The Inside Scoop About Orangetheory Fitness

Move over CrossFit and indoor cycle classes, a new interval-training studio making a big name for itself is Orangetheory Fitness.

Orangetheory offers a 60-minute interval workout that's split between cardio and weight training with a heart rate monitor to track your intensity.

Here's how it works. You walk in and sign all the paperwork, which takes about 5 to 10 minutes. You put information about your height, weight, goals, fitness level and other stats, which will help you track your progress.

More: An Easy Way to Aggregate Your Fitness Data

One of the Orangetheory trainers will hand you a heart rate monitor to wear throughout class. You will then get a demo about the class lingo and how to work each piece of equipment. You'll meet the instructor and can discuss your overall goals and fitness level. The instructor will then give you modifications and pointers to help you throughout class.

Class time. The class splits up into two groups, the cardio (treadmillers) and resistance group. Each group does a five-minute warm up and then the intensity begins.

Cardio Group

Oangetheory fitness 

The group hops on a cardio machine. Each class may have different intervals per machine, but most use the treadmill. Jump on and start walking or running—depending on your level. Listen to the cues to up your intensity or incline. You do about 15 to 20 minutes of cardio intervals, which boosts your metabolic rate. Throughout the cardio session, look on the monitors surrounding the walls to find your heart rate. See if you're in your ultimate fat-burning zone. Once you power through your cardio session, move on to resistance training.

More: Train Smarter: Know Your Target Heart Rate Zones

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About the Author

Fara Rosenzweig

Fara Rosenzweig is the Lifestyle Editor for Active.com. She is a fitness fanatic, yogi and runner who loves to try new activities. Follow Fara on Google+ or twitter @FJRose.
Fara Rosenzweig is the Lifestyle Editor for Active.com. She is a fitness fanatic, yogi and runner who loves to try new activities. Follow Fara on Google+ or twitter @FJRose.

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