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

katkins3

I started going to Jazzercise in my 50's. I was the fat chick in the last row who was always out of step. I left early, discouraged. I sometimes sat in my car and cried. Somehow I kept coming back. I got better, learned the steps, made some acquaintances. In under a year I was dancing down Main Street with my Jazzer-buddies in the Christmas Parade! When I turned 60 I reluctantly bid good bye to Jazzercise as my heart rate kept going way too high and I opted for other exercises. I miss it still and hope to go to Jazzercis Lite when I retire.

justyourtypicalgirl

Cheers to that! I attribute most of my success to Zumba, BodyPump, and Spin. I still use all the weight and cardio machines as well but I will take a class over the hamster wheel any day.
When I started this back in September at 258 lbs, I was completely intimidated in the classes but I quickly learned that there was no reason to be...not to mention that because of these classes, I've lost 61 lbs!!
I always say that nobody is looking at your jiggly *kitten* because they are too worried that someone is looking at their jiggly *kitten*. Everyone is at the gym for the same reasons.

BeccyBerry

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.

My friends keep on at me to try Zumba but I am a total klutz always the person going the wrong way at the back and no ryhythm whatsoever. The only time I dance is when I am very drunk and I think im the best dancer ever. :laugh:

That said I went to body pump the other day and I loved it, No rhythm or co-ordination needed on my part a good fun workout. Maybe once I have got that class nailed I might be tempted to try some others!

Lisamarie1226

Your story sounded a lot like mine!

I was 265 at my heaviest. I finally found a gym I felt comfortable going to and after several months, summoned up the courage to try group fitness classes. I was 50 lbs down when I took my first spin class (finished the whole hour ---but mainly because I went with a friend and I refused to be the fatty that left early!) and fell in love. At my most addicted, I was taking it 5 times a week!

I also tried cardio kickboxing -- too jumpy for me! And Zumba -- which isn't for me, either.....I may be Latina but I am not coordinated at all..... I do take Body works (which is like your body pump class --I love that I work my upper and lower body at the same time) and Boot camp now.

As a side note, I have made some wonderful friends in my classes and became friends with some of my instructors as well. I love the accountability but I also love that making friends makes going to the gym more fun! I love that I can look forward to hanging out and sweating with my buddies after work. AND ..... I met my boyfriend at the gym....in SPIN class no less ;-) 2 dogs, a townhouse, and almost 3 years later...still going strong ;-)

catwrangler

currently working up the courage to take a kettlebell class.......

instructor03

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??


I tell new members that come to my class that their hearts don't know the difference between left and right, a chacha from a mambo, etc. Just keep moving, get the heart rate up and the moves will come with time. Remember, those people who know how to do the class was not born knowing how LOL. They, too, were new to the class at one time. As far as Zumba, there is a Zumba Gold class that is out there. It is a slower pace class. Maybe your gym or one near you has it.

the second paragraph is my addition. I am not sure why it is in the quote box. Tried to fix it but FAILED haha

JennsLosing

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....

im really uncoordinated too, and when i first started step i was all over the place! You get use to the steps. i still mess up every once in a while.

JennsLosing

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.

My friends keep on at me to try Zumba but I am a total klutz always the person going the wrong way at the back and no ryhythm whatsoever. The only time I dance is when I am very drunk and I think im the best dancer ever. :laugh:

That said I went to body pump the other day and I loved it, No rhythm or co-ordination needed on my part a good fun workout. Maybe once I have got that class nailed I might be tempted to try some others!

haha i tried zumba like 5 times, and i suck, by the time i figure out how to do one move, they're moving on to something else, i gave up on that one. ill stick with step aerobics, spinning and cardio boxing thank you very much.

cheri0627

I would never have started my journey if not for a friend talking me into going to the boot camp class they started offering in the building I work in.

The first day, I was terrified. Everyone else seemed like they were in such good shape already when I walked in. I just said, I paid for this, I gotta do it for the length of the course. Several people dropped out. I'm not surprised. It was pretty intense, but they scaled it to the level each person is at. I've found, though, that the people in that class have become friends. We all support each other. Sure, some people are in much better shape than others (me) and I'm often the last one done with a workout, but I've done it.

If I didn't have the accountability of people knowing I'm supposed to be there and knowing if I skip, I might not go. (I was sick yesterday and missed, and the trainer commented on my facebook.) At least that was where I started. Now, I've added CrossFit another day a week, and Olympic weightlifting another day.

Having a class is more motivating. I also know that I'm doing things right when there's a chance that doing it wrong could cause injury, because the trainers are watching out for what we're doing. They also are there to help me modify things where I need it. And they're there to cheer me on. (I think the person who was most excited with how well I've done so far was one of my trainers. She grabbed me and hugged me, tears of joy in her eyes, when she saw my 6 month measurements compared to where I started. 6" off my waist, 4" off my hips.)