I bought a Peloton during the pandemic and it turned into a clothes rack. I tried all kinds of training, but none of them worked. However, I also wasn’t happy with my postpartum body. I found out about Orange Theory through a friend and just completed it. This is my 250th class.
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I’m not an athlete. But it wasn’t for lack of trying.
When I was a kid, I tried to dance, but I couldn’t coordinate it properly. I also tried gymnastics and baton twirling (also without coordination). I’ve been playing soccer consistently for years, and I stayed on the team because I could kick the ball far. I could barely run, and the breath left my lungs before I could make any real progress in any athletic activity.
During my school days, when losing weight was my only priority, I spent hours at the gym and hated every second of it. Still, I always tried to fall in love with fitness. Growing up, I’ve tried it all: hot yoga, boxing, Pilates, barre, and spinning. If there was a fitness trend, I would try my hardest to take classes and get hooked on it.
Of course nothing caught on.
I don’t want to cling to my postpartum body.
Then I had a child. My husband and I purchased a Peloton for our home. I was hoping this would be the end of my search for a fitness regime that I could stick to. The pandemic has given me the opportunity to no longer have the excuse of “time”. And I enjoyed spin classes for quite some time. But in the end, that Peloton ended up being a (very expensive) clothes rack, and now it’s taking up valuable space in my bedroom.
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I was in the middle of my exploration and was at the point where I had tried everything. Aside from more intense workouts like CrossFit, I was too scared to try them. It seemed like I had no choice. However, my mental health deteriorated and my postpartum body was not what I wanted to keep.
My best friend had recently started an Orange Theory class and wanted me to join. But I thought of the Orange Theory as one of those terrible options that I would never consider. It seemed like you had to be an athlete to take those classes, and I’m not an athlete.
I finally tried Orange Theory.
After months of being fed up with my friends, a little desperate, I signed up for a trial class. My nerves were exploding. I spent the night imagining a class of super fit men and women mocking me for not knowing how to use the rower machine.
But as soon as I stepped into the studio, I realized I was wrong.
The members were of all shapes and sizes, and the coach was calm and gave us a detailed explanation of what to expect in our first class. Suddenly, I could breathe a little easier.
Once class started, I quickly realized that even if I didn’t know how to use a rower, it was unlikely that the others in the studio would notice. Everyone was focused on themselves, so my nervousness quickly disappeared.
I later learned that my first class was one of their signature classes called Everest. It mimics climbing Mount Everest and is therefore considered one of the most difficult forms. The thought that I was able to make it all the way through the class without falling off the treadmill or passing out (which I felt like I might) gave me the confidence to go back again. And again. And again.
I now love working out
It’s been over a year since I first stepped into Orange Theory. Having recently completed my 250th class, I can officially say that fitness is not only something I love and strive for, but it has become a part of my daily life.
When I started, running for more than two minutes was impossible. Right now, I’m registered for a 5K marathon and a half marathon. You’ll run faster, lift heavier, and finish each class with mental clarity and newfound stamina you never had before.
Beyond fitness, my health has improved. I no longer have to worry about longevity or taking care of my children. My cholesterol has dropped over 50 points and I can finally see beyond my appearance and understand how much fitness impacts other areas of my life.
Previously, I used to exercise and attend fitness classes to lose weight. Now I come to Orange Theory to start my day right, challenge myself physically and mentally, and learn that you don’t have to be an athlete or super skinny to be healthy. I am showing this to my daughters. Surprisingly, I am now the type of person who wakes up before 6am. I’m the type of person who runs 4 miles before everyone wakes up on family vacations. I run because I want to, not because I feel like I have to.
A year ago, when I swallowed my fear and stepped into Orange Theory, I might not have become an athlete. I still can’t run and kick a ball at the same time, even if my life depends on it. But it turned me into a fitness enthusiast. And in the end, that’s enough for me.
