Question to people who use or have used Zumba

i will answer a few for you it's not just a gimmic it's a cardio workout! any cardio is good the more effort you put into it the more you burn and it can mount up quite fast!
kids should love it as well as adults and if you burn cals then you will loose weight!

have a look on youtube there are quite a few (loads) of zumba videos on there some are just demo's but some are for you to work out with, have a go at some of them and see what you think, but i'm my limited experience its a good work out and is great fun, the beauty of the youtube videos is you can try them without spending money on something you don't enjoy

I zumba 2 times a week. I dont know how it would be a gimick. I sweat my *kitten* off for an hour and come out soaked. My heart rate is up the whole time meaning burning calories. So I would say its well worth it.

Great cardio exercise Anything that brings your HR up and keeps it up is going to provide a calorie burn My gym offers a water zumba class that i'm dying to try.. lol

Well, I may say that with Zumba I've lost around 2 pounds per week.. and you could burn about 250 cals per half and hour.. go figure..
There are a lot of DVD's of Zumba, the first ones seemed to me like an episode of Dora the Explorer cuz one instructor explains the routine in spanish, and the other one in english.. :laugh: I didn´t like them much (although I'm native spanish speaker!)
But I strongly recommend you the 2011 DVD's set because they're really fun,with different routines, a diet and instruction booklet, a pair of tone sticks and everything. There's also this quick workout that only lasts 20 mins. and I swear you feel an hour later in your own body how hard you worked. This is the best so far.
Take a look http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS_g0-QWeek
Why don´t you give it a chance, I've found here in MFP many Zumba lovers
Good luck!

my knees are a bit dinky

If you go to a live class, I'd recommend getting an Ace bandage or some kind of extra support for your knees. Mine dislocate and they tend to be a bit sore after the class if I don't wear some support on them. I tried it without but I feel better with. Just my 0.2 cents

I think these people who have labelled it a gimmick probably havent given it a real go ,,,, joining a class would be great im not really confidnet enough yet to excercise infront of people but im hoping with a bit more time that will change my daughter is still only a bub 9 months but my sons are 3 and 7 it would be great to be able to take them along and something im very keen to look into being in a bit of country area though im not sure it will be around but i will deff try and seek it out ,,, thanks for your response

Ahh yeah, the joys of living in the middle of nowhere... I'm not sure how old the kid is that comes to our class. He looks around 7-8 maybe? He's old enough that he can kinda do the moves, yet young enough that it's not *totally* weird that he's in a room with a bunch of women shaking their butts to Latin music... :laugh: :laugh:

I've been doing zumba once a week for 6 weeks now and using MFP I'm down 7lbs ( which it took me since january to lose the first seven with diet alone) I feel great. I was so scared to try it and do it in front of people because i have the coordination skills of a drunk gorilla, but after 2 or 3 classes i got over it and i wiggle as much as the next person. I have knee problems and I love that you can modify to fit your needs. When my class jumps, I bounce, when they kick high, i kick low, etc. I've never had my knees hurt.

I'm burning around 250-300 cals per half hour but all my classes are 1hr long.

I highly suggest going to classes they hold you more accountable and teach you proper form. I know own zumba on my ps3 but i'd of been totally lost had i not gone to a few classes first.

I have an awsome instructer who adds new things all the time so i don't get bored. when she cancells i usually try a new class and i've found that some classes are extremely repetitive.....so shop around. try a few out and ask around for suggestions.

If you can find a class near you, I highly recommend attending! No matter what size you are or what your coordination level is.

I am so uncoordinated but I LOVED Zumba. There were women of all shapes and sizes in my class so I felt completely comfortable. Go at least three times before you say you hate it and never want to do it again. The first class you might be fumbling around in the moves (I was anyway) but by the third time you'll have a better idea of what is expected.

And its such a fun class that everyone is always smiling and friendly which is the best part! Sometimes the hardcore workout classes, everyone is so grim and focused they dont talk much. But in Zumba, its smiles and telling your neighbor your arms are so tired. Loved it!

I've never done a DVD but I dont know if I would work as hard at home as I do in the class.

Also, one of my friends lost 50lbs using Zumba as her ONLY exercise (and eating better, of course).

First of all, Zumba is amazing! I love my instructor, have tried two other at the gym, and she is my fave. I go and work my tail off for an hour and I'm pouring with sweat.
Now onto the you don't feel comfortable in front of people...is this because of your weight? I just want to tell you at golds where I go, I have women over 60 modifying it for themselves, I have a woman in a walker, I have a few girls that are well over 300 lbs! And everyone gets in there and shakes it!! Don't feel self conscious, Zumba is like no other exercise class

A gimmick?! Wow... those people either haven't attended a class or their teacher is ****.

I go to 5 Zumba classes a week (2 regular, 2 toning, 1 aqua) and I burn anywhere from 200-500+ calories based on the one I'm doing. Oh, and I'm toning up, sweating buckets, making friends, shaking my booty, and having a blast doing it!

Like someone said, check out a YouTube video or five and if you like them, definitely attend a live class if you can. My teacher also offers two Zumbatomics classes: one for 5-9 year olds and one for 10-12 year olds, and one of my classmates brings her son along in addition to Zumbatomics. Your daughter might actually enjoy doing it, if she's old enough to, of course.

I think these people who have labelled it a gimmick probably havent given it a real go ,,,, joining a class would be great im not really confidnet enough yet to excercise infront of people but im hoping with a bit more time that will change my daughter is still only a bub 9 months but my sons are 3 and 7 it would be great to be able to take them along and something im very keen to look into being in a bit of country area though im not sure it will be around but i will deff try and seek it out ,,, thanks for your response

I am new to Zumba and have lost weight, toned up, but more importantly I have gained energy. I have had four different instructors and I love two of them. I sweat buckets and have so much fun. However, two of the instructors are not very good. If you have several instructors in your area I would at least try out all that I could. If I hadn't I might have quit because of the other two. I have never tried zumba at home with a dvd.

Once you start going you really lose that self consciousness and shake in ways you never dreamed you would. I estimate that I burn around 300 to 350 calories per hour.

It really is the best workout for me because I love to go. I am now up to 4 days a week.

Good Luck!

I started Zumba in November last year- in March became a licensed instructor, I now teach Zumba, Zumba Gold and Aqua Zumba- oh and I have lost 70 lbs in the last year- 50 because of Zumba!
Try it you will be amazed how fun it is and you burn mega calories, sweat like a maniac and learn dance moves too! I am new to Fitness Pal but looking forward to the challenge of holding myself more accountable- especially as I hit plateaus! Still a ways to go- this should help

That is awesome!!! Good for you to push past it- your insructor shouldn't have singled your out that way- I never do that- if they are in the back its their own reason- they will move forward when they are ready. But yes, mostly women although our male population is growing! Love it!!

Thx Connell for sharing your story!! I would come jam with you except other side of the country........ but with ya in Zumba thoughts!!! Rock it!!
I love when people say "oh its a gimmick"- try it, try a live 1 hr class, and double p.s.s.s.s. all- if you have bad knees, hips or any other injury that limits your ability to work at the same level in class as other participants, listen to your body but there are programs for everyone. Zumba Gold is amazing that way, and so is Aqua Zumba- you will see results, just less impact on your joints!