Zumba

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Ms_Natalie
MyFitnessPal Forum Moderator.

I didn't read all of the posts here but I wanted to add if it hasn't been said already that the intensity and effectiveness of zumba classes very widely. I took classes from 3 different instructors before I found one that pushed me to get the work out I was looking for.

I'd also like to add that my zumba routine incorporates strength - mostly squats. My legs and butt are sore the next day! We do one song that is all arms too.

I've lost quite a bit of weight and wouldn't be discouraging of anyone's choice of exercise because I know that any little bit helps. Everyone is different and if you find something that works for you... you should keep at it. If you find a way to ENJOY exercise... by all means continue and don't let anyone tell you to stop!

I log my work outs as "dancing: Swing, twist, modern"

I've been doing Zumba for 1 year now... and my body transformation has been AMAZING! I started 5 weeks PP with my daughter and I shred 15 lbs doing it twice a week in the first 2 months. Then since then I've been able to tone and define my body in ways I never imagined. My instructor has even motivated me to get my certification at the end of this month and join her company as an additional instructor. Zumba is amazing. its the ONLY workout program I have ever stuck with and its because it never feels like a work out at all. its FUN. and thats important to me because that last thing I want to do after chasing 2 kids around all day is go and do something that feels like more work. I've NEVER left my Zumba class not covered in sweat. its just not possible. Keep it up Zumba ladies!!!!

I have gone to a 60 minute class 3 x's a week since January 4th and it is an awesome workout. Burns around 500 cals. You sweat to death and are breathless at times. Zumba rocks! It is so high energy. Good for you for doing it! Keep it up- it pays off! I've lost around 10 lbs. since I started it, but i didn't have a lot to lose. I've heard several times that the more you weigh, the more you burn. Your clothes fit better too. It really strengthens all muscle groups and makes you more flexible.

thank you for that. and as too your question you will most likely be quite sore after tonight. but you CAN do it! weight loss is 99% mental. it certainly isn't easy for anybody though, if it was easy then it wouldn't be called "work"-ing out. also it can get quite loud in the room depending onthe set up so if your sensitive to that you might want to bring some earplugs, you'll be able to hear just fine through them.

Loud music wont discourage me! Loud dance music gts me pumped up!!!

^^

That's frightening, I didn't know that

I do an average of 8-10 group classes a week and they make up 75-80% of my exercise.

High intensity cardio, suchs as some zumba classes can actually burn MUSCLE instead of fat, which is actually counter-productive when it comes toones overall goal of loosing the wieght. light to moderate strength trainning combined with low intensity cardio (walking at a brisk pace is great, especially first thing in the morning, before breakfast) is one of the absolute most effective ways to loose weight. Thats not just my opinion, but that of much of the medical community, as well as plain old phsyiology as well.

There is light to moderate strength training incorporated in zumba. Lots and lots of squats, some lunges and my class even does one song that is all arm work.

maybe your friends are not participating as they should? Maybe they need to watch intake but high intensity cardio (ZUMBA) burns calories=weight lost. It truly is that simple, I wish I go make it to my gyms Zumba class, but can't, I know that the class lets out as I go to spin and they are drenched after it. I also know one of the trainers at the gym who is a WORLD CHAMPION weight lifter, Zumba kicked his *kitten* he said never again!!

OK. as a self prescribed penance for unintentionally causing potential damaged to some ones fitness plans, i have personally greeted and done my best to encourage 5 new members.

Well Itried the zumba toning last night and holy cow! If thats not burning fat I dont know what is! It was great!

sorry this has all got way to technical for me, I just try to burn more calories than I eat which was why I asked the question in the first place did not want to eat more calories than I was using up, so can I ask some questions.

my body find it more energy efficient to burn muscle rather than fat?

so after 20 mins of cardio I'm no longer burning fat, but starting to burn muscle?

so why do arobics, aquafit, spinning, whatever last more than 20 mins?

Im not trying to be super toned just not overweight

my body find it more energy efficient to burn muscle rather than fat?
when you are under going extended periods of anaerobic activities your body goes into energy crisis mode. your body is no longer able to provide the necessary energy to continue functioning at that high of a level. in light of this crisis you body takes the most efficient way out of the crisis. burning fat would indeed give it some energy, but if you body begins breaking down muscles for energy it kills two birds with one stone. The breaking down of muscles both provides energy as well as reduces the amount of energy needed to be supplied. If the body experiences these extended energy crisis' for a prolonged period of time it can actually go into starvation mode and start storing more fat to deal with the constant demand for more energy.

so after 20 mins of cardio I'm no longer burning fat, but starting to burn muscle?
that's a rough estimate and all depends on your body type, diet, and intensity level, but yes after depleting your bodies energy supply (which is primarily carbs, not fat) at such high exertion levels it turns to your muscles.

so why do arobics, aquafit, spinning, whatever last more than 20 mins?
well aerobics (both regualr and water) classes general are low intensity cardio (110-130bpm on average). as far as the spinning classes, i have only been to two or three so i can only generalize, from what i understand the go through a 10min low-intensity warmup, a 20minute high intensity phase sections then a 10minute low intensity cool off section phase. i don't want to get too preachy about the economics of it, but in summary, almost anytime your doing a group exercise program somebody, somewhere, is getting paid for something, whether its directly by you or not. but i digress....

its totally awesome that you have decided to loose weight. i just know that from experience that ineffective weight-loss plans can be detrimental to ones overall success. i'm not saying Zumba isn't healthy or that you wont loose a little weight doing it, i just wouldn't use it as a core of any serious weight loss program. in the long run, for sustain weight loss absolutely nothing can beat a strength training / low intensity cardio combined with a balanced diet. If it is something that you liek to do and is fun then i would use it as a motivator for those days when you just can't get yourself to the gym. i would stick to a regular workout plan with weights and a good morning walk and if you just feel completely drained and don't think you could make yourself get to the gym, maybe instead go to the Zumba class for a change and a little fun. If you do zumba all the time and its your primary work out then eventually it will start to be more work than fun and might loose some of its appeal.