This may be the best news I’ve gotten all day (of course all it has to compete with so far is a) that I’ve gained a pound, which is not good news or b) grapefruit is on sale and I happen to really really love grapefruit): My Turbokick instructor Jennie e-mailed me that she is “training with the Turbo company’s new Hip Hop class” and will be ready to present it soon.
When Turbokick releases a new round (only about 4 times a year, I think), I get so excited I can’t sleep. A new class? I might suffer incontinence:) See what you do to me, Turbo Jennie?? The only thing I love more than a really kick-butt workout is a NEW kick-butt workout. Novelty is the spice of my life. Well, that’s the nice way of putting it. Others might point out that I’m so ADHD I must change up my workout about every 30 days or go mad with boredom. Ahem.
While We’re On the Subject
I’m completely fascinated with other people’s workouts. It’s always the first question out of my mouth when I meet a personal trainer. And, hey, even better if that person has rock-hard abs and biceps that could crack a walnut, like Turbo Jennie’s. (That’s her in the front middle of our Christmas TurboKick picture above- red jacket, green bottoms, blonde – you can’t see her abs or biceps though, so you’ll just have to take my word for it. Also, note Vernie in that pic – guy on the far left in the red shirt standing like a bouncer – he’s an actual competitive kickboxer!!!). And, lest you think she’s all muscle, let’s just say there is a reason that there are more men in her class than any other cardio class. She literally causes accidents on the track that goes around our classroom from men colliding with each other trying to get a peek in the windows at her;)
So, this is her workout : “I’m taking a PiYo (pilates/yoga) training on the 26th and I’m hoping to beef up my involvement in that area. I body pump 3 days a week and turbo as much as possible but don’t pilates/yoga/tai chi enough! No scorpions or headstands for this girl! (Charlotte’s note: Yet!!) Body pump has really changed my body. At first I felt like my legs were getting bigger and my jeans were actually tighter but once I kept up with it everything toned up and I started to see results.”
It’s definitely working for her! And PiYo?? Sign me up!
My Thoughts On BodyPump
BodyPump is another choreographed group fitness class, except that it focuses on lifting weights instead of cardio. I started BodyPump about a year ago and did it for six months, 3 times a week. It did not work for me. During that time I gained 4% bodyfat. Meh.
What I didn’t like (besides the gain in fat): They have a few core moves and just stick with those (see note on being ADHD, above). It’s always the same order too. And it lasts an hour (too long to be lifting, IMHO, as I often got the low-blood-sugar shakes by the end). But my real beef with BodyPump (hee! Beef! I’m a vegetarian – get it?? Ah, welcome to not-funny Monday. Anyhow…) is that it focuses on endurance weight lifting. For me to be able to continue the reps for the entirety of the song (anywhere from 2 to 6 minutes), I had to lift relatively light weight. After six months of frustration and not seeing results, I finally quit to do a weights program that focused on fewer reps and a LOT heavier weight. Usually, 2 – 3 sets of 10-12 reps, with failure. I immediately dropped the 4% bodyfat I had gained with Pump and an additional 2%, coming closer to my goal of 14-16%. Now, as you all know, I’ve switched to the Monkey Bar Gym routine and am seeing GREAT results with that (more on that in another post).
What I like about BodyPump: The instructors are a great help. It’s easy to mess up your form in lifting so it’s really nice to have someone keeping an eye on you. I also loved the music and the camaraderie – everyone was really fun and upbeat. It’s also a great introduction to weight lifting – much less intimidating than just showing up at the free weight rack and getting hip-checked by a meathead because you were in front of “his” flat bench.
Anyhow, I know a lot of you readers love this class and have seen results with it as well so I hope no one is offended when I say it didn’t work for ME. So tell me your thoughts on BodyPump! Am I the only one it didn’t work for??
I also did not have any luck with Bodypump. I started the class in Texas and took it for about 6 months and was told you will see results. I did not see any results and found that I would have to go up in weights to get more out of it, but I would bruise my neck. But when I went to free weights with a partner and to failure, I saw results in 3 weeks and within 4 months lost the last 20 pounds.
I think Bodypump is great for a beginner weight workout, but to really get toned I think the free weights, or even better this monkey bar workout, for a challenge.
Okay girls, are your quads ready to give out going up and down the stairs? Mine sure are!
Candice
I actually loved that class – i took it for a while before my wedding and within a month of once-a-week classes, I could do full-on push-ups. Our instructor, Lou, was the bomb – deep, NY accent, very hot, and he kicked our butts. We would avoid the “weights-getting-too-heavy” issue by lining up pairs of dumbbells in 5lbs, 8lbs, 10, 12, 15 and 20 in from of our bench so we could adjust if need be. I loved it and was always super sore the next day, but when Lou went, the next instructor was no good. PS I never recognized it before you mentioned it, Charlotte, but I would totally get shaky, too.
this must have been when you were just starting your blog…because there are only 2 comments!!! 🙂
I love the Les Mills stuff and have been a BOdy Pump instructor for about 6 months now(also teach RPM). Once I started taking the class more for my training and lifting heavier weights during class I started seeing bigger results. One thing they taught us at training is how we can lift way more than we think we can! I got more toned with pump than with my other routine. I am now branching out and doing more floor weights(along with teaching) because my body is use to the workout but I can still get sore from Pump occasionally!