Group classes v. working out on your own

I push harder in group classes because, well, pride. I don't want to be seen taking a break when everyone else is pushing through!

Eh...I often get frustrated by people who are goofing off, not trying very hard or phoning it in, particularly when those people are young and healthy with no excuse. I really don't understand why people go to group exercise classes and without being prepared to put forward their best effort...and why those people want to stand at the front and take up space.

The "pretending to exercise" crowd gets me down sometimes.

I have tons of intrinsic motivation--I don't need an instructor or classmates to get me going.

I love a group exercise but, it definitely helps with having an instructor that is motivation and giving good vibes to push people! I feel like I am pushed and more disciplined.

I have done both. I like both, and I am able to motivate myself pretty well on my own, but if I am tired and really don't feel like working out, I am WAY WAY better off going to a class and standing at or near the front. That pressures me to put forth a good effort even when I would rather be slacking off.

I used to feel totally weird about other people watching me work out and would hide in a back corner, but as I got more confident with the workouts, I find that I no longer give a snit (Except when creepy guys stare through the windows at the Zumba class. That's just weird.)

Timely. I am quitting my gym membership today and going to work at it at home.

I love group classes. I belong to a community center which opened 2 yrs ago. It had a ton of "free classes" with membership when it first opened. Now, that has dwindled and it just not working for me so I am exercising less, not cool!!!

Plus I realized that it is just really a "fun thing" and was a great way to get back into the groove. That being said I am ready to go to the next level and the community center does not cut the mustard anymore for me.

I am probably going to join Gold's Gym after my DH gets his stuff right. He also wants to get fit and we are going to do that together.

tornACL2012 wrote: »

For those that do group classes, do you feel like you can work out longer and go harder because your inspired by the instructor and other people in class?

I don't know that I work out longer or harder, but I love group classes as part of my routine. They mix things up, push me, and I've made a lot of gym friends in them. I am so glad I got over myself a couple years ago and started going (this isn't to say that others need to get over themselves - I know group classes are not for everyone! but for me, what was holding me back was a lack of confidence).

For instance, taking a hard tabata or boot camp class makes me feel like I'm an athlete. Right now I'm really into a step class with complicated choreography that I *never* thought I'd be able to follow (but I can!). I love that classes get me to try new things and push my limits.

I'll freely admit that I push myself more in group class because I don't want to be judged as a fat person who isn't trying hard enough!

tornACL2012 wrote: »

For those that do group classes, do you feel like you can work out longer and go harder because your inspired by the instructor and other people in class?

I'm not a fan of group fitness classes for two different reasons;
1. when i was overweight I would slack off without the birdseye monitoring of a PT.
2. now that i'm fitter I don't find them overly challenging.

I do attend group sessions with a PT (4-5 ladies) and find the workout to be more varied, challenging, specific to my needs and have my technique corrected.