Body Fit Training — Local services in Houston

I spent many years doing F45 with decent results early on but seriously began to lose interest in the last year because of what dawned on me were scattered, random-seeming workout sessions. At the end I felt like I was just forcing myself to go to workouts in some hope of continuing to make progress in my own fitness journey. BodyFit Training (BFT) River Oaks coincidentally opening recently (just about a month ago as of this review) was a godsend, and I cannot say enough good things about my experience there so far.

Probably the easiest way I could describe BFT itself is combining the best aspects of OrangeTheory, personal training, and F45 with a particular focus on progressive strength development and cardiovascular enhancement. There is a heavy emphasis on keeping track of your cardiovascular and strength progress at BFT River Oaks. 
They utilize heart rate training/monitoring as an integral part of every session (emphasis on going up, down, or maintaining specific target rates depending on where you are in the workout) and the staff at BFT River Oaks has loaned out monitors to members and newcomers who may not have their own so that they can take full advantage of class. Progressive strength development is also an integral part of BFT - you can opt in to testing for your 5-rep max on a series of fundamental strength movements (such as deadlift, back squat, military press, etc) so that the weights you use during class are appropriate to your personal strength growth. During each multi-week training block certain of these movements will reappear throughout the block with variation on weight lifted and reps (generally fewer reps each week but heavier weight) to encourage further strength development. And of course the weight training equipment used in BTF is legitimate stuff - you don’t see or use equipment like trap bars, land mines, or power racks in other group fitness chains.

The real strength of BFT River Oaks is the burgeoning community of staff and members it has developed. Although consisting of people of vastly different fitness experience and levels (from complete newbies to longtime athletes) everyone you meet tends to be extremely enthusiastic about pushing themselves and each other to perform at their very best. Camaraderie is the norm and not the exception at BFT River Oaks: at each class you will typically be grouped into pairs or triples, and work/rest during sets is typically designed to utilize this format to full advantage such as “You-Go-I-Go” where the resting partner will also spot for the active partner. It feels safer and more reassuring to push yourself to max weights and effort when you know you have someone always watching your back and encouraging you. And the coaches are no slouch either. There are always two or three of them at each class but you never see them up front just barking generic encouragements like at many other fitness studios - there are constantly roaming to spot you, provide individual instruction/feedback on form, or even flat out work a set with you to push you ahead.

TLDR version: One of the best group fitness/progressive strength training gyms you will find in Houston with an awesome “fit family”. If you are looking to improve your fitness then try BFT River Oaks out - I do not think you will be...

BFT River Oaks is the best thing that’s happened to me in 2023! This is by far the best gym and fitness community I have ever been a part of. Before Covid, I was always doing something to stay in shape. After 3 years of trying to get motivated to get back to a fitness routine, I stumbled on to BFT River Oaks. The program and the workouts looked interesting on Instagram so I took a chance and joined as a Founding Member. It’s the best decision of 2023!

This is the first group workout studio where I actually feel like I’m lifting weights like I would want to, if I were in control of my routine. On strength days, we do exercises like the barbell back squat, dumbbell chest presses, deadlifts, pull ups, and dips to name a few. The strength days are usually rep based so we lift until failure for the prescribed rep count for the exercise. Get this, you are “forced” to take a break in between working sets during a strength session. Having been to F45 and OTF, I was more than happy to know I can take a break so I can lift heavier on my next set. The breaks are awesome because it allows me to get to know the other members. Everyone here is very interesting and inclusive. It’s really easy to make fast friends with this group of fun fitness minded people.

I am not a rookie lifter but having multiple personal trainers in each class has definitely helped me to refine my technique in almost all of my lifts! BFT River Oaks has done a really great job in their business model to make a group workout session actually feel like you’re getting personal training with all of the one on one attention from their knowledgeable and helpful trainers. Kyle, Mychael, and all of the training staff really know their anatomy and modifications for my prior injuries don’t hold me back with my progress.

The cardio and HIIT days are also really fun. Like F45 and OTF, they have their own heart rate monitor. Unlike at 45 and OTF, BFT‘s workouts are different every day and have a different heart rate zone goal for each workout. It’s great because I don’t feel like I’m being rewarded only for working out in the “orange zone” or with really high heart rates. It really feels like you are working smarter, not harder. Another difference with BFT’s heart rate monitor is it also works outside of the studio. When I’m running or biking I can still keep track of my data in the BFT app for everything that I do for my fitness.

BFT has been the highlight of 2023 for me. I’m living a healthier lifestyle and making new friends. I’m excited to see where BFT River Oaks can take me on...

Best group training workouts, great coaches, wonderful community. As a former F45 member for the past 2½ years I saw great weight loss success with their system, but after frustration from programing (several injuries from overtraining certain muscle groups chasing a clock) and maxing out on weights within a year, I started looking elsewhere. With a secondary a goal of muscle building, I was only able to achieve this when supplementing my F45 workouts with outside strength training. I joined here at BFT River Oaks as a founding member and like how evenly split the focus is focus between HIIT cardio and resistance training. They discipline you to strengthen and condition your heart by focusing on targeting heart rate zones during work periods and controlling your breathing during rest periods to lower it back down. Love how resistance days are rep-based, not time-based with so you can focus on going heavy, tempo and proper form. Speaking of going heavy, it's nice to have a squat rack with compound barbell lifts instead of just dumbbells and kettle bells. After being here a month now since their opening, I'm very happy here and see my health, physique, conditioning improve dramatically. I'm very impressed with the coaches like Mychael & Kyle as they're very well trained and attentive tailoring to every member's specific needs and fitness level. Great culture and community with other members making you really feel like you're in a supportive environment where everyone is having fun pushing to reach their goals. The heart rate monitor chest strap is a must have as you can see on the monitor during class when you're in the right zone as well as if you hit the target for that workout at the end. I really feel like here at BFT I'm back in my first days of working out at F45 in November 2020 where I was having fun, motivated, disciplined and seeing consistent results. As long as the programing stays the same and keeps me feeling like I'm being pushed, I can't see myself not being here for...