Body Pump vs Lifting. Help!

Heavy is subjective. It's based on rep ranges, not on poundages. If your muscles completely give out on you after only a single digit number of reps, you're lifting heavy. Doesn't matter if that's 2 lbs, 20 lbs, or 200 lbs.

Lol, I'll agree with this, but sometimes the subjectivity can be overcome with common sense. I had a female client once (well over 200lbs at 5'6") whine about lifting 5lbs weights, yet she would walk in carrying in and out a 15lb daughter with ease. Sometimes one does need to "call out" those who dramatize how "heavy" those 2lbs dumbells are on some exercises like curls.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I've always wondered about that, Niner. I only have my personal experience to go on, but when I was a teenager, before I did any kind of weight or resistance training, I had no problems lifting or moving objects or carrying the small kids in my family, but I was a wuss when I added weights to my exercise routine. I had no problem carrying my 20 pound dog and remember one time when I had to carry him home several blocks because he'd run away and I forgot to grab his leash when I went looking for him. When we moved, I was the person helping with the heavier boxes and I was the one who moved furniture around on my mom's heavy cleaning days. But after I decided to add weights and resistance to my exercise routine and boy, howdy! Using three pound weights hurt, especially on shoulder presses. I whined and cried (internally). I couldn't even do knee pushups. The only explanation I can think of is that I was relying more on my leg strength to move/carry things without realizing it.

Even now, though I can pick up the 40 pound kitty litter with one hand and put it in the grocery cart, can carry all my groceries up the stairs to my apartment in one trip, and move 50-60 pound boxes at work on a regular basis, upper body exercises still kill me (I do mostly bodyweight and sometimes use moderate weights). I don't know. Picking up and carrying things just feels different than doing sets of exercises.

Heavy is subjective. It's based on rep ranges, not on poundages. If your muscles completely give out on you after only a single digit number of reps, you're lifting heavy. Doesn't matter if that's 2 lbs, 20 lbs, or 200 lbs.

Lol, I'll agree with this, but sometimes the subjectivity can be overcome with common sense. I had a female client once (well over 200lbs at 5'6") whine about lifting 5lbs weights, yet she would walk in carrying in and out a 15lb daughter with ease. Sometimes one does need to "call out" those who dramatize how "heavy" those 2lbs dumbells are on some exercises like curls.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I've always wondered about that, Niner. I only have my personal experience to go on, but when I was a teenager, before I did any kind of weight or resistance training, I had no problems lifting or moving objects or carrying the small kids in my family, but I was a wuss when I added weights to my exercise routine. I had no problem carrying my 20 pound dog and remember one time when I had to carry him home several blocks because he'd run away and I forgot to grab his leash when I went looking for him. When we moved, I was the person helping with the heavier boxes and I was the one who moved furniture around on my mom's heavy cleaning days. But after I decided to add weights and resistance to my exercise routine and boy, howdy! Using three pound weights hurt, especially on shoulder presses. I whined and cried (internally). I couldn't even do knee pushups. The only explanation I can think of is that I was relying more on my leg strength to move/carry things without realizing it.

Even now, though I can pick up the 40 pound kitty litter with one hand and put it in the grocery cart, can carry all my groceries up the stairs to my apartment in one trip, and move 50-60 pound boxes at work on a regular basis, upper body exercises still kill me (I do mostly bodyweight and sometimes use moderate weights). I don't know. Picking up and carrying things just feels different than doing sets of exercises.

I've had many tell me the same. It's a mentality though. Moving, picking things one HAS to do (like kids, animals, boxes, food) doesn't seem to bother them, but lifting weights (when they may not have any desire to do so) mentally stuns them. Having to do repetitions (even though things like shoveling dirt or snow are repetitious and hard work) with weights for many females is BORING, yet jumping around and wearing weighed hand gloves for Zumba is doable. Funny to me.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

I would keep doing the high rep./ lighter weights in Body Pump. I would say that if you are not experiencing pain, you can even increase your weight. The more muscle on your body the more calories you burn all day long. That being said, I understand your desire to not add bulk. For that reason, you may wish to stretch longer than the five or so minutes at the end of class. Also, go to Body flow, or a Pilates class if your gym offers them. If not, the Internet is a great place to learn some of those lengthening, stretching moves - your core will thank you and you see the long lean muscle you are after.

that is not how ANY of that works.