This post is sponsored by Orangetheory Fitness Brooklyn, but you know I LOVE me some OTF.

I love running. Even if it doesn’t love me right now.

I’ve grown to like strength training — I love the feeling of lifting heavier and feeling myself getting stronger.

But my time is limited, so any workout that can get both in is A+++ to me.

You may remember I had quite the OrangeTheory Fitness kick last year. To be honest, the only reason I stopped was because I was doing Whole 30 and just didn’t have the energy at first.

So…I didn’t do it for a while.

But there’s a new OTF opening in Park Slope, and I was invited to try a workshop at a Brooklyn-based OTF for this campaign. HELL YES! Plus, when it’s around the corner from one of your closest friends’ place, it’s an A++ excuse to go for brunch immediately after.

The class is broken up into treadmill blocks and “floor” (aka strength) blocks that can vary based on the class focus.

The purpose of the class is to get your heart rate into the fat burning (orange) zone for as much of the class as possible to get “splat points.” This is measured via the heart rate monitor you wear on your chest (you can pay ~$5 to borrow one or buy your own. Unfortunately you can’t BYOHRM) and is shown on this monitor.

As someone who’s generally a runner, my heart is fairly well conditioned to running and I have a hard time getting into those zones — my legs really struggle before my cardiovascular system does. For that reason, i really like to start on the treadmill so that I can keep on burning a bit while my heart rate comes down for the strength blocks.

But on this day I tried OTF Brooklyn Heights, I got on the treadmill and was immediately moved to the erg. FINE. (It’s cool, I also really like rowing.) My group went from the rower to the floor and back before switching to the treadmills. (My butt, by the way, still hurts thinking of those ass-to-grass squats to the bench.)

That white you see in the windows is no mistake. As I walked in, it was a gorgeous snowy December day; walking out, it was a “wintry mix” mess. SWEET.

But I loved the space — it was HUGE and didn’t feel cramped at all. (Toto, you are not in Manhattan any more.)

The Park Slope one (Flatbush/St. Marks, right by Morgan’s BBQ) opens in January and they are doing all kinds of special deals at all three BK locations (BK Heights, Williamsburg and Park Slope) to celebrate its opening.

Have you ever been to an OTF? Are there any other awesome strength/cardio-in-one workouts you do? Tell me everything. 

I’ve written a lot here about my mental health ups and downs. Though it’s sometimes difficult to share these kinds of posts, I really enjoy writing them because of the deep connection it forms with you, the person on the other side of the screen. (Or occasionally sitting next to me at work, which never feels creepy at all…)

I consider myself the type of person who would bend over backwards for her friends, family and coworkers, but over the years, I’ve really learned the importance of also taking care of myself. If I don’t, I’m not an effective friend/daughter/coworker. I’ve had struggles with depression of both the chemical and situational varieties, and I’ve learned happiness won’t come to me; I need to create it. (Or is that just growing up?)

Like most people, I think “maybe I’d be happier if xxx in my life.” Of course, some of that is within my control, and I go after that. Here’s some of my own ways I aggressively pursue happiness every day.

Work: A few years ago, I decided working in fitness was really important to me, and I narrowed my job search to only look at fitness jobs, and I found my current job, which I love. It’s still a “9-5” (<< LOL) but I have a ton of flexibility — because I sought that. At the time, fitness and “something I believe in” were my criteria, and I really lucked out. There are so many positives with my job, it makes it hard to imagine what I could possibly do next.

With more than 10 years under my belt in my career, I’ve gotten comfortable both raising my hand for projects that interest me but may not perfectly align with my skill set — yet … and also asking for help when needed and really going to bat for myself for it.

Accepting help: Through this past tough year, my amazing friends have been by my side, and they’ve always offered help. I used to have such a hard time taking it. I didn’t want to be a burden; everyone has their own issues. But, no, they’re offering help because they truly care, and I can’t do everything alone. The lovely lady I pay to help me figure it out reminds me I’ve always felt better after letting loved ones help.

Taking time for myself: To be fair, as a single lady without kids, this is easier for me than it may be for others. Taking time for myself means doing something that I want to do that brings me joy or satisfaction. Most of the time, this means working out. I’m now that jerk that needs endorphins. But sometimes this means the exact opposite — sometimes recognizing that sure, even though I will probably feel better working out, I just don’t want to. And that’s ok too sometimes. 

Making my bed. Also the kind of person who must make their bed in the morning. After a long day, getting into a neat bed feels like more of a treat than just hopping back in where I left off this morning.

What about you? What do you do to chase happiness and find some high in every day?