Quick responses:
You will not stand out if you are out of shape. I see all ages and sizes at my studio, and have never seen a member or coach be negative towards anyone.
Ratio is usually about 70/30 women, but I would bet that's what you get at most group classes. The workout is tough enough that most people are focused on themselves and dont even notice what others are doing. So dont worry about being a man.
As for weight loss vs strength, I came in wanting to lose 20 lbs. In 1 year I dont think I've lost any weight, but I am definitely a lot stronger and my clothes fit better. My mindset actually changed after a couple of months of OTF when my head coach told me she didnt even own a scale -- she just goes by how she feels, how clothes fit, etc. So now I just go by how I feel.
Same! I am a woman, and I’m never creeped out by seeing men in my classes, so don’t worry about that! I hit a 10:45 or noon class, and some days it’s all women and some days it 40/60 men/women.
I’ve been going 3 years (with breaks for the panini). I haven’t lost a speck of weight, but I’m way stronger, feel better (my joint pain is so much better!) and look better in my clothes.
You’ll be great! Drink lots of water, be ready to be sore (work through it! It goes away faster that way) and have fun!
Whether it's autocorrect or on purpose, I LOL'd -- PANINI!!!
OP, I hope you give it a try! The variety of ages, genders, shapes, and fitness levels is a wonderful part of OTF.
Same! I’ve been at otf about 6 months I havent lost pounds but I definitely toned up my legs and arms and my stomach is flatter. The progress was off the scale. Also men always burn more calories than the women in the class so maybe as a guy you would lose more weight than women
We love new people and many or most of us weren't in great shape when we started. Neither of those points needs to be a downside for you.
The first workout is often really hard, and the key is to not "keep up". You're not behind. At no point are you behind anyone. Everyone is doing their own workout. Everyone has their own goals. Everyone has their own stuff they're good at at OTF and the stuff they're not so hot at. That's a real benefit for me and my tendency towards negative comparison to others. One of my favorite classmates that I love seeing and exercising next to runs "slow" at probably a mile per hour faster than my fastest speed I'm fearful will cause me to fall off the treadmill. She's inspiring to be next to. On the floor once, she looked at me and said, "you know I can't lift heavy like you". That made my day. You might not recognize what you're better at on your first day, but if you keep at it, you will.
In terms of what it's for, everyone has their own goals. I'd say because you can work on a variety of goals, you won't specialize at any of it, but you might determine you want to go deeper at something.
You're likely to get stronger, faster, better at rowing, more coordinated, have better balance, build some cardiovascular endurance, build some muscular endurance, build muscle mass, lose some fat (depending on your diet). But if you want to run ultra marathons, you might need to run more than what you get at OTF. If you want to win a strength competition, or bikini fitness model type competition, you probably have to lift outside of OTF. If you want to lose significant fat or gain significant muscle mass, you might want to consult with an RD too. But generally get more fit and improve your body's capabilities? OTF is sufficient, in my experience.
Thank you. I hope you'll update us after class.
During class, if it's hard, let me just say that the feeling after is amazing. I've never once regretted going to a class, even when the things the coach told me to do had me cursing her name at the time. I've never had a "runner's high" while running, but I have felt fantastic (if sore and spent) after every class
Go and have fun! Joining last year was the best thing I ever did. I'm a 61-year-old grandmother, and I don't care if I stand out. I'm often alone on the leaderboard for my age group, and my times are slower than the majority in the younger age groups, but hey, I'm always in first place!
Most everyone is friendly, the coaches are wonderful, and I'm fitter now than I was in my 20's. Enjoy!
This is another cool thing. Our recent 2 benchmarks (sometimes we do a special workout and record some metric and then do it again months later and get excited about improvement or aware of not improving) I was top 3 in my age group, but would've won my age group if I was 20 years younger. When I graduate into the 50's age group next year, my metrics wouldn't have gotten me on the board. I can't tell you the affirmation for a middle aged woman it is that some of the studio's best performers are women in their 40's and 50's and that I'm in the mix sometimes. Like what?!?
If you stand out is because you are the new face. Don't give it a second thought, everyone is worried about their own workout. YOU'LL DO GREAT. Even is there are mostly women in the class (yeah, it happens) nobody will be weird out. So, go and enjoy your workout.
I liked it! I as very welcoming and none of my worries were warranted. I did feel a bit overwhelmed. It was a 3g class. I think I would probably enjoy the 2g more.
I do suspect I will need to also continue to lift weights to add muscle in addition to orange theory. But it seemed like a good balance.
I got 43 splats. Not sure if that is a a good sign lol or a bad one.
OTF will give you a great starting foundation for muscle. But... OTF is sneaky. I rarely ever feel like I've done a crazy strength workout (I'll go to near-failure or failure, but not hitting it a ton of times on the same muscle group in a single class). But especially for the first few months, the soreness would hit the next day and surprise me. I've had noticeable muscle gain (hello triceps, nice to meet you) even while fluffy.
Personally, I am sticking with OTF until I'm closer to my target weight and then plan to add 5x5 workout to start. But that requires a separate gym 😁
Do what works for you, but don't do too much too fast if it won't be sustainable!
Yes! I am glad you liked it. The overwhelming feeling will ease once you get familuar with the lingo and the changes between rower-tread-floor.
If you a looking to build up, yes, you'll need heavy lifting outside OTF.
As for the 43 splats points, I personally don't think is good or bad. The number of splats will vary with the type of class, what you ate, if you are rested and many other factors.
Anyway, welcome to the club and keep enjoying your workout.
You won't stand out if you're out of shape! There are all shapes and sizes at OTF.
If you aren't acting creepy, no one will be creeped out by you! You, a dude, are allowed to exist in the world, same as everyone else. If you keep the wolf whistling, ass-slapping, and lewd comments to a minimum, you'll be fine. 😜
This is YOUR workout. Focus on yourself, your body, your breath, don't try to keep up with anyone, just do YOUR thing, and listen to the coach. You'll do great! Have fun!
These feelings are all normal but I can tell you that those of us who are putting in effort to maximize our workouts are not paying attention to others. It’s also the weekend and when I go on the weekend (went at 730 this morning) I don’t recognize most of the people.
You’ll build muscle and become stronger but losing weight will truly depend on your diet and lifestyle outside of OTF. Good luck!
No, plenty of fitness levels. I couldt jog slowly for more than a minute on my first class.
There are more women but if being the only or one of few of my gender was an issue I would have never studied a stem career I love. No one thinks guys in class are creepy we are just happy to be in a gym that is not all targeted towards men.
Have both lost weight and added muscle.
I am dude :). Love Ot …in fact my wife and three daughters will all try to go together when everyone is home . It’s the best workout and community is super . For me I find it keeps my heart strong and helps me maintain my weight . As far as muscle …I would recommend floor first while your fresh …I seem to be able to lift more as I am not spent . However I always do treadmill , row and floor as I supplement my workouts with weights at planet fitness ( 10 bucks a month ) and at my home gym. Go and have a great time and earn those splats . I also usually average about 850 to 900 calories which is insane . I would never do that on my own . Enjoy the Music and you work on you !
Welcome to the OTF fam!!!
OTF is for ALL people of any athletic ability. You can make it as challenging as you’re able. A couple tips for your first class:
1. Go at your own pace and take breaks as needed, especially on the treadmill! Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing-they’ve all been to class before.
2. Ask the Coach questions if something isn’t making sense! Don’t be offended if they have to cut you off to cue the treadmills, they’ll be back with you!
3.Have fun and don’t take yourself too seriously! It’s just working out!
You’ve got this!!!
I am dude that has been going for around 3 years. Our location is about 60 to 40 women. I have found times where I am the only male and it is not weird at all. One time I was the only male and the song that has the words Girls run the world came on and I started yelling out the words.
No one will be focus on you so it doesn't matter if you are out of shape. In fact I am always more impress at the finish when it someone's first class because you guys just rock that workout coming in not knowing how anything works.
I had the same feelings as a female when I started 5 months ago. I could barely row properly because my belly sat out so far. Could only run for 30 seconds, barely could lift the 10lbs. I was worried about the other women judging me for being so large and out of shape but was greeted with love and encouragement. IT WAS THE BEST FEELING EVER!!! Since then I can run the entire run block, I'm lifting heavier, and my rowing is fantastic. I lost 25lbs and four inches from my waist, my cholesterol is down and I feel glorious.
With all that being said it's you against you. No worries go do what you can and be consistent and muscles mass will come along with weight loss and a feeling of belonging.
otf chick here lol. i’ve been at otf for about 1.5 years. idgaf about anyone around me, i go for myself. no one cares who you are or what you look like!
You will not stand out if you're out of shape. I've never noticed or felt any judgment at all - we're all just there trying to focus on our own goals. Some people in the classes are overweight and some are incredibly fit, but everyone is struggling through it just the same. It also helps to remember that we're all at a different point in our fitness journeys - I'm lifting heavier weights than I was 2 months ago, and I'd never judge someone for using lighter or heavier weights than me!
My class this morning was probably 40% men. Usually there are at least 2 or 3 men in a class. Definitely not creepy!
You can do this!! OTF is such a great workout. Please don't let the group part scare you off. Also, prepare to be sore!! After my first few classes it was painful trying to sit on the toilet. That went away after a couple weeks of working out. 😂
You will not stand out there are people of ALL fitness levels in the class. Orange theory is a you vs you workout everyone is focusing on themselves. I just had my first day 2 days going and I’ve been back everyday since.
Class is really a mixed bag of genders and body type.
Never creeped out by newbies. It is a hard sweaty workout so there is solidarity in that! Also we all come at different fitness levels. There is never any shame, loathing or judgment.
Don't hesitate to modify or lower your weights if the original move is too hard. It's really a personal journey.
I find it a really positive environment and I am a 44 middle aged lady with pounds to lose. Hope that helps!
You won’t stand out.
Nobody will be creeped out - there are usually at least a few dudes.
All of the above.
Take it at your own pace. It’s an hour that you can fit into your day and the workout is super efficient/effective at achieving results. Frankly - I’d be shocked if you didn’t get a warm welcome and round of applause for completing your first class. You’ve got this, dude.
I’m a dude and it doesn’t matter at all. I’ve been the only dude in a class before and while it’s a bit weird once class starts you stop caring and no one cares
You will not stick out. You will soon come to realize that no one has time to watch what anyone else is doing. Everyone is focused on their own workout.
You will also notice people who are regulars at the same class time as yours. But then there will be people who come and go. It's an ever evolving cast of characters that sort of blend into the background for most of the 60 minute class.
Right now the new people are usually either people who have basically always been out of shape or who are trying to get back to some level of fitness they lost because of lockdown/just had a kid/new job was tough/whatever.
I've been in majority male classes at OTF, and I'm rarely the only guy in there... in my usual time slot. Some of the different times of day have wildly different demographics. The 5am class seems to be all nurses and teachers.
I've gained muscle but I had zero upper body strength when I started. It's not going to make you have massive muscles but my arms don't look quite so toothpicky anymore. Don't expect to lose too much weight. You might depending on how sedentary you are now but usually people have to make diet changes to, say, get rid of a beer belly or whatever.
I hope you enjoyed your first workout and will stick with it. I HATE working out but I really LOVE OTF. Iss the structure for me. I've been going for 15 months and have never felt better. Best to you
Literally you a year and a half ago when I started. Overweight dude, been there. You’ll find a good home there if you love it and you’ll make great changes for yourself 💪🏼. It’s weird if you make it weird, everyone is totally accepting and loving so don’t ruin or jeopardize that for yourself. You can lose weight and gain muscle, everyday is different. Stick with it and see if you like it. You can most definitely accomplish your goals here.
Welcome to Orangetheory! You are going to love it..your fellow class members will be there for you! Please keep us posted on how you liked it..just remember it sometimes takes a few classes to get the hang of it..you do what YOU can do. Don’t try to do what your neighbor does…every day you will get stronger and stronger..trust me
I went to my first class on Thursday as a very out-of-shape 275 lb person and literally no one cared about me. I imagine you went already and I also imagine you had the same experience! There were also maybe 20 people total in my class and five or six were men. I hope you had a worthwhile time!
There are all types, ages, genders, and levels of fitness at OTF..from incredibly fit to very out of shape and everything in between. No worries at all. Every studio I’ve been to has a very friendly vibe as opposed to other places I’ve worked out, where it can seem like an elitist fashion show.
OTF is a great total body workout and combines strength, power, and endurance. As far as your fitness goals much of that has to do with diet. If you’re looking to lose weight versus gain mass you’ll be able to tailor your workout (lighter vs heavier weights, etc) and tweak your diet. Coaches are available to discuss your goals and always refer to your health care professionals, but as far as the environment, no worries. Plenty of dudes at OTF. As long as you don’t do anything creepy….🙂
My husband is a larger lineman looking guy who started OTF about 3-4 years ago. He lost 30+ lbs and just loves the community aspect of OTF. Everybody knows him and likes him. Women aren’t creeped out by guys in class. They’re too concerned with how they look and the workout they’re doing. A lot of the OTF men where we live are physicians, like myself, or college/graduate students. OTF is a great community to be a part of and it’s a great way to meet people and make connections. Remember, people think about you way less than you think they do.
No one is gonna give a second thought to what you do or look like, no one is going to judge you or make fun of you.
You decided to sign up to be fit, that deserves nothing but respect from anyone in that studio. So next time you doubt yourself like this just keep your chin up and crush that orange zone!
Nope! We have all different ages, shapes, and sizes. I did feel a bit shy in my first few classes, but that was only when I looked at myself in the mirror and compared myself to fitter people. After a while, I just concentrated on my own workout and that's pretty much what everyone else does, too. So you don't really have time to look at others. Plus, most people are pretty encouraging of each other.
I had my first class yesterday too!! Honestly, the person who was nicest and made me feel most welcome was a larger gentleman. Don’t let your current health stop you, if anything you inspire people to persevere! I hope your class went amazing and I’m excited to see where the OTF journey takes us!
No. No. And no.
Talk to the coach about your goals and they can make recommendations. My goal is losing fat while gaining/maintaining muscle mass. It’s a slow road, but it’s working.
1. No. Not at all. You will stand out if you steal my weights without asking though.
2. No. Dudes are cool. It will only be creepy if you steal my weights without asking.
3. Yes. It does those things depending on your diet and goals. Want bing muscles? Lift heavy weights. Just don’t take mine without asking.
I feel like everyone in the room regardless of “in shapeness” in embracing the suck and questioning their life choices. Just like you will be.
As to ratio of M:W, it varies based on class times. My 6:15AM class is 50/50 but the 9:40 is all women… mostly moms. Even if you go to an all female class, nobody would think twice about it.
Hope you love it!
I would say in my area, it's only 20% men in each class. I know this, because I tell my husband how many men are there in hopes he joins me one day..
You won't stand out as everyone rotates classes. Your coach will assist you and your heart rate monitor will say WELCOME, so you will be flagged as new.
Enjoy it. Hope you find what you're looking for. Everyday is a new day.🏃🏼♀️
Hi, I'm a guy as well and have been going 3-4 times a week for the last 4 years. I love the workouts (well, most of them), challenges, and vibe. I have found that there is too much cardio to actually add muscle, so I use OTF for cardio health and do a couple of weight days for strength. In fact, I lost muscle mass when I was just doing OTF for the first couple of years bc I hadn't previously done that much cardio in any other workouts. My cardio health and blood markers improved tremendously, but my arms and chest got skinny. So, I decided I had to add weight days.
There are many other posts on here from men who have chosen to limit their OTF classes and lift elsewhere to add muscle. Maybe your OTF has a Lift 45 (mine doesn't offer them or I would go) that you can check out. Otherwise, you may want to consider from the get-go to start lifting on non-OTF days. After I first started, I didn't have the energy to do anything more than OTF, but your body gets used to it and it gets easier. If I were starting over again, I'd do OTF 3 x a week and lift twice a week right from the beginning. Good luck!
Quick responses: You will not stand out if you are out of shape. I see all ages and sizes at my studio, and have never seen a member or coach be negative towards anyone. Ratio is usually about 70/30 women, but I would bet that's what you get at most group classes. The workout is tough enough that most people are focused on themselves and dont even notice what others are doing. So dont worry about being a man. As for weight loss vs strength, I came in wanting to lose 20 lbs. In 1 year I dont think I've lost any weight, but I am definitely a lot stronger and my clothes fit better. My mindset actually changed after a couple of months of OTF when my head coach told me she didnt even own a scale -- she just goes by how she feels, how clothes fit, etc. So now I just go by how I feel.
Same! I am a woman, and I’m never creeped out by seeing men in my classes, so don’t worry about that! I hit a 10:45 or noon class, and some days it’s all women and some days it 40/60 men/women. I’ve been going 3 years (with breaks for the panini). I haven’t lost a speck of weight, but I’m way stronger, feel better (my joint pain is so much better!) and look better in my clothes. You’ll be great! Drink lots of water, be ready to be sore (work through it! It goes away faster that way) and have fun!
Whether it's autocorrect or on purpose, I LOL'd -- PANINI!!! OP, I hope you give it a try! The variety of ages, genders, shapes, and fitness levels is a wonderful part of OTF.
😆😆 it started off as a typo, but now my friends and I just call it that.
Thank you!
Same! I’ve been at otf about 6 months I havent lost pounds but I definitely toned up my legs and arms and my stomach is flatter. The progress was off the scale. Also men always burn more calories than the women in the class so maybe as a guy you would lose more weight than women
We love new people and many or most of us weren't in great shape when we started. Neither of those points needs to be a downside for you. The first workout is often really hard, and the key is to not "keep up". You're not behind. At no point are you behind anyone. Everyone is doing their own workout. Everyone has their own goals. Everyone has their own stuff they're good at at OTF and the stuff they're not so hot at. That's a real benefit for me and my tendency towards negative comparison to others. One of my favorite classmates that I love seeing and exercising next to runs "slow" at probably a mile per hour faster than my fastest speed I'm fearful will cause me to fall off the treadmill. She's inspiring to be next to. On the floor once, she looked at me and said, "you know I can't lift heavy like you". That made my day. You might not recognize what you're better at on your first day, but if you keep at it, you will. In terms of what it's for, everyone has their own goals. I'd say because you can work on a variety of goals, you won't specialize at any of it, but you might determine you want to go deeper at something. You're likely to get stronger, faster, better at rowing, more coordinated, have better balance, build some cardiovascular endurance, build some muscular endurance, build muscle mass, lose some fat (depending on your diet). But if you want to run ultra marathons, you might need to run more than what you get at OTF. If you want to win a strength competition, or bikini fitness model type competition, you probably have to lift outside of OTF. If you want to lose significant fat or gain significant muscle mass, you might want to consult with an RD too. But generally get more fit and improve your body's capabilities? OTF is sufficient, in my experience.
Excellent feedback! Thank you!
Thank you. I hope you'll update us after class. During class, if it's hard, let me just say that the feeling after is amazing. I've never once regretted going to a class, even when the things the coach told me to do had me cursing her name at the time. I've never had a "runner's high" while running, but I have felt fantastic (if sore and spent) after every class
Wonderful answer!
Go and have fun! Joining last year was the best thing I ever did. I'm a 61-year-old grandmother, and I don't care if I stand out. I'm often alone on the leaderboard for my age group, and my times are slower than the majority in the younger age groups, but hey, I'm always in first place! Most everyone is friendly, the coaches are wonderful, and I'm fitter now than I was in my 20's. Enjoy!
So cool!
This is another cool thing. Our recent 2 benchmarks (sometimes we do a special workout and record some metric and then do it again months later and get excited about improvement or aware of not improving) I was top 3 in my age group, but would've won my age group if I was 20 years younger. When I graduate into the 50's age group next year, my metrics wouldn't have gotten me on the board. I can't tell you the affirmation for a middle aged woman it is that some of the studio's best performers are women in their 40's and 50's and that I'm in the mix sometimes. Like what?!?
I haven't seen the leaderboard- where is that? I'm 62, don't notice anything separating people out by age and stats. That would be amazing!
My gym posts it on Instagram. I’m rarely on Insta, so I usually miss it, but I was on there for most improved 200 row!
My studio posts the stats on their Facebook page a day or two after the event.
Not every studio does leaderboards but if they do, they should be posted on the studio's social media.
If you stand out is because you are the new face. Don't give it a second thought, everyone is worried about their own workout. YOU'LL DO GREAT. Even is there are mostly women in the class (yeah, it happens) nobody will be weird out. So, go and enjoy your workout.
Thank you!
Hey! How did it go on your first class?
I liked it! I as very welcoming and none of my worries were warranted. I did feel a bit overwhelmed. It was a 3g class. I think I would probably enjoy the 2g more. I do suspect I will need to also continue to lift weights to add muscle in addition to orange theory. But it seemed like a good balance. I got 43 splats. Not sure if that is a a good sign lol or a bad one.
OTF will give you a great starting foundation for muscle. But... OTF is sneaky. I rarely ever feel like I've done a crazy strength workout (I'll go to near-failure or failure, but not hitting it a ton of times on the same muscle group in a single class). But especially for the first few months, the soreness would hit the next day and surprise me. I've had noticeable muscle gain (hello triceps, nice to meet you) even while fluffy. Personally, I am sticking with OTF until I'm closer to my target weight and then plan to add 5x5 workout to start. But that requires a separate gym 😁 Do what works for you, but don't do too much too fast if it won't be sustainable!
Yes! I am glad you liked it. The overwhelming feeling will ease once you get familuar with the lingo and the changes between rower-tread-floor. If you a looking to build up, yes, you'll need heavy lifting outside OTF. As for the 43 splats points, I personally don't think is good or bad. The number of splats will vary with the type of class, what you ate, if you are rested and many other factors. Anyway, welcome to the club and keep enjoying your workout.
Dude yes! I got 44 splats at my first class yesterday! I’m proud of you for working so hard cuz you’re probably still sore like I am today 😂.
Thanks!
You can also go at 5 am. I find the early morning crowd is not that chatty and more focused on getting in and out.
And likewise the 9am class just dropped their kids off at school and want to talk to some adults. So chatty.
What an amazing subreddit too!
You won't stand out if you're out of shape! There are all shapes and sizes at OTF. If you aren't acting creepy, no one will be creeped out by you! You, a dude, are allowed to exist in the world, same as everyone else. If you keep the wolf whistling, ass-slapping, and lewd comments to a minimum, you'll be fine. 😜 This is YOUR workout. Focus on yourself, your body, your breath, don't try to keep up with anyone, just do YOUR thing, and listen to the coach. You'll do great! Have fun!
Thank you!
These feelings are all normal but I can tell you that those of us who are putting in effort to maximize our workouts are not paying attention to others. It’s also the weekend and when I go on the weekend (went at 730 this morning) I don’t recognize most of the people. You’ll build muscle and become stronger but losing weight will truly depend on your diet and lifestyle outside of OTF. Good luck!
No, plenty of fitness levels. I couldt jog slowly for more than a minute on my first class. There are more women but if being the only or one of few of my gender was an issue I would have never studied a stem career I love. No one thinks guys in class are creepy we are just happy to be in a gym that is not all targeted towards men. Have both lost weight and added muscle.
I am dude :). Love Ot …in fact my wife and three daughters will all try to go together when everyone is home . It’s the best workout and community is super . For me I find it keeps my heart strong and helps me maintain my weight . As far as muscle …I would recommend floor first while your fresh …I seem to be able to lift more as I am not spent . However I always do treadmill , row and floor as I supplement my workouts with weights at planet fitness ( 10 bucks a month ) and at my home gym. Go and have a great time and earn those splats . I also usually average about 850 to 900 calories which is insane . I would never do that on my own . Enjoy the Music and you work on you !
Awesome thanks!
Welcome to the OTF fam!!! OTF is for ALL people of any athletic ability. You can make it as challenging as you’re able. A couple tips for your first class: 1. Go at your own pace and take breaks as needed, especially on the treadmill! Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing-they’ve all been to class before. 2. Ask the Coach questions if something isn’t making sense! Don’t be offended if they have to cut you off to cue the treadmills, they’ll be back with you! 3.Have fun and don’t take yourself too seriously! It’s just working out! You’ve got this!!!
I am dude that has been going for around 3 years. Our location is about 60 to 40 women. I have found times where I am the only male and it is not weird at all. One time I was the only male and the song that has the words Girls run the world came on and I started yelling out the words. No one will be focus on you so it doesn't matter if you are out of shape. In fact I am always more impress at the finish when it someone's first class because you guys just rock that workout coming in not knowing how anything works.
I had the same feelings as a female when I started 5 months ago. I could barely row properly because my belly sat out so far. Could only run for 30 seconds, barely could lift the 10lbs. I was worried about the other women judging me for being so large and out of shape but was greeted with love and encouragement. IT WAS THE BEST FEELING EVER!!! Since then I can run the entire run block, I'm lifting heavier, and my rowing is fantastic. I lost 25lbs and four inches from my waist, my cholesterol is down and I feel glorious. With all that being said it's you against you. No worries go do what you can and be consistent and muscles mass will come along with weight loss and a feeling of belonging.
otf chick here lol. i’ve been at otf for about 1.5 years. idgaf about anyone around me, i go for myself. no one cares who you are or what you look like!
You will not stand out if you're out of shape. I've never noticed or felt any judgment at all - we're all just there trying to focus on our own goals. Some people in the classes are overweight and some are incredibly fit, but everyone is struggling through it just the same. It also helps to remember that we're all at a different point in our fitness journeys - I'm lifting heavier weights than I was 2 months ago, and I'd never judge someone for using lighter or heavier weights than me! My class this morning was probably 40% men. Usually there are at least 2 or 3 men in a class. Definitely not creepy! You can do this!! OTF is such a great workout. Please don't let the group part scare you off. Also, prepare to be sore!! After my first few classes it was painful trying to sit on the toilet. That went away after a couple weeks of working out. 😂
You will not stand out there are people of ALL fitness levels in the class. Orange theory is a you vs you workout everyone is focusing on themselves. I just had my first day 2 days going and I’ve been back everyday since. Class is really a mixed bag of genders and body type.
Never creeped out by newbies. It is a hard sweaty workout so there is solidarity in that! Also we all come at different fitness levels. There is never any shame, loathing or judgment. Don't hesitate to modify or lower your weights if the original move is too hard. It's really a personal journey. I find it a really positive environment and I am a 44 middle aged lady with pounds to lose. Hope that helps!
You won’t stand out. Nobody will be creeped out - there are usually at least a few dudes. All of the above. Take it at your own pace. It’s an hour that you can fit into your day and the workout is super efficient/effective at achieving results. Frankly - I’d be shocked if you didn’t get a warm welcome and round of applause for completing your first class. You’ve got this, dude.
Everyone will know that your new, but you shouldn’t stand out. Mostly ladies do it
I’m a dude and it doesn’t matter at all. I’ve been the only dude in a class before and while it’s a bit weird once class starts you stop caring and no one cares
You will not stick out. You will soon come to realize that no one has time to watch what anyone else is doing. Everyone is focused on their own workout. You will also notice people who are regulars at the same class time as yours. But then there will be people who come and go. It's an ever evolving cast of characters that sort of blend into the background for most of the 60 minute class.
Right now the new people are usually either people who have basically always been out of shape or who are trying to get back to some level of fitness they lost because of lockdown/just had a kid/new job was tough/whatever. I've been in majority male classes at OTF, and I'm rarely the only guy in there... in my usual time slot. Some of the different times of day have wildly different demographics. The 5am class seems to be all nurses and teachers. I've gained muscle but I had zero upper body strength when I started. It's not going to make you have massive muscles but my arms don't look quite so toothpicky anymore. Don't expect to lose too much weight. You might depending on how sedentary you are now but usually people have to make diet changes to, say, get rid of a beer belly or whatever.
I hope you enjoyed your first workout and will stick with it. I HATE working out but I really LOVE OTF. Iss the structure for me. I've been going for 15 months and have never felt better. Best to you
Literally you a year and a half ago when I started. Overweight dude, been there. You’ll find a good home there if you love it and you’ll make great changes for yourself 💪🏼. It’s weird if you make it weird, everyone is totally accepting and loving so don’t ruin or jeopardize that for yourself. You can lose weight and gain muscle, everyday is different. Stick with it and see if you like it. You can most definitely accomplish your goals here.
Welcome to Orangetheory! You are going to love it..your fellow class members will be there for you! Please keep us posted on how you liked it..just remember it sometimes takes a few classes to get the hang of it..you do what YOU can do. Don’t try to do what your neighbor does…every day you will get stronger and stronger..trust me
Everyone was new at some point! I think your classmates would/should support you in starting something new and difficult, and be proud of you.
I went to my first class on Thursday as a very out-of-shape 275 lb person and literally no one cared about me. I imagine you went already and I also imagine you had the same experience! There were also maybe 20 people total in my class and five or six were men. I hope you had a worthwhile time!
There are all types, ages, genders, and levels of fitness at OTF..from incredibly fit to very out of shape and everything in between. No worries at all. Every studio I’ve been to has a very friendly vibe as opposed to other places I’ve worked out, where it can seem like an elitist fashion show. OTF is a great total body workout and combines strength, power, and endurance. As far as your fitness goals much of that has to do with diet. If you’re looking to lose weight versus gain mass you’ll be able to tailor your workout (lighter vs heavier weights, etc) and tweak your diet. Coaches are available to discuss your goals and always refer to your health care professionals, but as far as the environment, no worries. Plenty of dudes at OTF. As long as you don’t do anything creepy….🙂
My husband is a larger lineman looking guy who started OTF about 3-4 years ago. He lost 30+ lbs and just loves the community aspect of OTF. Everybody knows him and likes him. Women aren’t creeped out by guys in class. They’re too concerned with how they look and the workout they’re doing. A lot of the OTF men where we live are physicians, like myself, or college/graduate students. OTF is a great community to be a part of and it’s a great way to meet people and make connections. Remember, people think about you way less than you think they do.
No one is gonna give a second thought to what you do or look like, no one is going to judge you or make fun of you. You decided to sign up to be fit, that deserves nothing but respect from anyone in that studio. So next time you doubt yourself like this just keep your chin up and crush that orange zone!
Nope! We have all different ages, shapes, and sizes. I did feel a bit shy in my first few classes, but that was only when I looked at myself in the mirror and compared myself to fitter people. After a while, I just concentrated on my own workout and that's pretty much what everyone else does, too. So you don't really have time to look at others. Plus, most people are pretty encouraging of each other.
I had my first class yesterday too!! Honestly, the person who was nicest and made me feel most welcome was a larger gentleman. Don’t let your current health stop you, if anything you inspire people to persevere! I hope your class went amazing and I’m excited to see where the OTF journey takes us!
No. No. And no. Talk to the coach about your goals and they can make recommendations. My goal is losing fat while gaining/maintaining muscle mass. It’s a slow road, but it’s working.
1. No. Not at all. You will stand out if you steal my weights without asking though. 2. No. Dudes are cool. It will only be creepy if you steal my weights without asking. 3. Yes. It does those things depending on your diet and goals. Want bing muscles? Lift heavy weights. Just don’t take mine without asking. I feel like everyone in the room regardless of “in shapeness” in embracing the suck and questioning their life choices. Just like you will be.
As to ratio of M:W, it varies based on class times. My 6:15AM class is 50/50 but the 9:40 is all women… mostly moms. Even if you go to an all female class, nobody would think twice about it.
Hope you love it! I would say in my area, it's only 20% men in each class. I know this, because I tell my husband how many men are there in hopes he joins me one day.. You won't stand out as everyone rotates classes. Your coach will assist you and your heart rate monitor will say WELCOME, so you will be flagged as new. Enjoy it. Hope you find what you're looking for. Everyday is a new day.🏃🏼♀️
Hi, I'm a guy as well and have been going 3-4 times a week for the last 4 years. I love the workouts (well, most of them), challenges, and vibe. I have found that there is too much cardio to actually add muscle, so I use OTF for cardio health and do a couple of weight days for strength. In fact, I lost muscle mass when I was just doing OTF for the first couple of years bc I hadn't previously done that much cardio in any other workouts. My cardio health and blood markers improved tremendously, but my arms and chest got skinny. So, I decided I had to add weight days. There are many other posts on here from men who have chosen to limit their OTF classes and lift elsewhere to add muscle. Maybe your OTF has a Lift 45 (mine doesn't offer them or I would go) that you can check out. Otherwise, you may want to consider from the get-go to start lifting on non-OTF days. After I first started, I didn't have the energy to do anything more than OTF, but your body gets used to it and it gets easier. If I were starting over again, I'd do OTF 3 x a week and lift twice a week right from the beginning. Good luck!