From comedy to cosmetics, personal preferences are interwoven within our daily routines. For many in January, New Year’s resolutions can prompt a revamp of old habits. While bettering oneself is a bold, top-of-mind goal, staying consistent can be easier said than done. Orangetheory Fitness is looking to do things a little differently to keep members motivated.
OTF, located at Eugene’s Oakway Center, offers high-intensity interval workouts, pushing its patrons to tackle their wellness goals on the rowing machine, weight floor and treadmill. With the help of thudding bass and a coach donning a Britney Spears-style microphone, the science-backed workout provides a space for mental and physical growth. However, the Transformation Challenge, which commences Jan. 22, offers additional exciting obstacles for newbies and veterans alike.
Members are given the option of focusing on fat loss or muscle gain for the eight-week challenge, and are expected to complete three in-studio workouts for six out of the eight weeks.
“It’s important to note that eight weeks is a great start on building a new habit,” Grace Giles, OTF Eugene’s head coach, said. “So realistically, yes, there’s so much focus put on these eight weeks. And then after that, it’s like, ‘Okay, we crushed it. Let’s stay strong, but we’re not as focused on those things anymore.’”
Above all else, the goal is for proper hydration, in-studio and out-of-studio movement and quality sleep to become a part of one’s daily routine.
Giles, a Eugene native who grew up playing competitive sports, fell in love with OTF several years ago on a visit home from college. She began as a studio member, later becoming a sales associate at her studio in Glendora, Calif. COVID halted her undergraduate studies, prompting Giles to return to Oregon. When restrictions began to ease, she applied to work at the OTF Eugene studio and was hired a day later. The rest is history.
“One of the things that I think is really cool about the Transformation Challenge is that it doesn’t start until Jan. 22,” Giles said. “I think there’s just a lot of hype around Jan. 1 and New Year’s resolutions and starting strong and trying to reset everything on the first day of the month, which is great. Like, I’m a sucker for that. I do that every year. And then we all fizzle out, crash and burn. Habits are such a huge thing, and if we don’t change the system of how we live life, we’re never going to build a different habit.”
Members are given 22 days to sign up for the Transformation Challenge, but OTF Eugene has already surpassed expectations. “We have a goal of 200 sign-ups. In four days, we had already passed 100,” Paloma Palomarez, studio manager and OTF Eugene coach, said. “Members are the best part of my job, and they are bought in. Our community is fitness.”
Palomarez, a UO alum, began her OTF journey as a sales associate in Arizona. Initially a member of OTF Eugene, she felt motivated by the community surrounding her and quickly got in on the action on the corporate side. To Palomarez and the staff at OTF Eugene, the Transformation Challenge is a motivator for many reasons, the front-runner being that it’s an eight-week SMART Goal, or Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.
Along with OTF Eugene’s coaches and front desk staff, participants are dedicated to helping one another through the highs and lows of the Transformation Challenge, making self-accountability a given.
“I recently had a friend explain to me that oftentimes we say things like, ‘This is going to be my year.’ In reality, what we’re referring to is we hope to avoid conflicts. We hope to avoid discomfort, but the reality is, change doesn’t come without discomfort,” Giles said. “You never know what could happen if you say yes to something. This could be a kickstart that changes your life.”
Prospective members can learn more about the Transformation Challenge and becoming a studio member by contacting OTF Eugene at 541-636-0095.
