My OrangeTheory Fitness Story

NOTE: If you want to try a session, here is my referral link.

Below is a little bit of my story about why I joined OrangeTheory Fitness and why it works for me. In my decades of struggling with health, weight, and fitness, OrangeTheory is the only fitness program that I've ever stuck to consistently (and I have done them all). Sure, we can be a little culty like any enthusiastic group (part of our charm, right?) but it has become an integral part of my life as I try to hold in harmony work, ministry, fitness, health, etc. and I LOVE IT!

Some have asked about it so after I was chosen as the Featured Member for my home studio Newsletter, I figured this was as good a time as any to share.

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But first, some thank yous — since I didn’t get an actual award ceremony, sheesh. First thanks to the home studies who have been part of the past four years: Palo Alto, Almaden Valley in San Jose, and now Rose Garden/Downtown San Jose. With all of my travels, I also try to visit as many other studios as possible, I think I’m up to over 20, so also some special thanks to studios where I have been multiple times: Pasadena, Capitola, Willow Glen, Communication Hill, South Mountain, Auckland, Melbourne, and so many more great studios!

And lastly, to the amazing coaches far too many to name, thank you, though I will say my Top 3 Coach Playlisters awards go to coaches: Gaby Moctezuma, Eddie Prospero, and Alyssa Morris!

Okay, on to the whats and whys of my OrangeTheory Story.

OTF: When did you find OTF and why did you join?

My 70-year-old mother shamed me into joining. She had joined a ways back and was working out 4-6 times a week. She, like so many other Orangetheory converts, always had that annoying workout glow about them and never passed up a chance to let everyone know why. At some point and for no special occasion, she sent me a heart monitor and gifted me with 10 classes.

OTF: What were your first few months like at OTF?

Not so fast, buster . . . the pandemic hit. Nooooooooo! Fortunately, one of our kids enjoys working out just about as much as she loves laughing at me as I try to keep up with her. So with this new parental tradition in play, for no special occasion, I bought her a heart monitor so we could do the at-home sessions. While she was home, we were pretty consistent, but once college opened back up, I was on my own. Being on my own is one of the reasons that I enjoy the class structure of OTF. There is just enough communal peer pressure to keep going, but not so much that you feel like you are letting others down or all eyes are keeping track of you. I could not wait for my place to open back up so I could get back in person. But alas, Covid would have other plans . . . keep reading.

OTF: What advice can you give other new OTF members?

Listen to your body, mind, and soul before, during, and after your class. With so much toxic masculinity, unhealthy diet culture, and the constant reinforcing of negative body imagery in the world, I have truly appreciated the openness with which OTF coaches encourage folks to embrace simply enjoying the experience. Sure, they push us to go just a little faster or a lift a little heavier, but they also talk positively about our complete being, invite us to go slower or lighter when we need, and I have never heard a coach talk about calories or weight. Some days you will go all out like nobody’s business and other days, you will just not feel it and go all green. Either way, you made it through and you moved more than if you had not shown up at all.

OTF: What's your most proud OTF moment so far?

When I post on the socials or text with friends, I often joke about my classes by saying, “Didn’t die, didn’t puke, taking the W.” This is only slightly a joke, because, as I mentioned earlier, COVID had other plans for my OTF life. At the end of 2021, while fully vaxxed and boosted, Covid got me. With a few pre-existing conditions, I ended up in the hospital for almost three weeks and then home on oxygen for about a month. It ended up taking about four months before I could return to work, and even then, I was only good for 4 hours a day. So when I say I am grateful that I didn’t die, I really am. I am still not nearly as in good of shape as I think I can be, but I am being patient with myself, committing to a better pace of life, and obviously sticking to OTF on the regular. With all of that, my proud moments are a cumulative of firsts: the first time I could run without feeling like my lungs were about to explode; the first time my muscles didn’t scream at me for days after a workout, the first time I ran for 12 minutes in a row, the first time completing All-out Mayhem, and the first time finishing the Transformation Challenge. Lots of firsts and I’m proud of them all.

OTF: What activities do you do outside of OTF?

When I was told that I was nominated to be the Member of the Month, after preparing my acceptance speech and calling my designer — Wait, what, there’s no red carpet?!?!? — I jokingly asked about word count. I was serious because most of my life is taken up with speaking, coaching, and writing. Yes, I am an Author — Geez, no way to say that without sounding pretentious as heck — with my last project clocking in at 45,000 words. I have written six books, most recently, “Rule #2: Don't Be an Asshat: An Official Handbook for Raising Parents and Children,” Professionally, I have been a Presbyterian Pastor in the Bay Area for the past 30 years. You will often find me at random coffee places in random cities, just after visiting the local OTF, of course. We are huge women’s soccer fans (Sending this to you from New Zealand/Aotearoa and the FIFA Women’s World Cup).

OTF: Who/what is your motivation?

While my grandfather Estaben de los Reyes is my deepest motivation to live life with kindness, generosity, and justice, you are probably wondering about my OTF motivation. My motivations are one cup of encouraging coaching, a heaping spoonful of intellectual knowledge, movement is good for me, a dash of satisfaction when I’m done, a pinch of healthy peer pressure, and my wallet reminding me that I am paying for the privilege. All of those things combined, and kneaded together have me coming back for more each and every week.

OTF: Thank you Bruce! We love your story and thank you so much for sharing it with us!

Well, that's it, my OTF Story. OrangeTheory locations and ownership groups are all different and people will have different experiences, positive and negative, but the three that I have been part of have been positive ones, so if you wanna talk about OrangeTheory, and if it may be a good choice for you, feel free to drop me a note.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated for writing this post, but if you do plan on joining any studio, Feel free to use MY REFERRAL LINK, give them my referral code (HQKSQI), or just let them know that Bruce Reyes-Chow from Rose Garden San Jose referred you.