Zumba for out of shape people?

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Replies

  • CoryIda
    CoryIda Posts: 7,870 Member
    I weighed around 250 pounds when I started doing Zumba.

    It's a lot of fun and a fantastic workout - if there are things you can't do because of your weight (some of the jumping, for instance), modify it to something you CAN do - as long as you keep moving, that's all that matters.
  • Seesaa
    Seesaa Posts: 451
    The thing about Zumba is that YOU make it what you need it to be. You raise or lower the intensity to what you can handle. If you have a good instructor they will tell you that. I started ZUMBA 4 weeks ago and am addicted! I go at least 4x week cuz it is so much fun! Do I always get the steps right? Not hardly! Can I always keep up? Rarely! But I am getting better. We have some very large people in our class, and some very small people, and lots of in-between. Give it a try and don't be self-conscious. The first class will be hard, but don't give up! It is so much fun!

    what she said, I am 400+ and love zumba, you do what you can and you have fun lookin a fool doing it with a bunch of other people who are having fun. It is the best hour you can spend doing something really lol
  • wildcata77
    wildcata77 Posts: 660


    So, at first, you will be lost. But do not worry...all of us were lost the first few times. Then as you get more comfortable with the moves, you will get a better workout. You will feel more comfortable shaking your hips, shaking your shoulders, popping your butt....you will get a better workout with each class that you attend. Warning though, the first class that I ever took, my face got so red!! I had no clue that my face could turn that color!! haha!




    Agreed...I take my class at a wellness center and despite my size and age, I am neither the biggest or oldest person in the class. I have a dance background, so it's actually easier for me to get some of the turns and more difficult combinations better, but I struggle with the pace and the in-between steps. I'm just too out of shape for my body to move that fast! Despite that, I love going, it's fun, no one judges others, and if I get winded I just sit one song out to go refill my water bottle or I just kind of cha-cha in place for a few bars.

    Hope you enjoy! Also, I burn close to 1000 in a one hour class. AWESOME. Only swimming gives me the same calorie burn.
  • JoannaLouden
    JoannaLouden Posts: 70 Member
    Okay so I went tonight! Didn't know anybody there (would prob be more fun with a friend).

    The teacher seemed nice and the people too, I didn't feel like anyone was judging me for being so out of step. It is a WORKOUT, I had to kind of "cha cha" in place or not do the arms through a lot because I could tell my heart rate was very high. Still I didn't sit out any and made it through the whole thing. If they gave out an award for "sweatiest person" I would have won! My bangs were plastered to my face by the end. :laugh:

    Like they say on Pinterest "If you still look cute at the end you didn't work hard enough!" :blushing:

    Plan on going back next week and have a friend coming too!

    BTW---do you all wear a heart rate monitor or something? How do I know how many calories I burned?
  • CoryIda
    CoryIda Posts: 7,870 Member
    Okay so I went tonight! Didn't know anybody there (would prob be more fun with a friend).

    The teacher seemed nice and the people too, I didn't feel like anyone was judging me for being so out of step. It is a WORKOUT, I had to kind of "cha cha" in place or not do the arms through a lot because I could tell my heart rate was very high. Still I didn't sit out any and made it through the whole thing. If they gave out an award for "sweatiest person" I would have won! My bangs were plastered to my face by the end. :laugh:

    Like they say on Pinterest "If you still look cute at the end you didn't work hard enough!" :blushing:

    Plan on going back next week and have a friend coming too!

    BTW---do you all wear a heart rate monitor or something? How do I know how many calories I burned?
    I am so proud of you for going!

    I am typically drenched in sweat after Zumba, so don't feel bad at all about being all sweaty.

    A HRM is the most accurate way to know your calorie burn, but you can also get a fairly good estimate here:
    http://www.zumbacalories.com/
  • xoeva
    xoeva Posts: 209 Member
    I'm asking for a friend... :laugh:

    Zumba interests me, it looks fun. I'd like to go try a class BUT am afraid that I'll get there and be the only out of shape person.

    Plus, can I even DO zumba? I mean if I go and it is too much for me, what do you do? Just walk in place to keep your heart rate up but not overdo yourself?

    Don't get me wrong I'm not afraid to sweat and work hard. I just know that if I tried to do an hour of Zumba like you see on tv, it would be too hard on my body and my heart rate would be TOO high. So what do you do?
    I just took my first Zumba class on Friday...it was amazing...great music and no counting (like in aerobics classes) nothing about fat burning or muscles or nothing...it was all about fun, the instructor I had is great and other friends tell me their instructors are great too...it was more of a dance class, free style, than an actual exercise class..after each song (5-6 min) there was clapping and a little break to get a sip of water....AND I was soooo surprised I was the youngest there (and I'm 43!!! but maybe it was just that particular class. All shapes and sizes, lots of smiles and in general great. Go for it
  • Val_91
    Val_91 Posts: 36
    The thing about Zumba is that YOU make it what you need it to be. You raise or lower the intensity to what you can handle. If you have a good instructor they will tell you that. I started ZUMBA 4 weeks ago and am addicted! I go at least 4x week cuz it is so much fun! Do I always get the steps right? Not hardly! Can I always keep up? Rarely! But I am getting better. We have some very large people in our class, and some very small people, and lots of in-between. Give it a try and don't be self-conscious. The first class will be hard, but don't give up! It is so much fun!

    what she said, I am 400+ and love zumba, you do what you can and you have fun lookin a fool doing it with a bunch of other people who are having fun. It is the best hour you can spend doing something really lol

    Thanks for replying because I'm around 400 pounds and I'm thinking about trying this but I wasn't sure if I'd be able to do it. I'm super self-conscious so... haha.
  • ReneeIngram11
    ReneeIngram11 Posts: 6
    I agree with you zumba is a best exercise for any types of weight loss with maintain your fitness.
  • angeeang1
    angeeang1 Posts: 5 Member
    Girl... When I started going to the gym, I was WAY out of shape... I started going to a class where there were only like 5 people and they were ALL in shape and REGULARS! I felt WAY out of place... I just kept going and now, I'm in shape AND I'm a regular! Just stay with it! People will respect that you're making a change! :wink:
  • ChrisK7265
    ChrisK7265 Posts: 21
    Okay so I went tonight! Didn't know anybody there (would prob be more fun with a friend).

    The teacher seemed nice and the people too, I didn't feel like anyone was judging me for being so out of step. It is a WORKOUT, I had to kind of "cha cha" in place or not do the arms through a lot because I could tell my heart rate was very high. Still I didn't sit out any and made it through the whole thing. If they gave out an award for "sweatiest person" I would have won! My bangs were plastered to my face by the end. :laugh:

    Like they say on Pinterest "If you still look cute at the end you didn't work hard enough!" :blushing:

    Plan on going back next week and have a friend coming too!

    BTW---do you all wear a heart rate monitor or something? How do I know how many calories I burned?

    GOOD FOR YOU!!!
  • sissy112553
    sissy112553 Posts: 18
    i joined a zumba class thats done in the pool and its great some of the people where small and some are out of shape like myself but i love the class u burn 800 cal or more in a 35min class
  • Caerful
    Caerful Posts: 12
    I'm 58 and teach Zumba Gold. It's for people just like yourself who want to enjoy the fun of Zumba at a slower tempo. No jumping or sudden changes of direction. Great music and moves. You take it at your own pace and I think you'll find that you'll be surprised what you can do and how great you'll feel after a class. I hope you give it a whirl! Kx
  • stormydaze_02
    stormydaze_02 Posts: 68 Member
    I agree with the others. Please don't feel self-conscious! I've been doing Zumba for a while and I'm still pretty un-co!

    My best piece of advice though is: try a few different classes/instructors. An awesome instructor will make your workout feel like so much fun!

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