Interested in burning calories up to 36 hours after you’ve worked out? If the answer to that question is yes, then Orangetheory is the place for you. A high-tech exercise program specifically designed for members to increase their efforts while maintaining the workout routine with coaches and plenty of classes offered. It’s quite easy to find the perfect fit. Orangetheory gets those heart rates pumping, and by pumping we mean really beating for at least 12 minutes all while hooked up to a heart rate monitor displayed for the coaches to assess their clients during the workout.
With over 1,000 studios in the South, the franchise is booming. Shreveport owner Matt Moyer began his fitness journey as an Orangetheory member with elevated cholesterol and high blood pressure. After adapting to the Orangetheory workouts, Matt was not only able to become prescription medication free, but he also turned into one of the coaches, which eventually lead him to opening his own studios. His dedication and love of Orangetheory is personal for him as he lives it – daily.
With workouts scientifically designed for heart rate based interval training, Orangetheory has five (5) zones featuring the heart rate displayed on the board giving real time results as the members are hooked to heart rate monitors. From the green zone of slight aerobic activity at a conversational pace to the red zone where no one lingers, they just visit for a minute or two – the workouts are dependent on each member’s personal fitness level. Conveniently, Orangetheory facilities all around the world are available to members with each studio completing the same workout regimen for the day. By doing this, no one has to miss leg or back day if traveling.
Orangetheory is based on the individual workout within a group setting while a coach guides members through the interval workout helping them get in the correct zones and maximizing their calorie burning heart rate. As Head Fitness Coach Karen Edwards says, “It’s just you and your heart rate; you can push yourself as hard as you want.” Interval training means once pushed to the orange zone, the coaches will bring you back to your green zone to recover allowing more fat and calories to be burned,which is why most are at the gym – to burn those calories.
Members have a wide range of fitness levels. Though there are a few challenges for those who enjoy competition, the workouts are personally driven by a member’s personal performance. Members receive a daily workout email containing valuable data points compiling days, weeks, months, and years’ worth of fitness gold.
Studio Manager Cari McGray admits that members become addicted to their program. She suggests to test the waters by trying the first class for free. When ready to sign up, a short interview before the workout with fitness goals, a few forms, and a heart rate monitor will have the member ready to improve endurance and strength that day. Cari said, “We come from all different fitness backgrounds. We understand it is a fast pace, but this is an individual journey. We have everything from power walkers to marathon runners.”
ORANGETHEORY LINGO
Key words you’ll hear during the workout:
- Challenging But Doable = Green Zone
- Uncomfortable Pace = Orange Zone
- SPLAT points = 1 pt. for every min. in the Orange Zone
- Base Push = Green Zone
- All Out Red = give it everything headed to Red Zone
- Push Orange = get that heart rate up
- Zone 1 = GRAY – Asleep or completely relaxed
- Zone 2 = BLUE – shopping, moderate daily activity, typing, sitting at your desk
- Zone 3 = GREEN – aerobic activity zone, burning calories at elevated rate and doing something challenging but doable, brisk walk, lifting weights
- Zone 4 = ORANGE – anaerobic working so hard your body can’t process oxygen fast enough, and it uses fast burning sugars to generate energy, burning carbs – uncomfortable, this is your heavy panting
- Zone 5 = RED – don’t linger here, just a few minutes and head back down to the green, no more than one or two minutes here.
MIKE KUHR
Marathon Runner • Triathlete • Cyclist • Cancer Survivor
“I have two oranges for breakfast, every morning – 2 back-to-back Orangetheory workouts.”
Always having been an active person, Mike Kuhr’s world was turned upside down after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in 2007. The 225 pound weight lifter watched as his fight with cancer left him alive, but weak and significantly smaller at 168 pounds.
Anxious to return to his former fitness level, Mike was mentally and physically ready to regain his former self. Though he knew workout routines and was able to complete his training on his own, he had a level of frustration without being able to track his progress or have any type of feedback. Mike then discovered Orangetheory and became an inaugural member. Passionate about this program, Mike’s favorite aspect is his ability to track his progress and see his zones on the screen to know if he can really give it more during his workout. He has watched his endurance build and enjoys the high-fives and fist bumps when a base pace changes for him. For Mike, there is no plateau. He wants to continue to progress and finds different aspects of his fitness to improve such as speed or his push pace. Feeling the best shape of his life, Mike attributes this to the overall Orangetheory experience – a workout perfectly blended with friends to encourage, a coach to push, and statistic reports he receives daily on his progress. It is the perfect recipe to crush his fitness goals and watch his friends accomplish theirs. “We are all in this fitness journey together,” Mike explained. “Ever since I joined, Orangetheory has established a new base for me which I apply to my daily life – I now attack everything in life with an ALL-OUT effort.”
SHANNON LAWHEAD
Nurse Anesthetist • Mother • Encourager • All Around An Amazing Person
“In the past, I’ve always expected weight loss to happen quickly and when it didn’t, I would get frustrated and quit. At Orangetheory I allowed it to be a process. Every week something else was added or changed, or someone in my life encouraged me in some way that kept me going. I hope to do the same for someone else one day. Orangetheory gave me my life back.”
What started as a goal to lose weight has now evolved into a complete lifestyle change. Taking the terrifying simple steps to cross over the Orangetheory threshold changed Shannon Lawhead’s life for the better. Shannon has lost over 75 pounds since she began her Orangetheory journey.
In the beginning she wanted to improve her self-image, be a positive role model for her two daughters, and find a healthier lifestyle. What she discovered on her fitness journey was a tight-knit bond between her fellow Orangetheory goers, her coach, and herself which enabled her commitment to this fitness journey and bring a constant state of health for a healthier life. This mentality has evolved beyond just herself with the entire family planning meals and physical adventures together as a new normal.
Having always been focused on just losing weight, Shannon was the victim of the yo-yo dieting, never fully committing to one program. However, that all changed when she was welcomed with open arms to Orangetheory which has transformed Shannon into a marathon runner through the positive encouragement of her coach always pushing her to try a little harder than the day before and her desire to stay the course. The sense of accomplishment after completing the workout is a huge bonus for our busy nurse, not to mention stress reliever, but with the eyes on the prize she strives to increase her speed and become a more efficient runner. Shannon has big plans for more races and family adventures as she keeps adding races to her repertoire.
Shannon often describes Orangetheory like working out at a night club thanks to the fun music and low lighting. She may even dance a little with the right song. “I just keep trying to meet my benchmark goal they have set for me and improve,” Shannon beams, “I started out walking on the treadmill and now, I’m a runner.”
Every text from her coach, every fist bump from the front desk, and every encouraging word are Shannon’s fuel to keep pushing at Orangetheory.
MICHAEL ANGELO
Make-up Artist • Creative Director Renaissance Man • Positive Community Force
“Every day I go to Orangetheory I have something that I am proud of, something few people take time to celebrate in a world inundated with schedules, but every day I am able to say I did something that aids in my health. It was a challenge and I feel better – I celebrate after my workout.”
A visionary for the SBC, Michael Angelo is a well-known name usually spoken with a loving smile. Those who know him, adore him for his vibrancy and eyes that see a Utopian world full of silver linings. Michael Angelo sees people for who they are and what they want to be – especially in his field of work. Having been a yo-yo dieter his entire adult life, Michael has tried every plan possible from purchasing workout videos to Internet diet plans. He has been through trainers (whom he enjoyed), fad diets, not so fad diets, and some unhealthy avenues of losing weight. Weight loss was an obsession, and he would fluctuate from extremely heavy to far too thin. Yet, he never made a lifestyle change until Orangetheory. At 32 years old, Michael has found a fitness regime that he has been able to keep – daily. What started as a simple plan to accompany his friend to a new workout facility, because this is Michael Angelo and he would never allow a friend to approach something new alone – of course, he signed up. He showed up to the 5 a.m. workout with no prior knowledge. His first thought, “Am I going to die in front of these people?” Knowing he can rise to any occasion, Michael committed to the workout as he began on the treadmill. Noticing some of the other runners were much like gazelles panting and sweating, he made it through the workout. “I knew if I could complete one I could do it,” is what Michael thought at the time and so he has. Going on to win the Transformation Challenge after losing 13% of his body weight, Michael has competed in every challenge, loving how each one motives him to his next fitness goal.
With the daily report summary of fitness progress to measure success, Orangetheory’s coaches, and professionally designed workouts, Michael Angelo has found the perfect appeal to keep him motivated and capable of accomplishing greatness physically. Ready to maintain his active lifestyle, Michael found Orangetheory.