My two month review of F45 HIIT training workout

Its been 3 years since my second delivery and i breast fed my LO for 3 years. After weaning off,  i still continued to eat the same amount of food. This resulted in excess weight gain. I did not do any workout, nor followed any specific diet and to add to this had a laid back lifestyle (although busy running around my 2 kids) , there was a lot of fat deposition around my abdomen and waist.  My dresses are not fitting any more. Every time i see myself, i thought of starting workout or going on a KETO diet which has amazing and fast results (although not sure about any side effects). With 2 kids and a full time corporate job, i was always pressed for time. I always had reasons not to workout - sometimes it is crunched for time, other time it is no motivation or sometimes low in energy. Occasionally I did yoga at home, but starting yoga in your 30s comes with its own challenges. When i started to have weakness, pain in my joints and fatigue all the time, i knew this is the time. Its NOW or NEVER. 

                          

I started exploring my options. Going to gym like LA Fitness was not an option as i never enjoyed working out at gym. I need to have a whole new post to review my experience at LA Fitness. I  was looking for options which has group workouts and more fast and fun. I listed down F45 and OrangeTheory  Fitness. Both are group training and comes with guided & well planned packages. F45 provides a week long Free Trial and OrangeTheory Provides one Free class. Someone like me who is new to workouts, one free class is definitely less to judge or/and decide if it works for me. Although OrangeTheory is available in many locations, F45 location is more closer to my home, So i decided to give it a try to F45 first.

I had no idea what HIIT (high intensity) training means until i joined F45. 

• F45 classes are designed to provide full body workouts. Each class is a 45 minute High intensity workout, hence the name F45, and are named as Avengers, Hollywood, Angry Bird, Foxtrot. I will trade-in 45 mins high intensity workouts  to 1 hour gym sessions anytime.  

• They have divided every class as Cardio or Weight training or Full Body. Monday, Wednesday and Fridays are Cardio, Tuesday and Thursday s are Weight training and Saturday/Sunday Full body workouts. 

• Each class is unique with different variations of workouts, repetitions and intensity with 0 to 5 quick breaks. Different workstations are set for each workouts planned for that class. 

• Every class begins with instructor showing how to do that day's workout. You start off  with quick stretching session followed by 45 minutes of different workouts planned for that day.  There are big screens mounted on the wall with videos showing workout for each workstation and the timer and repetitions. This helps beginners like me to always look at the monitor and do it right way.
  
  
  
  

• You will have one or two partners working out together. 

• Instructors are friendly and nice. They motivate you to do your best but are not pushy at all and correct you if you doing wrong. If you are struggling with any particular workout, they will provide you alternative workout. I always struggle doing push-ups, so they helped do different kind of push-ups until i strengthen my shoulder muscles.

• F45 is little pricey compared to other places. But for all the sane benefits of fit body and mind, i am ready to compromise here. You can pay month-to-month membership or 6 months or 1 year. After a week trial, i decided to continue here but was not sure if i was ready to commit for 6 months or more. Although little pricier than 6M/1Y membership, i enrolled for month to month in the beginning. Almost after a month and half, I could see slightly stronger myself and really motivated everyday to go, i decided to enroll for 6 month membership. They did give me refund of the difference in membership amount of previous months. 

• One of the things i liked is they keep cleaning the machines during the session. Because some people sweat a lot and instruments are shared, they do wipe clean if they see any sweat on the machine. 

• They have F45 training app and you can read your session before hand and plan/book it.

• They also have F45 8 week challenge(also an app with the same name), for the biggest weight losers / lean muscle gainers. For a newbie like me, i did not attempt at this yet. May be when i am strong enough one day, i would love to try it.

Cons:

• I would love to see them having a small play area/reading stations for kids. For working moms like me, i don't have to run around a lot instead keep them safe right there where i am working out. I wont mind if they charge for this, but for peace of mind adn to ease my life ;), this is something which i would love to have it.

Currently i am trying to workout every weekday and skip weekends. I am currently enjoying each session and look forward for it.

Thank you for reading this post. Hope this is informative enough.
Do leave your comment below.
Happy workout!