Let me be really clear: I hate working out. I used to be super active in high school, playing both basketball and varsity golf, but once I went to college, I lost all my motivation to stay in shape. I think some of that stems from the independence that comes with going away to school; all of the sudden, I didn’t have all those obligations anymore.
When I started grad school, I was really uphappy with my body. Grad school didn’t exactly help. I was busy managing the blog, my TA responsibilities, and all the grad school exams.
A lot of people said it was all in my head. Given my presence on the blog and IG, almost no one knew how unhappy I was. After all, I’m a size 6 23-year-old woman – what did I have to be upset about?
My boyfriend knew my feelings about myself the most. He said I was beautiful. He couldn’t tell I put on weight since we met. Of course, I’m sure he’s not lying. I’m positive I’m the only person that seens my own flaws. After all, we’re all our own worst critics.
I started trying to go to the gym and eat healthier, but a busy schedule didn’t help. I couldn’t stick to anything for longer than a week or two.
Just a few weeks ago, I was approached about a sponsored post with Orangetheory Fitness. I’d been wanting to try it for a while, so I accepted. You can see my post on it below.
If you don’t know, I’m a super competitive person. That’s probably why I did so well in high school sports. Everything about the workout was good for me, from the variety of workouts to being able to see my results on a screen. I signed up for a membership that day.
So now the question is: is it worth it?
What membership did I purchase?
We had a new studio opening up in Tucson, so I purchased the 8 classes per month membership for a monthly fee of $89. Yes, it’s expensive, which is why I opted for a smaller membership option. After all, I’m only a recent graduate. My bank account isn’t that big.
Do the classes rollover?
No, they do not. It’s both a blessing and curse. If I have a really busy month, I can’t just book those classes next month. However, this model makes me a lot more motivated to go to class and use up all my classes.
Unfortunately, canceling a class less than 8 hours in advance means you have to forfeit one of your classes. I found this out this month when an extreme migraine prevented me from going to class. Again, a blessing and a curse. You can’t cancel for emergencies without losing a class, but it really motivates me to going to every class I schedule.
Would I upgrade my membership?
No, I would not. 2 classes a week is about perfect for me and I’ll explain why.
I wanted to upgrade my membership initially because I loved the workout so much. After spending one month on my current membership plan, I decided 2 classes per week is perfect.
Since the classes don’t rollover, it’s a lot less stressful to attend two classes per week with a busy schedule. At 2 classes per week, or 8 per month, it’s easy to move classes from week to week depending on your schedule. If I wanted, I could do 1 class one week and 3 the next. At a higher membership plan, there isn’t much room for flexibility, which is needed in my schedule.
What do I like about the workout?
This was one of the first workouts I left saying, ‘wow, I actually loved that workout.’ I can’t express how unusual that is for me. I hate working out.
Part of the problem is I get really, really bored when I work out. With so much on my to-do list, I’m also not that motivated to make it to the gym. So, I’ve always preferred workout classes because they are easier to attend, easier to stay engaged in, and it literally makes time on my schedule. When I schedule a class, it becomes a part of my schedule.
The team environment is good for me because it’s so easy for me to stay motivated. With a workout class, I’m much less likely to give up on the workout halfway through.
During the workout, you wear a heart rate monitor that projects your stats up on a screen. Even though everyone in the class can see it, unless you know everyone in the class, people can’t really match your little stat box to you. (So don’t worry, it’s not embarassing!) But I, being my competitive little self, get super motivated by the boxes and try to beat everyone else, making my workout that much better. The little boxes also tell you what zone your heart rate is in. That means, if you’re not pushing yourself enough, you can see it. In this way, I’m motivated to work harder.
The workouts change every day, so I also don’t get bored with the class like I do with others. The coaches are also super encouraging and make sure you’re doing the workout right.
Overall, is it worth it?
For me, hell yeah. I know some people that don’t like workout classes or don’t need a class to be motivated. With this, I’m getting an amazing workout at least 8x a month. I can already feel the difference in my body and what I’m able to do.
I need a team environment and extra motivation, so it’s great for me. You might find a different workout that you love more. However, Orangetheory does offer your first workout free, so it can’t hurt to give it a chance, right? Who knows, maybe you’ll even get hooked like me!
