Confused About Muscle Confusion....?

lablamires

This is going to sound really stupid... But everyone talks about when they hit a plateau they need to change it up and cause "muscle confusion" to keep losing weight.... Do you really need to do that? I mean, (like in my case) what if you're doing something like Zumba, where the moves often differ... Do you still need to change it up, like, do something completely different from Zumba? Does it really matter as long as you still have a calorie deficit?

Thanks

lablamires

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DavPul

This is going to sound really stupid... But everyone talks about when they hit a plateau they need to change it up and cause "muscle confusion" to keep losing weight.... Do you really need to do that? I mean, (like in my case) what if you're doing something like Zumba, where the moves often differ... Do you still need to change it up, like, do something completely different from Zumba? Does it really matter as long as you still have a calorie deficit?

Thanks

if the only thing you're doing for fitness is Zumba than you can achieve muscle confusion but actually working your muscles, you know, with free weight or bodyweight exercises. that would shock the hell out of em. maybe zumba a few days a week and resistance training the other days?

PJPrimrose

What he said. Cross train(do they even use that term anymore?) Strength (weights), endurance(cardio) and flexibility(stretching stuff). All dance class training is only one part of 3 in fitness.

froeschli

You may get confused, but your muscles don't
The idea of changing things up stems from adaptation and getting more efficient at performing certain tasks. A runner for example would reduce any unnecessary motion, wiggle or weight shift in order to run further. That is great for achieving greater distances, but reduces calorie consumption over the same distance.
With dancing you may get more efficient at the moves too, not sure, I usually end up trying to un-knot my legs... It is also very much an exercise where you get out of as much as you put in. Meaning you can Zumba at minimum, or maximum effort. Not sure about the correlation to Zumba, but I did taebo once, and only knowing karate before then, I punched and kicked for all I was worth, tightening my abs, glutes and legs for every punch and kick - I was dead after the warmup.
So, I' suggest rather than trying to confuse your muscles, be hyper aware of them am use them, don't just coast through a routine.

Sure, if you're up to trying something new, that's always fun too...
But just because I know i will end up using less calories over 5k, I still would rather work at a half marathon than go do whatever other people tell me works great for them

wonderbeard101

You may get confused, but your muscles don't
The idea of changing things up stems from adaptation and getting more efficient at performing certain tasks. A runner for example would reduce any unnecessary motion, wiggle or weight shift in order to run further. That is great for achieving greater distances, but reduces calorie consumption over the same distance.
With dancing you may get more efficient at the moves too, not sure, I usually end up trying to un-knot my legs... It is also very much an exercise where you get out of as much as you put in. Meaning you can Zumba at minimum, or maximum effort. Not sure about the correlation to Zumba, but I did taebo once, and only knowing karate before then, I punched and kicked for all I was worth, tightening my abs, glutes and legs for every punch and kick - I was dead after the warmup.
So, I' suggest rather than trying to confuse your muscles, be hyper aware of them am use them, don't just coast through a routine.

Sure, if you're up to trying something new, that's always fun too...
But just because I know i will end up using less calories over 5k, I still would rather work at a half marathon than go do whatever other people tell me works great for them

Well said!