Orangetheory Fitness — Local services in Milwaukee

Where do I start with Orangetheory? Growing up I was always an athlete. In my family, your athletic ability trumped all other attributes... unfortunately. I played baseball at a very high level in high school, traveling with the best team in the midwest. I was getting called from some of the best baseball schools in the midwest, a dream I never thought would come true. After tearing my right pectoral in football my junior year, my aspirations for playing D1 baseball were rather grim. Colleges stop sending mail and every coach that ever called me went full ghost. You don't come back from this type of injury.Thankfully, I was able to get past this injury, play a little D3 college baseball and get back into fitness. After college, I became obsessed with the idea of becoming a physique competitor. I looked up to all the big names and spent every hour of my time outside of work in the gym. I was a 315 lb bench press and 495 lb deadlift kind of guy. I dedicated everything I had to the craft. That was until I ran into my second injury. I tore up my shoulder one-night playing sand volleyball and found myself crippled again. Coming up on my late 20s, I was so incredibly discouraged. Everything I had worked for up until that point, was gone again. I couldn't grab a barbell without pain and the 100 lb dumbbells that used to move easily were now impossible to lift. With my discouragement growing and lack of exercise due to injury, I blew up in weight. I was approaching weights that were dangerous and my fiance could tell. Bless her because after almost a full year she convinced me to join Orangetheory when I was around 245 lbs. I started as a power walker, and haven't looked back since. Now 250+ classes in, I am back down to my normal weight of 195 lbs and running pretty darn close to a six-minute mile consistently. I always told Coach Carlie that the reason I would take off my sweatshirt during workouts was a sign of a really good one. I lied to Coach Carlie. I started to take off my sweatshirt during workouts because I finally felt comfortable wearing a t-shirt in front of people again. The gut I developed over years of poor diet and exercise due to injury, had all but disappeared. I encourage everyone to at least give Orangetheory a shot. Who knows, you might be inviting your entire staff to your wedding like my fiance and I are, creating lifelong friends.I love you,...

Wanting to share my experience here as I don't believe my feedback will make it to anyone in management at the Third Ward location. I've been a member for several years. In August I asked about a possible freeze as I slipped a disc in my back and could no longer do the workouts OTF offers. Filled out the freeze form provided by the staff, and during the freeze time, messaged them stating I still wasn't fit to return, even provided medical notes that were required by Natalie the Manager. We agreed cancellation was the way to go. Shame on me for not paying closer attention to my bank charges, but was charged my Elite Membership in September after being told the freeze would not charge me, then in October and November was charged a $15 freeze fee. I was told my membership wouldn't be charged and the freeze fee would be waived providing a doctors notes which I did. The entire process was handled poorly, communication was terrible and I had to email/call the studio to get a resolution. Luckily I was refunded, however, overall felt like I was being penalized for being injured. I've always enjoyed going to OTF... honestly kind of felt like family at a point (I always enjoyed being in the pictures/posting my workout on Instagram), but cannot recommend going here anymore (unless situations like this are handled differently). I hope the communication to members gets better and the health/safety of members is held at a bit of a higher standard. Also, training on medical freezes would greatly benefit the staff so miscommunications like this aren't had again.

Overall just disappointed in the overall cancellation/freeze process if due to...

I've tried a lot of gyms in Milwaukee the past few weeks. Not one bad experience....until now. Orange Theory got my number somehow and were cold calling me all week to set up a time to come in for a free class. I scheduled one for a Saturday morning. They made me put a credit card on file. When I got there they turned me away. They said I had to be there 30 minutes prior to class starting, not 15. They told me I could not work out that day. I was a little confused as every other gym I have ever worked out in just has you sign their waiver. Most gyms bend over backward to get you to try their gym. Not Orange Theory. They wasted my morning and then asked when I wanted to come back. I was like "Are you serious"? Curious to see if they charge my credit card.

Orange Theory is an overpriced corporate gym with crazy rules and polices. My sense is, once the hype of it goes away, Orange Theory will go the way of other corporate gyms like LA Fitness that have failed...