We recently had the opportunity to interview Lauren Broker, Assistant Manager and Coach of Orangetheory Fitness in Laguna Niguel, CA.  With over 1000 locations worldwide, Orangetheory Fitness is quickly becoming a well-known name in boutique fitness.  We especially like the philosophy of fitness offered by this brand and wanted to share more about it so you can decide if it’s a workout option you would like to incorporate in your In Demand life!  

What is Orangetheory Fitness?  What style of workout is it?

Orangetheory Fitness (affectionately called OTF) consists of high intensity interval training classes. The workout was created by Ellen Latham, who wanted to create the ultimate workout for all fitness levels and ages. It is essentially the multivitamin of fitness.

Please describe a typical workout.

Orangetheory Fitness is a one hour full body workout, focused on heart rate based interval training. Each class is led by a coach who is there to guide you through intervals on the treadmill and water rower as well as strength and resistance training in the weight room. Members wear heart rate monitors to make sure that they are not over or under training in class.

Are there different types of workouts offered?

Each class has a focus of either endurance, strength, or power. Every class consists of different intervals and different exercises so that you will never do the same workout twice and you will never plateau.

How long have you been a personal trainer and why did you decide to coach for OTF?

I started at Orangetheory 3 years ago as a sales associate and am now the assistant manager of the studio I work at in Laguna Niguel, CA. I only started the training process to be a coach last April, and have been an official coach since last July. I fell in love with the workout, the results, and the way it made people feel which is why I started coaching.

Is this a stand-alone workout or do you recommend that women supplement with other workout programs?

Orangetheory is a stand alone workout, as it has everything you need (cardio, strength training, muscle confusion, certified coaches). Our founder, Ellen Latham, wanted to create the best one hour workout that would not just help people lose weight and build lean muscle mass, but would also help people maintain great heart health. Many of our members supplement OTF with other workouts (I incorporate extra strength training myself), but this is the perfect workout for the average In Demand Woman who can only dedicate one hour to her workout a few times each week.

*Note: Orangetheory Fitness is available to all genders, not just women!

How often a week do you recommend someone train at OTF?  Why?

I recommend 3-4 times per week for best results. The workout is based off of science to metabolically charge your body to burn extra calories at rest for up to 36 hours post workout, so you do not need to take class every day to see and feel results. Working out 3 days in the studio is equivalent to 6 days of burning. We are big on not over-training and giving you “more life”, meaning more time with family and friends and less time at the gym.

What is the best nutrition plan to follow when participating in a workout program like OTF?

It is always important to eat a balanced, healthy diet consisting of whole foods. I will advocate that is the best way to go with any workout you do. Because HIIT workouts burn through your energy stores at a pretty fast rate, you want to make sure you are eating enough! I think it is common that people forget how much fuel their bodies need to maintain a solid workout regimen.

What are your favorite moves to coach and why?

Honestly, my favorite part of coaching is coaching people through treadmill intervals. OTF is for all fitness levels so we have power walkers, joggers, and runners all in the same class doing the best for them. The most rewarding part of my job is motivating all types of people to find their edge and commit to themselves. I always tell my classes near the end of their treadmill work to continue to stay committed and remind them that they walked through the doors to become 1% better today.

What kind of music do you play when you coach?

I typically play a good mixture of pop, rap, EDM, and anything else upbeat. I create my own playlists on an app called Pacemaker. My username is laurenbroker33 if you want to jam to my jams!

What sets OTF apart from other boutique fitness options?

OTF has been rated the best one hour workout in the nation for a reason. It is a one size fits all. At our studio alone, we have members ranging from 14 years old to 74 years old. People who have never worked out a day in their life can be in the class next to an Olympic athlete and they are both doing the best they can due to guidance from our coaches and by referencing our heart rate monitors. Because the workout changes every day, you never get bored and there is always progress to be made. I have been taking Orangetheory classes for 3 years and still leave saying it was the hardest class I have ever taken.

Bio:

Hi, my name is Lauren! I am a 24 year old fitness addict and coach. My goal is to uplift and inspire people to be their strongest selves, physically and mentally. I have worked for Orangetheory Fitness for 3 years as an assistant manager and coach, and love to spread the orange love! You can connect with Lauren on Instagram @livefitwithlauren.