Can we make a Les Mills on demand thread?

Hi all! I discovered LMOD in October and absolutely love it!!! I probably do 4-5 sessions a week and mainly do body pump, body combat and the occasional body balance. At first I really struggled and had to pause it a lot but now I'm finding my fitness is improving. I've really struggled like many others with my mental health during COVID especially as I work for the NHS but LMOD has helped massively! We're also moving house (or trying to) so a good combat session gets rid of all my nervous energy.

I got studio barbells from Mirafit. They were OOS but I signed up for the notify me email and it arrived within 30 mins! So worth doing that

I got a Jordan 20kg bar set for £140 inc delivery from fitkituk
www.fitkituk.com/functional-fitness-c3/studio-weights-c19/jordan-fitness-ignite-pump-x-rubber-studio-barbell-set-p3038

Thank you jam

I got mine from Physical Company

When I was looking, some websites were taking pre-orders for 20kg barbell sets for delivery in March.
Try:
networldsports.co.uk
balanceleisure.com
fitkituk.com

BA 100 for me today - really fun workout, let down by the cool down as the cameras were concentrating on the parade of Les Mills nations rather than the cooldown moves.

@JamMakingWannaBe can I ask where your plates are from?

Reporting back in tonight to say I found "Stretch" which I really enjoyed. Targeted 15 mins on my hip flexors is just what I need after a day at my desk. Preferred it to some of the short Balance options.

My weight plates for Pump arrived today!! So excited to do a 'proper' class. I'm doing #112 as that's the one we were on in my gym before Lockdown and I like the music.

Try keeping your eyes on the ceiling rather than looking between your knees like they sometimes tell you on the videos - it will stop you straining your neck forward.

Does anyone have issues with a stiff neck from the videos where there is a lot of core work (crunches etc)? It feels like muscle pain rather than anything particularly sinister, but wondering if there are any adaptations to support it a bit more?

(cheap compared with weights I mean, and you can take them to the park and use them for strength stuff there)

I started LMOD with dumbells up to 5kg and resistance bands (which are very cheap and in stock and postable). Mainly did Combat and CoreCX - and still do . Sometimes the hybrids, like I said, as they ease me into the HIT (Grit or Attack) sections!

I've now got studio barbells from Mirafit. I tend to use them in my own strength workouts but occasionally do a LMOD (tend to avoid low weight/super high reps because of injury concerns). And a step - must do another step class - the last one nearly killed me but felt great in the rare occasions I was keeping up with them!

The only workouts that really need equipment are

• The Trip, Sprint, RPM : These all need an exercise bike that has adjustable resistance.

• Body Step: Step Aerobics. You can learn the moves without a step, but longer term you need one with adjustable risers and it to be fairly long 80cm+

• Body Pump. High repetition, lower weight weight training. Most moves can be done with dumbbells/hand weights but you won't get much benefit if you have no weights whatsoever. It does call for you to have the 'step' to use as a bench for some of the exercises where you lie on your back.It's not essential, but nice to have.

• Grit Strength. This needs some weights to do the exercises. Fast and furious really, wouldn't recommend it as something you try for a little while.

Thank you so much @kittykarate this is really helpful!

Ilkley

So the best thing is to give them a try. I also think if you sign up for one of the 'plans' you can get a bit of a try of most things. When I started there was a no-equipment 'Optimal Mix Prime' which was 30 minutes 3 times a week and it would say something like 'Body Combat #80, 30 minutes . Most workouts come in 30/45/55 minute variations (I think CXworx only comes in 30 minutes maybe). The shorter workouts are basically the same workout but skipping some of the exercises (e.g. 30 minute body pump doesn't do biceps and triceps).

If you're not certain if you can do a move in any of the classes, e.g. do a push up, wait for a couple of reps and they'll usually suggest an alternate for you. There's usually someone else on the stage doing the lower impact version to show you what to do.

Most of the classes have an 'intro' series of videos so you can get an idea of the moves you'll be doing, and you can give them a try.

I definitely do not recommend Grit Cardio as your first point of call though - I mean some people love it, but it's pretty relentless!

I think the no/very low equipment classes are:-

• Body Combat. This is a boxercise/martial arts style workout. I find this on the easiest to follow, but I did martial arts about 15 years ago, so I'm not standard. Doesn't really need anything equipment wise, could even be done barefoot. Why I signed up really - it's just a bit of fun and you work all your body.

• Body Attack. Basically, classic aerobics. Delivered to bouncy dance music by this crazy little pocket rocket instructor. Trainers required, and a mat to do situps etc would be nice. I didn't think I'd enjoy Body Attack but it's one of my favourites now.

• Body Balance. Yoga/Pilates/Tai Chi. A mat for the floor work would be nice.

• ShBam. Dancing. I personally don't get on too well with ShBam, but some people do love it. Only needs space and a willingness to dance like no-ones watching

Some equipment needed workouts

• Barre. Ballet Style workout. Can do it in socks, you don't need ballet slippers. Some of the workouts call for light hand weights.

• CXWorx. Core strengthening. Eventually you'd need an exercise band, and hand weights, but when you're getting started you can do it without.

I also find trying to navigate all the differ classes a bit confusing. Can anyone recommend the names of some classes for someone with a moderate level of fitness by non of the equipment (apart from small hand weights). Please?!!

I absolutely love Combat. If I could only do one exercise for the rest of my life it would probably be that one. If you have a mirror (or a back door in my case that I can see my reflection in) it can really help you get the form right - driving from the shoulder with the jabs for example instead of flinging from the elbow, and getting the twist in the heel for hooks. Love it.

Did BP114 yesterday, day off today while I tidy the pigsty, then need to find something to do tomorrow. Did step last Monday, didn’t love it but could see why it would be good for me. Anything with burpees is off the list

May I join you? Signed up for the 30 days free but I think I might carry on with it as I've been enjoying it. I am trying to do the Fast Burner programme so doing a bit of everything but I really struggled with making my body do what Sh'Bam is asking of it 😂

BodyCombat seems to suit me best but that may be because I have done a few classes before - albeit a long long time ago!

I think for most classes there are introductory videos you can do to get the basic moves. Didn't fix me for Sh'bam, but did help me keep up with Barre!

I definitely don't move like a Ninja doing Body Combat, I know my guard is sloppy and somewhere up near my ear, and if I was really fighting I'd have had my fist slammed into my ears by now as that was type of twatty "That'll learn ya" move my sensei used to do.

I shuffle too . Can't do those split jumps either, and quite a few other things. Sometimes I revert to an easier combo. But I am getting better slowly, I think, and I really enjoy it, and want to do it - perhaps that matters more than anything, especially at the moment?

I can't get the footwork with Combat where you're punching and shuffling around at the same time! (I'm sure they don't think of it as shuffling, but that's what I end up doing!)

So I watched the intro video for combat after hearing so many people rave about it. I went through all the moves and got comfortable with them and was looking forward to feeling like a mighty warrior.

I couldn’t keep up with the first minute of the first warm up - it’s so FAST.

Pump is the only one I can bear/do.

Thank you