BodyPump as weightlifting

rsj206
rsj206 Posts: 36 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hi all, I have a question about weightlifting and BodyPump. If you want to skip the background, see below. It's a simple question but I want to give some background so you know where I'm coming from. I lost 40 pounds nine years ago, and since then I have been on a long journey to lose the last 15 pounds. I'm starting to think it will never happen, but that's another story. Anyway.

I first lost weight doing basically just cardio (running and elliptical). Five years ago I started doing a class similar to BodyPump, and I loved it. (My gym discontinued it in favor of BodyPump.) I got sleeker and gained muscle, but didn't lose any appreciable weight. Next I got a personal trainer, who recommended free weights and heavy-weight, low-rep exercises. I've been doing that three times a week (in place of BodyPump) for about a year. I've gained more muscle, and I'm much stronger, but I don't enjoy weightlifting on my own as much as I enjoy going to a class and sweating it out with other people. I find that I have to drag myself to the gym to do weights, and I dread lifting days. :-( I'm not in love with my new, stronger muscles either. They are fine, but I would rather have smaller muscles and enjoy going to the gym more than I do currently.

**MY ACTUAL QUESTION**: Does BodyPump (high-rep, relatively low weight exercises) give my body the same benefits as high-weight, low-rep lifting? I'm thinking bone density and connective tissue strength in particular.

Thanks!

PS - I still run twice a week. I've tried HIIT as a weight-loss tool and gotten fit, but again, no weight loss. I've eaten all my exercise calories, I've eaten none. At various times I've cut out dairy, wheat, sugar, red meat. I don't drink alcohol. I think my body just wants to stay at 165, sigh.
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Replies

  • IronSmasher
    IronSmasher Posts: 3,908 Member
    No
  • micheleb15
    micheleb15 Posts: 1,418 Member
    I find that I have to drag myself to the gym to do weights, and I dread lifting days. :-( I'm not in love with my new, stronger muscles either. They are fine, but I would rather have smaller muscles and enjoy going to the gym more than I do currently.

    **MY ACTUAL QUESTION**: Does BodyPump (high-rep, relatively low weight exercises) give my body the same benefits as high-weight, low-rep lifting? I'm thinking bone density and connective tissue strength in particular.

    Thanks!

    No, they don't have the same benefit, but if you don't enjoy it and don't like the results then stick to Bodypump. To each their own.
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    No
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    Does BodyPump (high-rep, relatively low weight exercises) give my body the same benefits as high-weight, low-rep lifting?

    No.
  • skullshank
    skullshank Posts: 4,323 Member
    nope
  • Lili0817
    Lili0817 Posts: 109 Member
    Probably not.

    I love Body Pump, I think it's a great workout. Why don't you just modify it? I follow the class but at my own pace. For example, when doing Squats I add more weight then most of the class and I go at my pace. So I do fewer reps then the others, but with much more weight. I do that for all the exercises. Quality over Quantity :)
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    This is a good article explaining the difference:

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/weight-training-for-fat-loss-part-1.html

    And part 2 will tell you how to mix it.

    Loosing the last 15lbs will be a function of your diet, not your work out.

    This is also an interesting article, if you aren't happy with the size of your current muscles:

    http://bretcontreras.com/how-to-attain-a-slender-look-like-jessica-alba-zoe-saldana/
  • Cheri_Moves
    Cheri_Moves Posts: 625 Member
    NO. End of thread.
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,078 Member
    Your body would not stay at 165 if you were in a famine.

    So there's that.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    No
  • 58Rock
    58Rock Posts: 176 Member
    Why not do both. I do. On average, I run three days a week and do yoga one day. But I dedicate two additional days to lifting. One is either Body Pump at the local Gold's or a very intense kettlebell circut. The other day is devoted to heavy lifting the basics; dead lift, benchpress, dips, low pull, one arm rows, shoulder presses, upright rows, biceps curls (bar and dumbell) and triceps work are just some examples. Heavy, maxing out at 8 reps per set. If you want to lift more, drop a day cardio and add another day of lifting wihich I do when I not doing a lot of training for races (mostly during the winter).

    Good luck!
  • No_Finish_Line
    No_Finish_Line Posts: 3,661 Member
    The answer is no, that doesn't mean you'll get zero benefit in bone density, but not as much as heavier lifting
  • Fullsterkur_woman
    Fullsterkur_woman Posts: 2,712 Member
    Does+Thou+Even+Hoist_6b5fe0_4251542.jpg

    j/k

    No.

    But like they said upthread, the workout that you do is better than the workout that you don't do. I *hate* kickboxing. So I don't do it. Pretty simple.
  • MercenaryNoetic26
    MercenaryNoetic26 Posts: 2,747 Member
    In for NO's.
  • Leadfoot_Lewis
    Leadfoot_Lewis Posts: 1,623 Member
    Well, may as well join in...

    NO!!!
  • rsj206
    rsj206 Posts: 36 Member
    Thank you for the interesting reads! Much appreciated.

    This is a good article explaining the difference:

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/weight-training-for-fat-loss-part-1.html

    And part 2 will tell you how to mix it.

    Loosing the last 15lbs will be a function of your diet, not your work out.

    This is also an interesting article, if you aren't happy with the size of your current muscles:

    http://bretcontreras.com/how-to-attain-a-slender-look-like-jessica-alba-zoe-saldana/
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    NO. End of thread.

    QfAsgzI.gif

    /thread
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    Does BodyPump (high-rep, relatively low weight exercises) give my body the same benefits as high-weight, low-rep lifting? I'm thinking bone density and connective tissue strength in particular.

    I'm going to go across the grain and say yes, it does have many of those same benefits. I've done Body Pump and it's not soup cans. It might be high rep but it's resistance exercise and that's beneficial. I'm seeing 15-25 lbs. as being called plenty by some sources but I'll look for something less 'popular press' if I have time since I imagine people here will want scholarly articles.

    Ok, here's one that refutes me. Good to know!
    http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/combat-osteoporosis-with-exercise

    Here's another. It says all intensities have value but the heavier weights have the most.
    http://www.unm.edu/~lkravitz/Article folder/bonemass.html
  • donnaleighh
    donnaleighh Posts: 178 Member
    Thank you for the interesting reads! Much appreciated.

    This is a good article explaining the difference:

    http://www.bodyrecomposition.com/training/weight-training-for-fat-loss-part-1.html

    And part 2 will tell you how to mix it.

    Loosing the last 15lbs will be a function of your diet, not your work out.

    This is also an interesting article, if you aren't happy with the size of your current muscles:

    http://bretcontreras.com/how-to-attain-a-slender-look-like-jessica-alba-zoe-saldana/


    Here here - thanks for these - like the OP I do both but well prefer Pump, so tend to that mostly as it keeps me out there doing it!
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Does BodyPump (high-rep, relatively low weight exercises) give my body the same benefits as high-weight, low-rep lifting? I'm thinking bone density and connective tissue strength in particular.

    I'm going to go across the grain and say yes, it does have many of those same benefits. I've done Body Pump and it's not soup cans. It might be high rep but it's resistance exercise and that's beneficial. I'm seeing 15-25 lbs. as being called plenty by some sources but I'll look for something less 'popular press' if I have time since I imagine people here will want scholarly articles.

    Nope nope nope

    the whole premise is a cardio based workout.

    heavy isn't a NUMBER.

    I can't tricep press 25 lbs- well at least not well- and I certainly cannot laterally raise 25 lbs.

    But can I squat 25 lbs? yes. beyond yes- I can squat 8x that.

    heavy is a rep range- not a weight.

    And if you are doing HUNDREDS of reps- it's not heavy. Nothing is heavy.

    that doesn't mean it's wrong. It's not wrong. But it's not heavy lifting.

    PS- if literally EVERYONE is saying something isn't a thing- you might want to check your research and what you know if you are contradicting them. Not saying you aren't entitled to your opinion- because you are... but after about 25 NO's- it might tell you something.

    just a thought. not being a meanie poop pants- just a thought.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    Everyone here (nearly) also parrots a ton of outright wrong myth. But hey, thanks for the advice! :laugh:
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    What a frigging meanie poop pants. Are we not all here for the same reasons?
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    What a frigging meanie poop pants. Are we not all here for the same reasons?

    no I just got lost on my way out of the kitchen
  • DavPul
    DavPul Posts: 61,406 Member
    What a frigging meanie poop pants. Are we not all here for the same reasons?

    no I just got lost on my way out of the kitchen

    be careful with that

    K0WEW5G.jpg
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    I think there's a 'cleanse' thread in the General forum, you could go crap in that. :laugh:
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    If you enjoy bodypump more, just do that once a week too.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    I think there's a 'cleanse' thread in the General forum, you could go crap in that. :laugh:

    is it in the kitchen?

    I'm only familiar with appliances in the kitchen.:tongue:
  • arcticfox04
    arcticfox04 Posts: 1,011 Member
    Body Pump is more cardio then lifting.

    I don't know why people try to reinvent getting muscle so much.

    Bench
    Squats
    Deadlifts
    Overhead Press
    Lat Pulldowns

    Now that would be a real "body pump".
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    It's not my heart that's sore as he!! after Body Pump.

    In my opinion, they try to reinvent it because heavy lifting is dull and for many, intimidating. Body Pump at least introduced the barbell to a whole new population that wouldn't have touched one ever without a class.

    I wish they would come out with a good group class with heavier, lower rep lifting. Apparently enough people aren't interested in that, or there'd be too much liability and chance for injury?
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    It's not my heart that's sore as he!! after Body Pump.

    In my opinion, they try to reinvent it because heavy lifting is dull and for many, intimidating. Body Pump at least introduced the barbell to a whole new population that wouldn't have touched one ever without a class.

    I wish they would come out with a good group class with heavier, lower rep lifting. Apparently enough people aren't interested in that, or there'd be too much liability and chance for injury?

    we do a lot of super high rep stuff in dance class.

    I am pulling over 250 lbs of dead lift at this point- regularly. We do ballet flat back squats - no weight- I'm sore.

    Sore doesn't mean you got a good- effective work out- it just means you haven't used that muscle in that way- in a while.

    I'll be honest- I have no idea how heavy lifting is more dull than doing endless useless repetitions that aren't doing anything for you- the thought of doing 300 + repetitions of something makes the inner student in my scream WHY. (you know- WHY do I need to know this for the test- it's useless in real life- the questions you asked as a high schooler LOL)

    It's just not the most effective use of your time- so it's GREAT if you love it- it's GREAT if you want cardio- but compared to progressive lifting I simply cannot fathom how it's more interesting and how heavy lifting could be dull. I understand it's not glamorous- it's a lot of the same lifts over and over again- but you are really challenging your self by adding the weight- you are pushing the actual hard limits of your physical strength- and that is never dull.

    I'm a big fan of people doing what they love- so I don't begrudge anyone who does BodyPump- but I do not approve of people who are convinced it's a form of weight lifting and it's great for strength.

    Muscle endurance and muscle strength are NOT the same thing. At all.

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