Chalk Southern To Me: Fitness

Showing posts with label Fitness. Show all posts

Fitness Motivation: Get Going & Get Results

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

I've always enjoyed exercising and love discovering new workout classes in the area. I find that if I can work out a couple times each week that I feel better and have a little more energy. I always wish that I could squeeze in a few more workouts than I do each week but I have to be realistic with myself and right now, our days fill up quickly with other obligations.

I was recently given the opportunity to work with Orangetheory Fitness, a revolutionary workout concept that has been featured in the New York Times, Bloomberg, Men's Fitness, and many other news publications. They have just opened 3 studios in the Raleigh area so I was very excited to see what it was all about.

Orangetheory Fitness is a unique group workout broken into intervals of cardio and strength training. You will alternate between treadmills, indoor rowing machines and weight room/resistance training blocks. Each session that I have attended has been unique and different which I really enjoy because I tend to get bored {very quickly} if my workout routine is same. That definitely won't happen if you make the investment in Orangetheory Fitness!

The sessions are led by professional and very energetic trainers that are there to support and encourage you during the entire workout which was a huge motivator for me. I'll be honest, the last 10 minutes were tough - my legs were shaking, my arms were already sore and the sweat was pouring down my face - but our trainer kept us going until the very end.

During the 60 minute workout, you will wear a heart-rate monitor which is designed to help you keep your heart rate in a target zone that stimulates metabolism and increases energy. Everyone's heart rates are projected on TV screens throughout the workout so you can see if you need to push yourself harder or slow down to reach the target "orange zone." If you stay within the orange zone for 12 - 20 minutes during the class, the result is the Orange Effect - more energy, visible toning and extra calorie burn up to 36 hours post-workout. Who doesn't love to hear that their workout will continue to drive results even post-workout?!

After the workout, you will receive an email with a recap showing how you did during the class to easily track your progress. If your goal is to lose weight, you can expect to see an estimated loss of 3-5 pounds by attending 3-5 sessions per week. But if your goal is performance, like me, you can expect to see an increase in power, speed and strength after your first 2 weeks by attending 2-4 sessions per week. As I train for my upcoming half-marathon in October, I will continue to attend at least 2 sessions each week and will let you know the results that I am able to achieve after crossing the finish line in Philadelphia.

You can also expect to burn an estimated 500 to 1,000 calories per workout. During my first session, I was able to burn approximately 755 calories in 60 minutes! This is my kind of workout.

Their studios are located all around the country, click here to see if there is one near you. If you are in the Raleigh area, they have a studio in Morrisville, Chapel Hill and Holly Springs. The Holly Springs location is where I attend classes - the entire staff is extremely friendly, willing to answer any of my questions and are just awesome people! :)

I highly recommend Orangetheory Fitness to anyone, it is challenging but incredibly rewarding. If you have any questions or would be interested in attending an upcoming class, feel free to email me! I'd love to have you join me.

Outfit Details:

Pants: Zella "Live In 2" Capris

Top: Lululemon "Cool Racerback" tank

Shoes: Brooks PureCadence 4

Headband: Headbands of Hope Sheer Gold

Current Obsession: Flywheel Sports

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Phew! It has been a busy week but I am back and excited for the weekend.

Many of you have asked about Flywheel so I am here to share my thoughts! Flywheel Sports is my current obsession right now. If you have one in your area and you haven't tried their classes then I highly recommend you give it a shot. You won't be disappointed, I promise.

You may be asking, "Why Flywheel?" or "What's so special about it?" because I asked those exact questions before I signed up for my first class. But I can honestly say that the environment, the instructors, the challenge, and the feeling {after the class} have me coming back every week.

The Environment:

The music is key. Each of the instructors choreograph their own class by syncing the ride to the beat of the song. Not a single ride is the same and I love it.

The Instructors:

They are high-energy and keep you motivated during the entire 40+ minute ride even if your mind is telling you to stop {I have been in that moment a few times}. The Instructors will suggest target resistance levels and RPM's to strive for or give you alternatives if you are new to Flywheel.

Source

The Challenge:

It is all about YOU - your experience, your workout, your performance, your results. The technology that is used will allow you to challenge yourself but also compete with other riders in the room.

The Feeling:

Your legs may feel like jello and your arms may be sore for a few days - I am speaking from experience :) - but the results that you begin to see after a few rides are amazing. It is one of the most rewarding workouts.

While you are there, you should also try FlyBarre. This is a completely different workout - it blends light weight training, dance and core strengthening exercises all together. The environment and Instructors are just as fabulous and most of them teach Flywheel and FlyBarre.

Have you tried Flywheel or FlyBarre?! If so, I would love to hear your thoughts!