Renee Nicole

So if you don’t listen to my stories you would have missed my Orange Theory reviews during the week. It has been about a month of attendance and I am ready to give an honest review of what I think of this exercise program. So just a reference back to what I have done in the past, I have done multiple different work out programs previously. I have done the 21 Day fix, Turbo Jam, Insanity, 80 Day Obsession, Brazilian Booty workout and Tone it up. Just to name a few lol. I like being able to do workouts when it is most convenient for me and thats why I have always gravitated towards doing a video at home other than doing an actual class. In the past I would do classes at the gym, the Body Combat and Zumba but I didn’t like having to see other people and during the summers I usually lost interest of going all together.

So when I heard about this new class that all the girls in the beauty salon couldn’t stop talking about I had to try it. They looked amazing and they came in to the salon like they really had put forth a ton of effort. I was definitely ready to try something new since I just finished 80 day Obsession and I really enjoyed the program. I asked and they said what it consisted of:running, rowing and weight floor. Well I had already put forth all the effort for 80 Day and I had only problems with the food part of the program. Lets be honest, me eating just vegetables and meat gets old quick. I love the feeling that I get from being healthy but I don’t like feeling that I have no control over what I get to eat other than chicken and vegetables. Also with the 80 Day there was a very strict eating program on the exact food and the timing of it all. I would love to have all the time in the world to adjust my schedule to what it says but being a single mom of two with a very variable schedule of kids to rotate around.

So, down to Orange Theory. It is exactly what they say. If you get there in time to grab a treadmill card you can start on that, if not you can get on a rowing machine to start the hour off. If you are on the treadmill its about 23-27 minutes you will be on there or moving back and forth from the rower to the treadmill. The idea is that you don’t know what you are doing that day till you get there, which I love. I knew on day Saturday on 80 day Obsession what I was doing every time and I grew to dread it. But with this you aren’t sure of what your workout will be till you get there. SO no last minute backing out!!!

Once your coach tells you your done at the treadmill you move to the weight floor and start doing the exercises that they provide for you on the screen and show you exactly how to do it. There may be some rowing involved in this too you just never know. When you busy performing the exercises the coach will then walk around and correct your form which I love. I can do whatever at home but if I’m not doing it correctly I don’t know for sure. When you have someone coming over and telling you exactly how to do something and how your posture should be its a whole different program. In classes at the gym previously I have never had someone correct my form before and the personal hands on experience is well worth it.

During this whole workout you are wearing a heart rate monitor. I decided to purchase the one that wraps around my chest but I see a lot of other people use the arm band one. I tried the arm band and really liked that it showed which category I was in but didn’t know any different because they have me the wrap first so I just got that one. After trying the arm band one thou I am tempted to purchase one. So back to the heart rate monitor, you have this on and it keeps track of it on a screen with everyone else so you can see how your doing during class and how everyone else is doing. The idea is that you want to be in the orange zone for at least 12 points to get an after burn of 24 hours. The zones consist of grey, blue, green, orange and red. Red being the most intense you can workout in, orange being the most desired workout zone.

I tend to get into the orange zone shortly after being on the treadmill and can stay pretty consistent while on there. I have been doing better with being in the orange on the rower but still have a hard time on the weight floor keeping it in the orange. You also get a calorie burn during and at the end showing you how many calories you burned during the workout. I love seeing this and it makes me motivated to keep going. Also I love seeing other people on the board. I love being competitive trying to get more orange points then other people and I will kick it up a notch if I am low. This all occurs in just one hour of working out, usually a 400+ calorie burn for myself and at the end they do stretching to loosen everything back up. I always bring a water with me and most people bring towels. I am not a super sweaty person so I haven’t had to do that but I have seen people dripping sweat during and after and definitely a good idea if you are a sweaty betty.

So, in conclusion, you should definitely try it out. You can do one workout for free and before you do think about how much time you can devote to it because if you love it like I do you will want to go all the time. You have to book the class ahead of time because it does it full and I was over confident in the beginning thinking I would go 4 times a week. Well with two kids and and constantly changing schedule and the classes only being offered at certain times I need to adjust my billing to just 2 times a week. They have multiple plans and are able to accommodate to what you want to be doing a month.

Please take the opportunity if you have one close by to go. You won’t regret it and you will love it I promise. In my classes there are all types and ages of people and I think thats great, you can modify it to fit any person and it will work for anyone. Go try it!!!

Today is the day when you get to spend that supercash you have been holding onto for so long. At least for me it feels that way! Been burning a whole in my pocket I swear. And I have been at Old Navy a few times since and (grabbed more cash) a few more items I can’t wait to share. I have some things I want to get out to you as soon as possible so I did some try on sessions recently so you can see some items you may want to grab.

This tank is made out of a cozy material perfect for fall, go down one size. This thin cardigan will get you through the left over a/c people still want to have running. Jeans fit true to size, great fit!

This jacket is a must have, available in multiple colors including camo that I have, fits true to size. This tee under is so inexpensive and great for layering.

This dress is so cute, fits true to size and could put some cute booties or over the knee boots for fall. Denim jacket is made for this dress.

These are the best joggers for the best price by far. Not see through and come in multiple colors, go true to size. Love this tank!

Love this cardigan, looks and feels like wool but without the price tag or the itchiness, henley is perfect for layering with cardigans and love these jeans, fit true to size all pieces.