A screen displays clients' workout data such as calories burned during a class at Orangetheory Fitness, 419 W. Southwest Loop 323, in Tyler Thursday. Orangetheory offers high-intensity workouts that are scientifically designed to keep heart rates within a client's target zone which is monitored during the class. (Sarah A. Miller/Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Fitness programs and healthy lifestyles are high on the list for New Year’s resolutions and lifestyle changes.

Many people decide to start fitness programs, make resolutions to stay on track with the regimens they have been with, and some pursue other options for social and wellness needs. Orangetheory Fitness is a new option for 2017. The gym opened Nov. 11 in Town Oaks Plaza, 419 W. Southwest Loop 323 in Tyler.

Sarah Watkins, of Athens, and Tammy Jenkins, of Malakoff, have taken turns driving to Orangetheory Fitness for the past seven weeks. The moms of teenagers said they are enjoying the workouts because they are different each day and it’s fun doing it together. The monitors at the gym revealed that Ms. Watkins had burned 672 calories and Ms. Jenkins burned 582 calories after the noon workout Thursday.

“I’ve lost 10 pounds since I started,” Ms. Watkins said.

Many workout programs are designed for all ages and fitness levels, but Orangetheory Fitness has incorporated a scientific approach to their program. The gym’s interactive workout is designed for people with various goals, from losing a significant amount of weight to the serious athletes who want to improve on their already high endurance and strength.

“These workouts are designed for people from all walks of life,” Rebekah Searcy, sales associate, said. “There are people who haven’t worked out in 10 years and people who have worked out religiously for 10 years. There is a sense of community growing here and friendships are developing.”

The workout is measured through heart rate monitors to keep all the clients working out against those with the same average heart rate.

“Our coaches are certified personal trainers,” General Manager Matt Moyer said. “It’s as if a trainer is personally working with 24 individual clients with different abilities, who happen to be working out together instead of having 24 clients taking a class together.”

The workouts last 60 minutes and are guided by a certified coach who keeps the workout safe and effective.

The first 30 minutes consist of cardio on a treadmill or a rowing machine. The participants work out at different paces on the treadmills during the workout – a base, push and all-out pace. Clients perform weight and resistance training using dumbbells, step benches and TRX straps, a system of webbed straps that becomes a suspension trainer allowing the user to work with their own body weight in various exercises for the other half of the workout.

“Participants are given a heart rate monitor at the beginning of the workout,” Moyer said. “Their average heart rates are determined by their age and gender. A computer estimates the client’s maximum heart rate using generally accepted heart rate zones. This information is projected on a big screen in the fitness studio area through a blue tooth device in the heart rate monitor.”

The screens display the class participants’ name and with an area depicting the five zones of each person’s heart rate. The zones are displayed in colors of gray, blue, green, orange and red.

“Clients work up to the green zone where the body is using oxygen to fuel the body,” Moyer said. “Twenty percent of the workout is spent getting to the orange zone where the body uses fat burning energy sources stored in the muscles.”

The goal of each workout it to work across the five heart rate zones and move into the green and orange through interval training. A person will continue to burn fat for 12 to 36 hours after the workout.

“When the participants get to the orange zone, they keep themselves there or move to the red zone for at least 12 minutes,” Moyer said. “After the workout, a person goes to what we refer to as “afterburn.”

The workouts are designed by a team of medical professionals and personal trainers at the Orangetheory Fitness corporate office.

“Each franchise receives the workouts for the month,” Moyer said. “Every facility, around the world, does the same workout on the day it is scheduled. Care is given to make sure they are different each day and no muscle groups are exercised two or more days in a row.”

The staff at Orangetheory Fitness stands ready to work with people setting their New Year’s resolutions and wanting to start new fitness goals. The gym has eight different class times starting at 5 a.m. and the last class beginning at 7 p.m. Each class can facilitate up to 24 clients.

Orangetheory Fitness decided to set up a franchise in Tyler because of its strong history of health and athletic fitness establishments. The city had the appropriate population and demographics and a population of health-conscious people in a growing community.

“This is a great social activity,” Moyer said. “Participants can compare workout results and have an email summary of them prior to leaving the gym. They can share and compare on social media.”

The gym has several membership packages. They have contests and challenges throughout the year to encourage participation and to use as a tool to compare results of previous challenges.