Beyond Your You - tips to take your health and fitness beyond what you think you're capable of

Nicole Fox’s weight-loss journey started about three years ago. She was in her 30s; she had high blood pressure and was borderline diabetic. That all stemmed from her weight, which was nearly 500 pounds.“You never think that you weigh almost 500 pounds,” she said. “It was shocking. I thought to myself, ‘What are you doing? This is no way to live a life. I’m not going to have a life if I continue like this.’”After struggling with weight issues her entire life, Nicole flipped the switch and “changed 100%, diet-wise.” She cut bad carbs and fast food, and added more protein and vegetables. She’s now lost 260 pounds.“This is my life now,” she proudly proclaimed. “I’m not going to fall back into my old patterns. This is who I am. If you have discipline, drive, and determination, nothing is impossible.”Check out Nicole’s before and after photos, and be sure to follow her on Instagram @_nicolemfox If you’re in the Puyallup, Washington, area once the stay-at-home orders are lifted, visit the Orangetheory Fitness South Hill studio; Nicole will probably be there! @otf_southhill

This episode is coming to you in two parts. Part I was recorded in late February for an episode that was to air in March. Now, with the global coronavirus pandemic keeping most of us shut in, that seems like years ago.Part I of Dara Berkhalter’s story is still incredibly inspiring. You’ll for sure want to listen to this entire episode to hear her tell about the struggles she went through to go from a traumatic ligament-tearing fall to running her first-ever nonstop mile. Along the way, she wrote -- and rewrote -- what she refers to as “her scary fitness novel.”But before we get to Part I, we’re going to start with Part II -- which is all about how Dara and her husband, Jason, have brought so much fun and laughter to our new shut-in lifestyles during the coronavirus.To experience some of the joy that Dara and Jason are doling out, follow Dara on Instagram @DaraJ18 (her account is private; just ask to follow). Be sure to check out these favorite videos:“Men in Black” - Jason’s fave“Freaks” - Mine

For most of his 25 years, Chase Smith has struggled with weight. He had an unhealthy relationship with food that led him to binge eat. When he was sad, he ate. We he was happy, he ate. Through most emotions, he ate. That led to him weighing 382 pounds, and dealing with high blood pressure, elevated heart rate, sleep apnea, being pre-diabetic, and taking multiple medications a day for his various conditions.He had tried many of the “newest, latest, greatest fad diets on the market,” which would help him lose 30-40 pounds quickly, but he would soon give up and regain the weight.In January 2019, something changed. Hear Chase tell how he has managed to change his outlook, lose nearly 170 pounds, keep it off - and gain a new perspective on healthy eating. Connect with Chase on Instagram: Instagram @changing_chase#weightloss #weightlossjourney #weightlosstransformation #fitness #workout #orangetheory #orangetheoryfitness #otf

This is our second episode marking Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. In our previous episode, we talked with one of the nearly 1 million Americans who is living with MS. We learned that MS has no known cause, but it is believed to involve some combination of genetics and environmental factors. Today, we talk with David Olges, a professor in the field of Counselor Education and Supervision, who has also been dealing with MS for several years. David's background as a counselor has helped him develop strategies that all of us can use for handling stress and anxiety. Most people respond to the content of their anxiety or what they’re thinking about as an attempt to control it. Instead, if you focus on managing the feeling of the anxiety, the problem usually subsides.For him, he has to deal with knowing an attack on his nervous system will hit. Knowing what, when, how bad, and how often -- that’s what he has learned to manage."The emotional reality that a symptom, any symptom, can hit at any time -- has taken some getting used to,” he said. "But now I can take on scary things and beat them. It’s given me confidence. I can do this, as hard as it is! And that’s hope. Hope is huge for anyone with a chronic illness."Activities and Resources to Support the Fight Against Multiple SclerosisDavid Olges on FacebookNational MS SocietyMultiple Sclerosis Association of AmericaIndiana chapters of the National MS SocietyTurn the Canal Orange - March 5, noon ET - IndianapolisWalk MS Indianapolis - April 25Orangetheory Fitness Nickle Plate

Did you know that nearly 1 million people in the United States are living with multiple sclerosis? Or that it has no known cause?According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, the disease is believed to involve some combination of genetics and environmental factors. One other fact you may not know is that March is Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month. We’re dedicating two episodes this month to learn more about the disease and talk with people who are dealing with it every day.One of them is Connie Fuller.Connie is a wife, mother, Chicago Cubs fan, fitness fanatic, and Orangetheory Fitness coach. She tells us about the day when her world changed. The day when she went from experiencing tingling in her arm to numbness throughout her extremities to getting a quickly scheduled MRI ... to learning she had multiple sclerosis. All in about 24 hours.Connie describes the wide variety of symptoms associated with the disease, the two main types of MS, treatment options, and what it's like to live on a daily basis with this "background distraction."Activities and Resources to Support the Fight Against Multiple SclerosisNational MS SocietyIndiana chapters of the National MS SocietyTurn the Canal Orange - March 5, noon ET - IndianapolisWalk MS Indianapolis - April 25

In season 2 of “Beyond Your You,” we’re going to go beyond where season 1 took us. When I started this podcast in early 2019, my original intent was to interview primarily Orangetheory Fitness coaches to share more training and health tips from them. This season, we’re stretching outside the studio. We’ll still hear from Orangetheory coaches, but I’m also going to talk with people outside of the coaching realm - people like you and me who are plodding along on our personal journey to get fit, stay healthy, and sometimes conquer our own demons. Along the way, we’ll be inspired by people who are doing what they can to make a positive change in their community.With that look into the evolution of “Beyond Your You,” it’s fitting that the guest for the first episode of season 2 bridges both the former and current approach to this podcast.Kaity Wachtel, is an Orangetheory coach who also serves as a running, fitness and wellness coach outside the studio. She was a repeat guest in season 1, covering partner workouts – love ‘em or hate ‘em – and explaining what it takes to become an Orangetheory coach.In this episode, Kaity will talk about:How she’s going to “Show Up” in 2019 and why she chose that personal mantra for the yearThe activities scare her – and that she’s going to take on in the next few monthsHow she plans to “Show Up” for family and friendsWhat drove her to write in her blog, “Life isn't about avoiding challenges, risk, and pain. It's about collecting the scars and bruises to prove that we SHOWED UP for our lives.”Hear all about her plans so far, and offer her suggestions on how to complete her big, scary year.Follow Kaity on her blog, Rebel with a Cause, and on Instagram @coach_kaity or Facebook facebook.com/kaity.wachtelFollow your host, David Pittman, on Twitter @TheSocialPitt and Instagram @TheSocialPittTell your friends to listen and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Working out in a group class like Orangetheory Fitness is fun, and it will definitely build your overall fitness if you put in the effort. But if you want to boost your strength even more, you may need to add some extra work outside the studio.Tyler Lymburner, a coach at the Orangetheory Fitness (OTF) studios in Carmel, Indiana and Fishers/Geist, joined Beyond Your You to describe several things you can do when you're not in a group class to achieve your strength goals.In this episode, you'll learn:When - and if - you should be focusing on specific body parts, such as chest and back or legsHow to know if you should do heavy weights and low repetitions, or lower weights and higher repsWhy it's important to include recovery days and how to tell when you need oneEquipment and techniques you can do at home to build and shape those musclesAnd most importantly, the one thing you should do differently if you're looking to get strongerTell us what you think or ask a question you want to know about Orangetheory!Thanks to Ryan King, an OTF member, who suggested this topic. Beyond Your You aims to be your source for insider tips, inspiring stories, and answers to your most burning questions about Orangetheory Fitness. Tell us what you want to learn and ask those questions you've been pondering. We'll answer them!Tell your friends to listen, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

One of the best parts of being a member of an Orangetheory Fitness studio is the feeling of community. Coaches, of course, encourage members to push themselves, but what sets OTF apart is how the members come together to support one another in reaching new levels of fitness.What's it take to build that kind of community feeling? Molly Brunner, studio manager at the Broad Ripple (Indiana) Orangetheory Fitness (OTF) studio, joined the program to tell us how her team worked to "paint the picture" for new members of what they could expect from a new studio community. The Broad Ripple studio opened in June 2019 and has already established a strong following and member base.In this podcast, you'll learn:What is the "500 Club"How long does it take to prep for the opening of an OTF studioHow do you get people excited to join a studio ... when they can't see the space or equipmentHow the staff works together to develop a common vision and culture of communityTell us what you think or ask a question you want to know about Orangetheory!Beyond Your You aims to be your source for insider tips, inspiring stories, and answers to your most burning questions about Orangetheory Fitness. Tell us what you want to learn and ask those questions you've been wondering. We'll answer them! Tell your friends to listen, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

To improve your overall fitness, you need to improve your base pace. What is "base pace"? Maggie Grover, head coach at the West Carmel/Zionsville Indiana Orangetheory Fitness (OTF) studio describes it as "your lowest working effort. The pace you should be able to hold, even if it gets a little uncomfortable, for 20-30 minutes.OTF coaches often call base pace "challenging, but doable." As Maggie says, the challenge is mostly mental. She tells why that is and offers tips for pushing through the mental barrier.In this podcast, you'll learn:How to know if your base pace is too low - and when you should bump it upWhy it's important to be thinking about your next base when you're in a push effortHow to tell if you've had a successful pushWhen, and why, it's okay to drop your push down so you can maintain a solid baseAnd what happens to little babies when you succeed in holding a higher base!Tell us what you think or ask a question you want to know about Orangetheory!Beyond Your You aims to be your source for insider tips, inspiring stories, and answers to your most burning questions about Orangetheory Fitness. Tell us what you want to learn and ask those questions you've been wondering. We'll answer them!Tell your friends to listen, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Kaity Wachtel, head coach of the Fishers-Geist (Indiana) Orangetheory Fitness studio, has coached more than 4200 classes, which makes her the most tenured coach in the state. In this episode, Kaity talks about why people sometimes experience trepidation when they hear, "Today, we're doing a partner workout!" And why they usually end up smiling and high-fiving their partners.Tell us what you think or ask a question you want to know about Orangetheory!Beyond Your You aims to be your source for insider tips, inspiring stories, and answers to your most burning questions about Orangetheory Fitness. Tell us what you want to learn and ask those questions you've been wondering. We'll answer them!Tell your friends to listen, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Kaity Wachtel is the head coach of the Fishers-Geist Orangetheory Fitness studio in Fishers, Indiana, and she was recently promoted to Regional Fitness Educator for the state of Indiana. In her four years with the company, Kaity has coached more than 4200 classes, which makes her the most tenured coach in the state.Listen as Kaity explains the ABCs - and ACSMs, ACEs, NASMs and more - of what it takes to become an OTF coach. If you think it's as simple as strapping on a headset mic and calling out "30 second all-out in 3...2...1!" think again. Even after they've acquired the various coaching certificates and demonstrated their abilities in previous personal training or group fitness roles, OTF coaches undergo a physically and mentally challenging week-long training program to ensure they can execute the studio classes at a consistently high level of quality.Kaity also tells what makes her excited to get up at 3:30 in the morning to prepare for a long day of coaching at multiple studios.Tell us what you think or ask a question you want to know about Orangetheory!Beyond Your You aims to be your source for insider tips, inspiring stories, and answers to your most burning questions about Orangetheory Fitness. Tell us what you want to learn and ask those questions you've been wondering. We'll answer them!Tell your friends to listen, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Lynne Nieto is the “voice’ of Augie’s Quest, and a board member of the ALS Therapy Development Institute. Her leadership, vision, focus, and unconditional love are a driving force in the war against ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a degenerative disease of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscle movement.Lynne spoke with us about Augie's Quest while she and Augie were on vacation, but neither of them was taking a full day off from their fight against ALS. Augie, who is on the board of directors for several companies and organizations, was taking board calls while on a ventilator and using his feet to control his computer. "He'll say he has a great quality of life, although compromised from his previous very active level of fitness," Lynne explained.Lynne shared her excitement about the progress of recent clinical trials of a new drug, AT-1501, which is a year ahead of its expected research progress, thanks in large part to $6 million raised by Orangetheory Fitness studios over the past two years. AT-1501 has shown in mice that it can slow down the progression of the disease. "It's looking exceptional," Lynne said, and it may move forward to Phase II trials in mid-2019. Lynne explained in a disease where people typically die in 2-5 years, being able to accelerate research and development of new drugs by a full year, which can help prolong the lives of many people, is a considerable and extremely encouraging accomplishment. "Just think of the number of people that that's going to help," she said.This drug is also showing signs that it may be effective in treating Alzheimer's, Lupus, and Type I diabetes, "so not only are you helping people with ALS and bringing them more hope, you're helping people with other diseases as well," Lynne said.While AT-1501 is promising, it won't be a cure for everyone with ALS. That's why it's important to continue raising money to do research and get more potential drugs into the pipeline for testing. There are currently other drugs in the pipeline that are showing even more promise than AT-1501. Funds raised this year can help accelerate their development. "In the meantime, we'll slow down the disease's progression and help people live longer," Lynne said. She said she and Augie are "the lucky ones," as they just celebrated their 14th year of diagnosis.How You Can HelpDonating is the biggest way you can have a positive impact. The Orangetheory Fitness studios in the Indianapolis/Hamilton County area will be running challenges and accepting donations in studio for Augie's Quest May 1-15. A link to donate outside the studios will be available here in the podcast notes beginning on May 1. Check out one (or more!) of these Orangetheory Fitness studios - and click their link to donate now to Augie's Quest! Carmel - 2438 E. 146th St., Carmel, IN - (317) 688-1348West Carmel-Zionsville - 4000 West 106th St., Suite 145, Carmel, IN - (317) 449-2100Fishers-Geist - 11695 Olio Road, Fishers, IN - (317) 960-4100Fishers-Nickel Plate - 8700 North St., Fishers, IN - (317) 806-1212 For the past two years, the Carmel studio has been the top-fundraising studio in the world for Augie's Quest. Last year, West Carmel-Zionsville was third and Fishers-Geist was fourth. (Nickel Plate wasn't yet open.) Let's sweep the top four places this year!Augie's Quest funds the ALS Therapy Development Institute exclusively. Donations can be made directly at AugiesQ

In this episode, we talk with Tina, a member at Orangetheory Fitness in Carmel, Indiana. Tina shares her story about conquering her biggest fear - stepping foot in the OTF studio after having tried, and quit, so many other programs. But after completing more than 1000 Orangetheory classes in four years and losing more than 100 pounds, she says she's "never going back" to anything else.You'll also learn when slower is better -- and get a running hack to maximize your distance in the OTF Marathon or simply help boost your base pace.Tell us what you think or ask a question you want to know about Orangetheory!Beyond Your You aims to be your source for insider tips, inspiring stories, and answers to your most burning questions about Orangetheory Fitness. Tell us what you want to learn and ask those questions you've been wondering. We'll answer them!Tell your friends to listen, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

In our debut episode, get to know Scotty BanksScotty describes several misconceptions that people have when they step into an Orangetheory Fitness studio - and then he squishes those notions by telling you how things really are.Next, Scotty gives advice for not only surviving the Dri Tri, but thriving while doing it. He's coached more than 30 of the supreme fitness challenges and has completed more than 15 himself, so he knows what he's talking about.Finally, we look at several upcoming events, from a Benchmark workout at the end of March to the 300-member-strong Carmel Marathon and the OTF Marathon in April.Tell us what you think!Beyond Your You aims to be your source for insider tips, inspiring stories, and answers to your most burning questions about Orangetheory Fitness. Tell us what you want to learn and ask those questions you've been wondering. We'll answer them!Tell your friends to listen, and watch for us soon on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.