership to get a rate of $169 a month. No one mentioned nor offered to me until my friend told me the whole sitch and said I should do the same. By that time the “rate” was “removed from the system” and there was nothing they could do.

It’s now 3 months later and i don’t want to be paying $30 a month more than most members. I’ve asked the studio manager several times and he’s said there is nothing he can do. I don’t really believe that.

They’re now advertising a rate of $169 IF you refer a friend or upgrade to premier, which I am already. Again he said he can’t give me that rate. I would take that, with a one year commitment if I could.

What options do I have, in your experience, to try for a lower rate? My goal is to stay with OTF and find a way to work this out. Looking for constructive solutions to help me do so. Thank you.

OTF has been such a game changer especially this year with all the new and wonderful ways they are able to keep us involved and active with our OTF COMMUNITY! Has anyone ever not been able to have a treadmill station available for their class? Did you end up just rowing/cycling/or striding for the block…did you like that option better??

How many of you all prebook a class so you can commit yourself to going?

My studio’s classes hardly ever get full so there isn’t a need to prebook to secure a spot. However, I’m trying to go more consistently and thought about prebooking for the week and making zero excuses to miss a class because I’m already registered.

I make up every excuse not to go but I know if I go I’ll feel SO much better and will feel proud of myself.

Welcome to a Day of Disarray!

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Hi folks , Can I use access at home workouts in orange theory fitness app and heart rate monitor even after I cancel membership

My home studio usually does a tornado on holidays - so happy 4th yall! I have no idea how Mr/Mrs DC remember everything so will do best I can! I really enjoyed this one and may try to hit it again if a different studio in the area posts a tornado. Was wiped at the end, but great workout.

4 rounds: 1:30, 3:15, 5:30, 1:00

Round 1:

Tread - push and final 15 seconds all out

Rower - same

Floor - push up to plank pop (on floor or bench) then high knees in high plank on floor or bench, I think the timing was same as tread/rower

Round 2:

Tread - this was push/base/push/base/all out but I can't remember exact timings **I think also small incline of 2% on one round

Rower - 4/8/12 + of bicep curls then squat/jump to push out (that's probably not what the exercise is called but you squat, jump, then push a weight out right in front of you); no rowing this block (my dream!)

Floor - tricep extensions then goblet alt reverse lunges (8 each and repeat)

Round 3:

Tread - inclines but I can't remember the exact timing; started at 6% I think for one minute then 30 second walk on flat road; then incline goes up 1%; finishes with an all out

Rower - 300m row then the same exercises as round 2 but only 4x each; repeat until time

Floor - deadlift, low row, squat to overhead press (8 each and repeat)

Round 4:

Tread - 1min all out

Rower - 1min all out row or 4x of the previous exercises on repeat

Floor - season of strength or plank pull through

I blame the unreasonable heat in our nation's capitol for anything I forgot! :)

During today’s 0.25-mile benchmark, I set the speed to 12 mph, waited for it to ramp up, then hit Clear Screen. A few seconds later, the treadmill started going to 15% incline while I was running at 12 mph, and I had to jump onto the rails. It really sneaked up on me because I was wondering why is this getting harder this early!

I’m wondering if I accidentally hit the 15 incline button while clearing the screen or if it was a treadmill glitch.

It threw me off during the first block, so I skipped the benchmark. Thankfully my coach encouraged me to give it another shot in the second block, and I’m glad she did because I ended up setting a new PR of 1:15!

I have been doing OT for about 4 months and I love it. But I don’t know if could do it without the early intel. I think there are 3 limitations to OT’s current stance of only releasing the workouts live during class.

1. It’s hard to hear and understand a workout live in a loud studio when you’re running and tired. I don’t have any disabilities but I can’t always hear everything the coach is saying or remember the instructions for the whole block. If the entire workout were written somewhere, this would not be an issue. At the moment, I’m saved by Mr. DC’s early intel because I can read and commit it to memory.

2. It’s hard to know how much energy to expend when you don’t know where the workout is going. Again, I can’t always catch the entire workout orally and I don’t think our coaches always give the full workout at the beginning. If we’re doing 4, 5-minute endurance blocks with walking recovery in between then I’m going to approach it differently than I would a continuous 23 mingle endurance blocks.

3. I know some people only do OTF and the OT programming is sufficient for them. But many of us have injuries or physical limitations and do other activities outside of OT. Knowing a week’s workout im advance would allow me to program my week. Whether I’m training for a half marathon, trying to increase my back squat or attending CrossFit classes, I can better plan my workouts for the week when I know what I will doing during my OT classes.

Why can’t we get the workouts in advance (ideally for the week) or at the very least always have them written up somewhere in class ? We shouldn’t be dependent on Mr. DC to make sure we understand each work out I’m advance.

Corporate, can you take this as feedback. What does everyone else think?

Hello everyone, I have been going to OTF for almost 2 years now, but I always have been an evening member which works out good but due to other commitments evening workout schedule is not going well and have to skip a lot of times so I was thinking to change it to the morning schedule, however, morning work out have a big problem which is that I cannot wake up early because I can’t sleep early. I can barely wake up at 7 AM or 6:30 AM to start my work at 9 AM. Please tell me what do I have to to change in my lifestyle or routine in order to automatically wake up at 5 AM get this thing done out 530 to 630 and then start my day. Appreciate all your answers.

Edit 1: amazing advice to have bedtime early around 9-9:30 pm and wake up at 4:45. Keep workout clothes and morning routine ready. Will do it from next week and keep you guys updated how’s it going. If I am feeling shitty or amazing.

Today I did a Strength 2X class ( my studio has switched to the new format) and instead of being a different set of exercises in the second half it was just a literal repeat of the first one. The coach said this format just started July 1st and they are “trying something new”. I personally hate it and I can’t imagine there are many people who just want to do the same workout twice in a row. Hopefully it doesn’t last long.

What would you do if you came in for Tread50 and someone was on your tread?

& when asked, they are doing the strength class but warming up on your tread. And don’t get off right away…

I have been working out and noticed on the treadmill before clicking my name there was a star next to my name and was wondering what that was?

Anyone else’s studio doing the Bingo Card for July? If so, does anyone have a screenshot or image of it?

I was on board with becoming an ot coach until & then got a promissory letter. They are asking me agree to pay a large sum of money to ot because they feel they invest in my training (getting trained in studio for $15 an hour/experianced fitness coach) the letter is asking me to sign to agree to pay them thousands withing 5 days if I were to not meet the contract class minimum, leave before over a year… exc. it even has me signing to waive my right to a trial if we go to court & to cover all of their lawyer expenses. I feel off signing this for what I though would be a chance to coach/help others. I understand they invest… but how can I sign this when I have no clue if I’d be making the bare minimum in classes….. of course my other job would need to take priority based on I need to make an income. I have been in fitness industry forever & never seen anything like this. Orange theory coaches- please let me know if this is common. I really want to coach but don’t want to put myself in a bad financial situation. I was happy to coach knowing if money is not great- I can just up hours at other job… but now this letter has me stressed. I feel really excessive to ask part time coaches to pay thousands of fines if I need to cut down classes due to not making enough. I can’t determine how much I’ll make because of large sliding pay scale. SOS

How do the studios accommodate the deaf and hard of hearing members?

I have a substantial hearing loss in one ear - and while I can hear what the coaches are saying most of the time, sometimes they're spitting out the next block in rapid fire and by the time I realize they're barking out the next set of instructions I'm like "whaaaat???" I can only imagine what it's like for a deaf person to deal with this.

I mean you REALLY have to be paying attention to the coach or you're gonna miss what they said.

Having the template accessible in the studio would help - or even on the treads/rowers on the displays with something to show where they're at as far as the block's timeline goes.

Otherwise, sounds like an ADA lawsuit in the making.

I saw several threads on Wellhub, but not sure if this question has been answered. I'm thinking of switching to Wellhub to continue doing OTF but supplement with other fitness options.

Does anyone use Wellhub who knows whether you are still able to participate in events like Dri-Tri, Marathon Month, Hell Week, Etc? I do enjoy those, so would have to weigh if it's worth the switch.

I am being offered a “founders rate” if I upgrade my membership at my current home studio which I am taking because it’s a great deal. I am moving at the end of the summer to a new town. I called the OTF there to make sure I can use my membership there and they said I can without additional charges. They also mentioned I could change my home studio to there but they weren’t sure if that would change my monthly membership rate. Is there any reason why I should change my “home studio” rather than just using my current membership where I’m moving? Are there any perks to doing that? Thanks in advance !

is this normal? today i hit the red probably for the last 3 minutes and i left the workout feeling like nothing happened.

my red is in the 183s+ and i was hitting the 190s, so its not like the red zone is incorrectly placed, but I just am not feeling the workout at ALL. i hit my weights till failure and then any time I even up the pace on the treadmills, I hit the red. Today I was trying to keep it in high oranges bc I didn't want to overdo it, but I literally dont feel like I've worked out.

is there a way to stay in a decent bpm range but still feel like you've worked out? does it happen over time/when you get more in shape?