If checking your heart rate is something you only have done at an annual check-up, maybe it's time to look into the "theory" behind one of the nation's hottest fitness brands -- Orangetheory.

Grounded in research that shows the "after-burn" effect of high-intensity, cardio-blasting workouts (read: high heart rates), Orangetheory promises "strength, more energy, and more life." But does it live up to its promises?

Today's episode features Katy Widrick -- group fitness instructor, multi-media producer, blogging genius and personal friend of the show. Katy has made Orangetheory a dedicated part of her fitness journey and is sharing with listeners why. In the show, we discuss:

• The premise behind the "zones" of Orangetheory workouts
• Why the class is so much more than a "cardio" class
• How the class is structured and how newbies can best orient themselves the first time they go
• Why Orangetheory is so effective in a short amount of time, but not the place to chat with friends
• What it feels like to gain functional fitness as a working mom to two small children
• Why Orangetheory is customizable for every level, but not for the casual fitness seeker. It's serious business.

To close out the show, I'm sharing a few updates and follow-ups to The Eyelashes Episode.Our most popular episode to date, this show continues to live beyond the podcast on the This Unmillennial Life Facebook Group .Through that group I learned about an alternative to prescription serums -- castor oil (buy it easily online at Amazon GrandeLASH-MD. 

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Until next time,

~Regan

Never miss another episode! This Unmillennial Life is available each week via iTunes, NPROne, Libsyn and Spotify.

This week’s episode is sponsored by HealthyAperture.com — the web’s first and only dietitian-curated recipe discovery site.

Musical support provided by Ben Williams at Kudzu Studio. Website support provided by Katy Widrick at MakeMediaOver.com. Additional support provided by Robin Plotkin of RobinsBite.com.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit reganjonesrdn.substack.com