If you’ve been following along on my Instagram stories, then you’ve probably seen me share snippets of how I’ve been working out at F45 Willow Bend the past couple of months. And you guys, I absolutely LOVE it. It’s seriously the best (and to be honest with you, also the worst) 45 minutes of my day. I’ve been getting all kinds of questions about F45 ever since I started in September, so hopefully this post helps break down everything you need to know about F45!
What exactly is F45 Training?
F45 Training is a group-based workout that incorporates functional full-body movements that are designed to target fat loss and build AND maintain lean muscle mass. Each workout lasts for 45 minutes (hence the name F45) and includes a mix of circuit and HIIT style workouts, depending on the day of the week.
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays are Cardio Days; Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays are Resistance/Strength Days; and Saturdays are a hybrid of the two.
What Makes F45 Different From Other Group Workouts?
My absolute FAVORITE part about F45 Training is that no two workouts are ever the same. Yes, you heard that right. They’re NEVER THE SAME. Each day, the exercises, reps in each station or pod, and the number of stations or pods along with the work and rest time varies. This keeps the workouts fun and interesting so you never hit a plateau.
I don’t know about you, but I get bored easily when working out. What I love about F45 is that they incorporate versatile fitness equipment like sand bags, battle ropes, sledge hammers, bands, boxes (you name it – they have it!) along with the usual weights, stationary bikes, and rowing machines. Say goodbye to having to spend 30 minutes on a treadmill ever again (I’m looking at you, Orangetheory Fitness!)
Is F45 Suitable For Beginners?
YES! Before I started working out constantly at F45 Willow Bend, I hadn’t worked out in over 6 months. Yup, I said it. I can play the blame game and say it’s because we had just picked up our whole lives and moved to a different state, wasn’t happy with my new OTF studio in Texas vs in California, was too busy to find time to workout – but truth of the matter is that those were just EXCUSES.
I’m not going to lie, my first class at F45 Willow Bend was ROUGH. I was SO intimidated by everything since F45 was all so new to me. I literally went in blind not knowing what to expect. But special shoutout to Cana (the studio manager and head trainer at F45 Willow Bend) who cheered me on the whole time along with Matt (the owner of F45 Willow Bend) who even came to workout with me during my first class!
F45 is definitely suitable for everyone regardless of age, size, or fitness level since the trainers can modify any of the exercises to accommodate you or even your injuries. Just be sure to arrive 10-15 minutes before your first class so that your trainer can walk you through what to expect during your first class. And if you’re worried about not knowing how to do certain exercises, don’t be – each F45 class starts with a demo of all the exercises you’ll be doing that day. They even have TV screens throughout the studio to help you navigate through the whole workout: from showing you which exercises to do in each station/pod, how many reps left for each exercise, a countdown timer for work and rest periods, and even when to move stations or hydrate.
Why Do I Love F45 Willow Bend?
I personally LOVE F45 Willow Bend because of the amazing trainers, especially Cana, Darren, and Kyle. Even though the workouts are in a group setting, they’re always there to provide 1-on-1 support, help me feel comfortable (especially if it’s your first time), correct my form, push me when I’m just about to give up, and even get down on the floor and do the actual exercises with me until I get it right. They are also SO great at helping me modify certain exercises especially when I was just starting out and couldn’t lift heavy or wasn’t comfortable doing more advanced exercises.
How Many F45 Classes Are Offered In A Day?
F45 Willow Bend offers 7 classes during weekdays: 5:15am, 6:15am, 8:15am, 12pm, 4:30pm, 5:30pm, and 6:30pm. They offer two special 1-hour-long classes with a live DJ on Saturdays at 9am and 10:15am and one class on Sundays at 9am.
If you’ve been thinking about trying out F45 Training, hopefully this post has convinced you to give it a shot! After all, you literally have nothing to lose – your first week at F45 Willow Bend is absolutely FREE!
