Les Mills?

Hi
I love Les Mills classes, I do BodyPump twice a week, BodyBalance and BodyAttack once a week.

I do bodypump 3x a week — have been slowly adding weight! Looking forward to moving from 50kg to 55kg on squats next week.

coolchick207 wrote: »

I literally sat down and wrote all the classes that I can make last night. Have never been to a group fitness class but I am going to need to muscle up and tone up in the next few years to counter weight loss. Are they suitable for very big people with no fitness?

BodyPump I would say not; a lot of the current set involves doing things quite fast so you need to have reasonable form and balance to start with, and it’s easier to get injured if you’re starting with low muscle and high weight. However you can start practicing squats and lunges at home now, and that will help build up what you need!

BodyBalance would be fine, though, and help you build up your core strength, balance and fitness for the harder stuff. As will anything you do, actually; even taking up walking will go a surprising way to improving your cardio.

That sounds like a pretty good plan to me, although if you currently have a low fitness level you’re likely to struggle with the HIIT bits. Don’t worry too much if you do; just do what you can, and slowly you’ll be able to do more.

Dancing is great; I’m terrible at it, but I love it. And it has the advantage that there are lots of gentler bits while you learn new steps. Always remember that the ‘best’ exercise is the one you enjoy doing, so you keep doing it

They're not for everyone (I have friends who hate Less Mills classes with a fiery passion) but I enjoy them them. Currently do Body Pump 3-4x a week and Body Attack 2x (had to cut down on the cardio classes to factor in running twice a week) and I've seen huge improvements to my physique after 4 months of consistent working out. Now, this is in conjunction with calorie counting and logging fairly meticulously, and the same results could probably have been achieved with any other exercise regime. I'm certain that a heavy lifting programme like Stronglifts would take me even further...but the key for me is that I like the classes I do and that keeps me going to the gym consistently.

One thing I would say is that there is a risk of injury from poor form with body pump. My current gym has a couple of really decent body pump instructors who do actually instruct and correct people's form. However in other gyms I have also seen some people with really awful form, who have clearly never been shown how to do certain exercises correctly, and are heading straight for an injury.

I have been doing Lea Mills at home - on demand. Absolutely love it! Body pump 2-3x a week, body combat or body attack 2-3x a week. Seeing improvements in the mirror but not on the scale. Would like to see scale go done - suggestions would be great

[quote="hungrywombat;c-41896094"
One thing I would say is that there is a risk of injury from poor form with body pump. My current gym has a couple of really decent body pump instructors who do actually instruct and correct people's form. However in other gyms I have also seen some people with really awful form, who have clearly never been shown how to do certain exercises correctly, and are heading straight for an injury. [/quote]

This is the impression I have of bodypump so have avoided that particular one so far.

I am a Les Mills Sprint coach. I have never been one for group exercise but I love, love, love the cycle program. Les Mills puts so much into their workouts (choreography, sound engineers, physiology, research) and getting certified is rigorous. It all contributes to such a great, super motivating workout.

So for bodypump you all have those weights? Can they be done with bands only? Seems like alot of investment in those classes.

As a someone new to exercise I was thinking of starting with the Body Flow as a way to ease into things. My hope is to get better coordinated and used to the classes then step up to something more intense.

alexmose wrote: »

I am currently looking to be Bodypump certified by February (boot camp in January). What do you guys like most about the instructors?

My favourite instructors (workout wise) remind you of how you should be holding your body. ie remind you to draw your belly in, push through heels in squats, knees in line in lunges and 90 degree angle (all the reminders). Also when they count down how many reps are left so you can just push through those last hard reps.

On a personal note, my favourite instructors are relaxed, they share a little about themselves and what they've done that week and take requests

I was thinking about doing body pump... I've been going to gym for nearly a year, 5 days a week... Mainly cardio due to knee injury.

I have just started weights 3 times a week and thought about body pump class but didn't want to be the only bloke there... Are they for men too?