If you've never taken a group exercise class....

graysmom2005

I just wanted to share my story, because I'm sure there is someone out there like I was.

2 years ago, I was at my heaviest non-pregnant weight. I gained 70lbs with my pregnancies and was up to 243 with my first son. I started this journey 2 years ago when I signed up for the gym. I was 186 pounds. 5ft6. wore a 14/16. I had never EVER tried a group exercise class. When ever I would join a gym I'd go right for the treadmill and quickly walk on it while watching the t.v. I would always get bored doing this over and over and within a couple of months would fall off the wagon and stop going.

This time was different.

At 186 pounds I hopped on my first spin bike. About 15 minutes in, I thought I was going to puke and got off. I came in late, and had no one show me set up etc, so I just gave up...left....went back to my comfort zone, aka, the treadmill.
Well after much persuasion, I was begged to take another class with another instructor. Michael Jackson had just passed, and she did a MJ tribute ride. Beat It. Thriller. Billy Jean. It was AWESOME. And for the first time in my life......I FINISHED ONE HOUR OF SOLID EXERCISE! The music, the people, the calorie burn...I was hooked. I started taking other dance/aerobics classes..and even though I was heavier than many of them I quickly realized they were too busy watching themselves to watch me. LOL! I needed to add weight training, but was scared of the machines, so I started taking Body Pump and my body transformed. I'm now down to around 150---was down to 146 before I added the Pump muscle weight. I could have never stuck to it with out the variety, music, and people of the classes. I can honestly say I have met some of my best friends teaching/taking these classes...and now I'm an instructor too!!

So if you haven't given them a shot...go for it! You'll be glad you did! :-)

UpEarly

Great story! I want arms like yours! :-)

hyde1977

Sounds like my story.....after 5 months at the gym I started Body Pump and always took it and then people were like come try the other classes and now with Pump, I take Combat, Attack, New Body....They are awesome and you meet so many people and realize that just b/c you are heavier does not mean you cannot keep up!!!!! I love the classes....they are amazing and fun!

LesmillsJunkie

I am the same. I have no desire to work out on the floor. It's boring, and repetative. It works for so many people, don't get me wrong. But I am not one of them.
Classes are fun! You work hard, I have never sweat so much in my life. But the music is good, the people are fun, and most of the intructers are passionate! It makes all the difference in the world

kerriBB37

Love this, and I totally agree!

Spinning was the first class I tried at my gym.. it's still my go-to and my favorite class but I've since tried a lot of other things! I am amazed by how fast the time flies and I love being a part of a group! I'm almost at 40# down! *almost*

I really encourage others to just take the plunge and TRY IT! One thing I have learned over these months of working out hard, is that "no one gives a *kitten* what you look like, what you're wearing, what you're doing.." They are there for them and you should be there for you and not worry about what others "may think!"

JennsLosing

good advice! so many people are concerned about what others think of their looks while at the gym...truth is, nobody cares, they're there for themselves!

GinaSmash

Awesome. This story is so familiar to me. Body Pump is such a motivator. I love it!!!

ChantalGG

Nice! I just workout at home i know when i first started i would of walked out of a group class. i might have to check one out. :0 How many children have you had and do you think you will have more?

JennMuc

Not only am I fluffy...ok fat...but I'm WAY non coordinated. I've never ever enjoyed dancing or aerobics type moves. It takes me forever to learn a new step and by the time I do we've moved on. I try doing DVD workouts because at least then I can do the same one over and over and try to learn it so I can burn something than spending time watching and trying to figure it out. No matter how many times I have tried I still have no idea how to do the grapevine...sad huh?! I will most likely NEVER take a group dance class....

imnotyourpal

LOVE my GroupX classes. Wish the schedule was more conducive to my being able to attend more. I got whenever I can, though.

crazywheaten

Wow the timing for your post couldn't be better for me! How inspiring! I used to LOVE step aerobics (oh am I showing my age...) because it felt like dancing rather than exercise. I HATE anything that is just stationary that includes sweating. lol Love that you didn't give up and tried different things and found your passion. Thanks for sharing!

imnotyourpal

Not only am I fluffy...ok fat...but I'm WAY non coordinated. I've never ever enjoyed dancing or aerobics type moves. It takes me forever to learn a new step and by the time I do we've moved on. I try doing DVD workouts because at least then I can do the same one over and over and try to learn it so I can burn something than spending time watching and trying to figure it out. No matter how many times I have tried I still have no idea how to do the grapevine...sad huh?! I will most likely NEVER take a group dance class....

Yeah, I tried Zumba and I'm CLEARLY entirely too much of a white girl for that. klutz+no rhythm=bad Zumba experience.

cardbucfan

Congratulations! I totally agree with you and love my classes-spinning being my absolute addiction. Wish our body pump classes were at different times so I could take them but they conflict with kid schedules.

OrganicGal

What an inspiration you are. Now you have something that most instructors don't have...empathy for your members/clients. Once you can "relate" to them and help them in their journey, the walls will come down. Being a child of a morbidly obese mother, and watching her "diet" year after year after year without any permanent changes, I know I can relate to many at the gym. I always make sure to smile at the "newbie" and introduce myself, or joke with them during a dance or Zumba class. Making them feel welcome and a part of the group. Too many times people forget the golden rule "Do unto others as you would have done unto you."

My "change" moment came after a community theater production I was in. I saw my photos and was aghast at how I looked. After spiking to the highest weight I had ever been, I knew I needed a change. I made changes and dropped 30# over the course of nine months. Still not at my ultimate goal weight, but very happy at where I am.

I too hope to take what I have learned and pass it on to others and become an instructor. What an awesome thing to be able to say "I know what you feel"..."I've been there myself." Truly uplifting, encouraging, and an amazing "Aha" moment.

sillygoose1977

I started spinning class about 2 months ago and I am addicted now. I was always very scared to take a group class, but my boyfriend talked me into it and told me how much it would help my cycling. It is probably one of the best kick starts I have had in transforming my body. Now I need to work up the courage to take the kickboxing class.

LindsayChick

Gosh I absolutely LOVE Spin and Body Pump!! It's the ultimate funk-buster!! And thank YOU for people like you who teach them!! Great job!

rodneyderrick

Yeah. Nobody is watching you fumble up in these classes. I wish more people realized the benefits of GF classes.

bluiz13

there are sooooo many types of group exercise classes...they are not all dancey.....i was dying for a group groove type dance class with fun hiphop/pop/dance music....my gym finally got that kinda class set up and i took it....i hated it...i absolutely have no rhythm i guess...i just could not get a good burn on because i felt sooo stupid not being able to get the moves down...i also tried zumba a few times.....with both of those classes i actually left and went to the elliptical...i too skip step aerobics...I CAN NOT get the damn moves down to save my life....i will fall on my @ss tripping over the damn step lol.......BUT i do swear by my group power class with is a weight lifting class i take once a week...it makes me feel strong....i love that class and renewed my membership at my gym for 3 yrs just so i could keep taking it lol....my gym is very outdated but i love that class....since january i have been taking spin at least once a week and i love that too.......i tried spin a long time ago and hated it but now i love the way i feel while i'm doing the class....its a different kind of cardio that passes the time very quickly......i get a great burn and it's fun......i may try the dancey stuff again in the future but for now i'm very happy i have 2 classes i know i can count on to get my burn on

ps...when my gym or my Y sets up a kickboxing class i will try that again...i loved kickboxing back in the 90s and early 2000s lol....

Losing2Live69

What an inspiration!! I am way too self-conscious to go to certain group classes. I go to several water aerobics classes a week, but most of the ladies in there are overweight. I am terrified to do Zumba in a class! I do that with the Wii in the comfort of my own living room. I hope as I lose more I will gain some confidence.

instructor03

I also find working out on machines boring. I have always done group exercise. I will admit though, if the music sucked, I watched the clock. If the music, routine and most of all the instructor was fun and motivating, the time just flew.

I wanted to teach but was heavier than most of the instructors. But one day, I said to myself, 'I hear the beat of the music, I am fun and can certainly motivate, and I could figure out choreography'. I became an instructor 8 years ago and there isn't a week goes by that I am not having a blast in my class. I can have the worst of days and that all changes when the mic goes on and the beat flows thru my feet!!

I teach Step and LesMills BodyPump. My body has changed considerably since teaching BP. I knew there were muscles inside of me, they just had to be "cut like diamonds" LOL

Get out there and try a group ex class!! Maybe you have hit a plateau with your weight loss journey, this is the perfect reason to switch things UP!!

zojo78

What do you do at a body pump class?
I really want to add weights, but am also scared of the machines!! But my gym has body pump classes - I just wondered what they were?

beccarockslife

I only started doing classes a few months ago, I love Body Combat, X Biking and Pilates now. I may be a fat *kitten* but I kick *kitten* too.

LuvsToSpin

You sound like me!!! I just started taking spin classes 6 weeks ago, and not only am I completely addicted, but I have noticed that my strength is much improved when I do lift weights! As soon as I get a HRM I am going to attempt a kickboxing class - I want to know the calorie burn for the class. Good job!!!

LesmillsJunkie

What do you do at a body pump class?
I really want to add weights, but am also scared of the machines!! But my gym has body pump classes - I just wondered what they were?

It's a cheorographed weight lifting class. It's amazing. Give it a shot, at least 3 shots, you won't be sorry

graysmom2005

What do you do at a body pump class?
I really want to add weights, but am also scared of the machines!! But my gym has body pump classes - I just wondered what they were?

Oh, you've gotta take one! :-) It is a one hour barbell class. It is all done to great music. You just have your bar, a few different weights and a bench. Every body part is worked individually with each "track"/song. It will always go warm-up, squats, chest, back, triceps, biceps, lunges, shoulders, abs, and cooldown. It's low weight with lots of reps. ANYONE can do it. i have lots of grandmas!! Rockin' it!! I'm still afraid of the machines and I work at a gym! LOL! It truly changes your body!

FitCoachJen

What do you do at a body pump class?
I really want to add weights, but am also scared of the machines!! But my gym has body pump classes - I just wondered what they were?

It's a cheorographed weight lifting class. It's amazing. Give it a shot, at least 3 shots, you won't be sorry

I just wanted to add that it's a high rep, low weight class (great for building muscular endurance, NOT gaining muscle mass). So you'll typically do dozens of lunges, curls, etc while holding ~5lb weights. It's a great intro to free weights to learn some basic moves and combos.

Allibaba

That's so true! I need to find time for more classes, they are a great way to burn a ton!

graysmom2005

What an inspiration you are. Now you have something that most instructors don't have...empathy for your members/clients. Once you can "relate" to them and help them in their journey, the walls will come down. Being a child of a morbidly obese mother, and watching her "diet" year after year after year without any permanent changes, I know I can relate to many at the gym. I always make sure to smile at the "newbie" and introduce myself, or joke with them during a dance or Zumba class. Making them feel welcome and a part of the group. Too many times people forget the golden rule "Do unto others as you would have done unto you."

My "change" moment came after a community theater production I was in. I saw my photos and was aghast at how I looked. After spiking to the highest weight I had ever been, I knew I needed a change. I made changes and dropped 30# over the course of nine months. Still not at my ultimate goal weight, but very happy at where I am.

I too hope to take what I have learned and pass it on to others and become an instructor. What an awesome thing to be able to say "I know what you feel"..."I've been there myself." Truly uplifting, encouraging, and an amazing "Aha" moment.

I carry a picture of myself in my size 20 pants when my son was 3 months old in my gym bag. It's always hard to visualize a fit person fat until you get a picture from before. I always let them know that I am right there with them fighting the fight every day. :-)

zojo78

Wow, that sounds pretty cool! Thanks for the info everyone! I'm gonna find out my gym's schedule! :-)

Lttlbird

Love your story - thanks for sharing!!!

VanessaFaith

I'm a big chicken when it comes to taking exercise classes. I've lost some weight, but is there a good class to take that maybe I'd feel more comfortable in?? I'm not big on humiliating myself :-/ I keep hearing about Zumba, but I really don't think I could keep up (not really a dancer, but willing to change). Any suggestions??