Raw Fitness

I signed up for the 6 week weight loss challenge. Now this challenge works for a lot of people. They’re able to lose 20+ pounds in those 6 weeks. It’s grueling work and you learn to admire everyone who’s gone through the program to get to where they are.
You put down a $ 300 dollar deposit and once you sign that paper to do that, there is no going back (even if you change your mind before starting). If you are able to lose the 20lbs you receive your deposit back and are encouraged to return to the gym for another 20lbs.
The challenge involves going to their gym a minimum of 4 times a week and a meal plan. You also have two required weigh-​ins (Mondays and Thursdays). If at the 3 week mark you haven’t lost at least 10lbs, you are disqualified. You can still attend the gym, but you lose the deposit.
That’s the good part.
Here’s the honest part.
What’s not fair is that they don’t disclose everything about their program. Sure they say the diet is hard, but they fail to explain just how limiting it is. To give you an idea it’s a modified paleo diet that restricts you to about 1200 or less calories a day. This includes a 3 day cleanse where you are only allowed to eat vegetables, fruit, and a handful of nuts (did I mention you have to attend work out on at least one of those days). I’d be lying if I told you that I felt at all energized or good during those days. I’d also be lying if I told you that I wasn’t highly irritable the rest of the days on the diet.
The diet is the diet, you can choose not to do it, but you probably won’t get the exaggerated results everyone else gets. Another thing to dislike is you are discouraged from asking questions about their diet. «Why can’t I eat salt?» «Follow the Damn Plan.» «Is there a reason we use papaya or grapefruit for the cleanse?» «Follow the Damn Plan.» You will learn to hate those words if you’re someone who asks questions.
As for the workouts, they’re only 30 minutes. Doesn’t sound too bad right? Well it wouldn’t be if you learned the proper techniques. You are taught how to do a proper squat, and a proper push-​up. You are shown how to do certain exercises during the workout, but not really. Then again its hard to learn the proper technique in class of a about 30 – 40 people. I can tell you that during their workout I tore my rotator cuff because I wasn’t doing one of their exercises properly. They need to take time out of their program to properly show you the exercises, but they don’t. They throw you into the deep end and very rarely make concessions if you’re not at that level. For example, they want you to a bicycle without teaching you how to do a proper V-​sit. They want you to go fast and hard even if you’ve never done the exercise or have any knowledge of it. They DO NOT help you build up from beginning. They expect you to do their exercises their way no exceptions.
But perhaps the worse of it all was the lack of support from the Owner and his receptionist. My first weigh-​in I lost one pound. One pound for a week of hunger and hard work. You know the first thing I heard, «You’re not doing the plan.» I can tell you the anger I felt surpassed the disappointment. Every weigh-​in was one pound lost. And hey, for me, it was enough, but for them it wasn’t. The only advice I was given was «Do the diet.» I never got anything more than that. I had to hear from a fellow work-​out buddy that I should do extra cardio since the exercises were more strength-​based.
I did not complete the challenge. I lost 5lbs, but it wasn’t enough. I tore my rotator cuff and my doctor advised me to not to return. My self esteem took a blow that it shouldn’t have. I lost 5lbs and I’m pretty proud of that fact. If you go to Raw fitness, be prepared to hear that your best is not enough.

I entered their 6 week challenge (–20 lbs). I was a little skeptical at first because they ask you –first thing– to leave a deposit. They tell you they’ll give it back to you if you complete the challenge. I did my homework and talked to people who have done the challenge before, went online and researched Octavio Urias. I am glad I did. I left my deposit and I do not regret my decision. It was an amazing experience! I recommend Raw Fitness to anyone whose mindset is focused on committing to become a better person. I want to thank Octavio and everybody on his team for a life-​changing experience during this six weeks. This is me 6 weeks later, minus 20 pounds, improved version of myself! I will continue to be a Raw Star, that’s for sure! Let’s go Warriors!

I went to raw fitness to take part in their FREE 6 week challenge. I understood that it was an application process and not everybody was going to get to take part. I was totally fine with that; however, when you ask me for my credit card information for a pretty significant DEPOSIT even BEFORE I would know if I was accepted into the program… that’s when I see red flags! That rubbed me the wrong way and I walked out. The following week I went to El Paso FitBody and haven’t looked back.

I have been a client at Raw for a little over 2 years. During that time, I have lost 60 lbs. and completely transformed my body. Now, as a 36 year old mother of two, I am in the best shape of my life, am extremely toned, and percentage body fat is down to 19%. I owe all of this to Raw. Is Raw selective in whom they take on as a client? Absolutely, but that’s the point. Only people who are 100% committed and are willing to give 110% effort everyday are allowed in, and that is a good thing. Raw workouts are boot camp oriented. A portion of the exercises are body weight and the rest uses weights for various exercises. The exercises are very different every day so your body never gets used to it. It is extremely fast paced and there is no stopping allowed for the duration of the 30 minutes. The trainers are constantly on you pushing you to go a little harder. The environment is energetic and completely addicting, which helps you succeed because you look forward to being «tortured» at this place every day. I absolutely love my gym and would recommend it to anyone who is serious about getting fit.

They are selective of who they let take part in the program. Then it’s $ 200 a month for classes and meal plan. Weigh ins are every Thursday. The classes are 30 minutes long. You get unlimited classes with the membership (IF they decide you’re good enough for the gym) and there are 6 classes a day. I guess if you want to do group pushups and aerobics plus have have a meal plan go for it. I ended up getting a membership at Crossfit 915 instead.