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*clears throat*

This January, I’ll be taking on the Orangetheory Transformation Challenge for the second year in a row. Although there are prizes awarded for the highest percentage of body fat lost and the most muscle mass gained, I really only participate for the motivation and the mindset shift.

Some Background:

I joined OTF in March of 2021.
I was never really a fitness buff. I had gone to the gym intermittently after since high school, but nothing consistent or even habitual. I stand at around 5’7” - average build (NOT the athletic type.)
I had always tried to eat clean, and had been relatively successful when it came to keeping my nutrition in check.
However, it was in the Fall of 2020 that I looked in the mirror and realized I had really lost my way.
I wish I could blame the pandemic and quarantine for my (what seemed like) sudden change in physique, but the truth was that I came out of quarantine healthier than I’d gone in.
I worked out everyday, I ate well, got plenty of rest, and I wasn’t drinking nearly as much alcohol.
It was my return to NYC and my moving in with my new, fabulous boyfriend that threw me.

Suddenly, I was in my own space with someone who loved me for who I was - which is great - BUT
I really lost focus when it came to fitness and nutrition.
In our new neighborhood, I had passed the OrangeTheory a few times, and thought about a friend of a friend who had gotten into it years before. She had GUSHED about the program and had absolutely peaked my interest.

SO, here comes March of 2021, and my boyfriend and I decided to give Orangetheory a try.
I immediately immersed myself in the entire experience.

I participated in the benchmark challenges, started attending 3 classes a week, and began to get into a routine.

Fast forward to March 2022

At this point in my OTF journey, I’m ready to try anything their offering, and this time it was Transformation Challenge! Cash prizes for potential fat loss and overall improvement?! Sign me up.
My initial weigh-in was traumatizing- reading that I was considered overweight when I had already come so far and greatly improved my physique. Luckily, I was able to take that data and use it to push me in the right direction. I planned out changes in diet and fitness routine. I upped my attendance to about 4-5 classes a week, and SIGNIFICANTLY decreased my alcohol intake. I drank more water and ate more protein. AND, I lost 15lbs in the two month timeframe. I looked like I shed double that weight and I felt like it too.

Since last year’s challenge, I have gained about 5lbs back, but I' know that I’m in a way better spot than I WAS.

This year, I’m ready.
Today is day 2 of the challenge and I’m already feeling good.
Not only am I going to implement the same changes as last year, but I’ve added in some self improvement initiatives.
I’m kind of using TC as a launch pad for a much bigger and longer lasting personal transformation.

SO, I’ll be using this platform to hold myself accountable.

I’ll post my daily reflections, affirmations, what I ate, recipes, struggles, milestones ETC.