What’s up, fellow Obsessives?
As you read this, I’m working my way through another half-marathon!
This race’s training involved a lot more OTF treadmill miles than usual thanks to the Midwestern weather. We’ll see if this post from February holds true!
📅 The Week Ahead
Friday-Sunday — 3️⃣ Dri-Tri Weekend! Unless you’re one of the studios that ran it in earlier in the month. Make sure you send in your times!
How To Tell You’re Progressing With Weights
Most OTF Obsessives have a goal of getting stronger in the studio.
But how do you know if you’re making progress?
Tracking your improvements on the treadmill or rower is pretty easy. The equipment screens show us pace, incline and splits. You generally can see them improving over time if you maintain a consistent workout schedule.
But the floor is a little murkier. There are so many different exercises, muscle groups and weight amounts that it sometimes can be hard to tell what’s going on.
Here are the signs you should look out for:
The weight you used to dread feels normal now. By far the easiest tell. One day you’re wondering how the person next to you is curling those 15s much easier than you are, the next it feels as light as a drumstick. If a weight that used to wreck you feels easy, it’s your body telling you it’s time to move up.
You're finishing the reps with something left in the tank. If you’re blazing through a 17 ½ minute floor block with plenty of time to spare, that’s also a sign to level up and pick a challenging weight that will still allow you to maintain good form.
Your coach is giving you props for your form. It’s pretty hard to maintain good form on any OTF floor exercise without a good sense of control. Which comes, of course, from added strength.
You remember what you lifted last time. This is where looking at the Reddit workout spoilers and due diligence really pays off. If you know what you lifted for the exercise the last time, you can (and probably should!) grab something heavier the next time around.
So what do you do when you notice these signs?
Try and load the heavier dumbbells! Seriously. The temptation is to stay comfortable.
And maybe you’re nervous to start visiting the bench with the larger weights.
But you should be routinely testing yourself with added weight, just as you add a couple ticks on the treadmill to improve that all-out speed.
Plus, your coach is always there to help and give advice.
While you all know that I’m a run/row guy, even I have to begrudgingly admit it’s the floor that helps you achieve your goals there more than the other way around.
Choose your weights accordingly.
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🍊 OTF Obsessed Things
Orangetheory founder Ellen Latham tells Athletech News that “the best is yet to come” for OTF.
OTF took home the No. 1 spot in the boutique fitness brand category for Newsweek’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards!
🥇 Milestones and PRs!
• Shoutout to Mike M. for breaking 4,000 meters for the first time during Friday’s Inferno!
Have a milestone or PR you want to celebrate? Email me [email protected] to let me know for next week’s newsletter!
🧡 One More Thing
Now this is good social media content 😂
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