12.14.2010

Body Pump - have you done it?

image from movefitness.com.au
On my non-running kick, I decided to pick a class at the gym to go to this morning. I have wanted to try out body pump for a while. I was a few minutes late and the class was packed. Everyone was decked out with steps, weights, bars - totally overwhelming at first glance. I grabbed all the stuff, had no clue what weights I was using (they were in kg) and got going. The weights were way too light. It was a whole bunch of reps of your basic lifting exercises - rows, squats, lunges, shoulder press, triceps, biceps, pushups, deadlifts and then abs. 

I didn't sweat at all. I didn't try hard at the lunges because my poor quads are still super sore, but I was kind of disappointed that I wasted my hour doing this class rather than doing my own lifting routine and then some cardio.  As I looked around, I kind of thought, I bet anyone could do this class. Anyone couldn't run for an hour.  I should be running. Maybe I'll feel differently tomorrow.  I ended up leaving the class when the stretch part came and running a quick 1.5 miles on the treadmill. That's all I'll have time for today and it's doubtful that I'll return to bodypump on Thursday but maybe I'll try it again after I see how I feel tomorrow! Have you done a class similar to this? What did you think? Maybe I'm underestimating it?  What is your lifting routine?
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10 comments:

  1. fancy nancy12/14/10, 8:00 AM

    My gym starting having these classes just before we moved but they looked like they were getting their sweat on. Sometimes it depends on the instructor and your amount of weight you're lifting. I was doing classes with a trainer who did lots of intervals with bosu, rebounders, steps, treadmills, mixed in with weight lifting. I think that this burned the most calories for me. Plus she made sure you weren't lifting light weights. Now on my own it is harder to challenge myself with the weight but I am doing my weight routine in the same way. I do 10 min of cardio, then do supersets (shoulders, legs, biceps one right after the other and that is a set) to hit all parts of my body then back to 10 min of hard cardio. I repeat that three times so it's a half hour of hard cardio and about an hour of weights. I burn up to 700 calories and I feel like I'm getting in a hard workout in not a ton of time. I think continually changing up I leave my body guessing.

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  2. Ginny M12/14/10, 12:31 PM

    I did Bodypump at Gold's for a couple of years, but finally got tired of the fairly aggressive crowd at the evening classes (the only time I could make it!). The thought of fighting my into the room to set up all my equipment always made me feel anxious. I found that I'm much happier doing strength training on my own. I have friends, though, that LOVE the class. I think it depends on your temperament.

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  3. Jennifer Burgett12/14/10, 1:35 PM

    I use to do a class similar to this called Group Power. I LOVED IT!!!! It is an awesome workout!

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  4. justme12/14/10, 1:56 PM

    i have done body pump, i liked it after i got over the intimidation - it is more just lifting than any cardio. i found it was a good weight workout. it sounds like you need more weights, you should find the reps hard. i don't take it anymore b/c i prefer the boot type classes where you still lift weights but it is cardio also and everything is faster.

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  5. Nicole12/14/10, 2:05 PM

    so crazy you mentioned this- i was talking to a patient at work yesterday about how she was so buff and its from body pump! i need to PUMP IT UP!

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  6. The Hungry Runner Girl12/14/10, 3:26 PM

    I like body pump because I have no idea how to lift on my own. I would much rather run though. I hate when you get a 'wasted' workout!! Maybe it was the teacher, maybe you need more weight....I don't know?? 5 a.m. is so early....I feel your pain!

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  7. Bethany + Ryan12/14/10, 4:46 PM

    hmm, it's hit or miss. sometimes classes are great, othertimes they are a waste. Time is precious, esp whenit comes to getting in your exercise. I usually add my own stuff to either make something harder or to make an exercise safer, but i have walked out before too. You're in better shape than the average person so something that is hard to the group probably was a sinch for you!

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  8. Jess12/14/10, 6:36 PM

    I've never done Body Pump, but any strength training would be a workout for me.

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  9. Clare12/14/10, 10:38 PM

    can you try a different instructor with more weights? i haven't taken it but my friend is a trainer and has taught it, and she doesn't like wimpy workouts so my impression is that it is supposed to be tough. i'd say give it another shot just in case...

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  10. Elizabeth12/15/10, 8:10 AM

    i actually go to the same class at my gym. It must be your weights--you need to go heavier. It's not a cardio class but the squat and lunge track should get your heart rate up more. I use the class as my strength training-nothing else. not enough cardio for me. But I love it-it took me a couple of classes to get the hang of it. hopefully you will too! makes lifting weights less boring!

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