New Les Mills thread.

Urgh! I got ambushed into a Grot today. My schedule in Optimal Mix said "Workout #LikeNina" so I wasn't expecting to open the video and be greeted by a normal Grit class.

I feel the same way about Sh'bam - I spend too much time figuring out where my limbs are meant to be to feel like it counts as a workout.

I did a very old Pump release yesterday - it's funny to see how the programme has evolved over the releases. The presenters are actually properly sweaty and you get time to change your weights in the video! I want to do cardio today but my downstairs neighbour is on back shift so he won't be going out for another few hours so more Pump for me today. I get a total mental block about anything jumpy/stompy when he's in.

Sorry that should have been @Dragonmead

@kittykarate I'll have to try that! I thought I didn't like the tai chi warm ups but now I've got a bit more used to them I'm finding I miss them in the later workouts.

Hi @Matilda2013! I can't do Sh'Bam at all 😂 my arms and legs are all over the place - I do find it quite fun but I can't count it as a workout because I spend so much time staring flummoxed at the screen!

Hello, hope it's ok to join!

Have had Les Mills for a while but had to stop for a good six months as I have had a hip injury (not caused by exercising!). Just restarting now but feeling quite unmotivated as out of the habit.

My favourite is The Trip as there's a lot of standing climbing in it which is excellent for strengthening my glutes and hamstrings as antagonists to my hip and quad issues. Am also doing Sh'bam once a week or so with DD, which is fun but I'm very uncoordinated.

I'd been doing a lot of overtime so now trying to get back to 5 classes per week (only half hours!). Body Pump yesterday and Body Combat today can certainly feel my legs tonight!

Hello! I'm still plodding on, doing Optimal Mix + 2 days Body Balance. My hip flexor still has dodgy days but I can walk 6-7 miles now as long as the terrain isn't too severe. So all on the mend I hope.

I found a new to me Body Balance (BB80 )this morning, it had a really strange Tai Chi warmout where you pushed the box, and then turned sideways, and then pushed the box to the front, so you were effectively working in a |__| shape.

How's everyone getting on? Been quiet on here recently 😊

Tried out the new Grot Strength 35 this morning and really liked it. Nothing too complicated which makes it "easier" to push to the max as you aren't so focussed on working out what you're meant to be doing!

Really trying to stay motivated at the moment as I have the faint hope that I will be able to go to Spain for a holiday in August - booked ages and ages ago as we were hoping for normality by now!! I've just squeezed into my healthy weight range in the last couple of weeks and I'm feeling great thanks to LMOD, so hoping to be able to rock some swimwear...

Ah I've missed these threads!

Re: Body Pump. I got a Jordan bar at the New Year and it's been great. I'm using it fully loaded in squat tracks now, and could go heavier if I had the right plates. Was a bargain too at £130, totally recommend it.

I did the new Attack yesterday - I wasn't as keen on the plyometric track compared to 110, so I did 110 today which I quite enjoy. There's no sweat like the Body Attack sweat!

Thanks everyone. Those weights look good @kittykarate (and much cheaper!) A secondhand bargain would be great @nbee84, sounds like I might be waiting a while for them to come up though.

I did Tone 6 today, I enjoyed it and it burned a lot of calories for 30 minutes. Might try core tomorrow

I use the Les mills equipment at the gym and it is very good - bar is light, plates are easy to change and double as hand weights.

I did core 41 this morning. Liked it

Hi @PalacePaper!

I don't have a Les Mills smart bar - they are hella expensive (new) , and while they have nice features (fast weight changes, able to use the weight plates as dumbbells) I'm not sure they are worth the money. Some chinese manufacturer is making Les Mills knock offs now, I've seen them on amazon www.amazon.co.uk/Adjustable-Dumbbell-Fitness-Strength-Training/dp/B096TZ7VXJ?tag=mumsnetforu03-21 I have no idea if they are any good

These get good reviews/word of mouth mirafit.co.uk/mirafit-20kg-studio-pump-set.html . There is a similar set by a company called Jordan as well.

My favourite sessions are Body Attack (cheesy donk donk music and aerobics), Body Combat (boxercise/martial arts) and Barre. I do Core because it's good for me not because I enjoy it. Errr.. and there's the GRIT family of torture, but I haven't done one of them for 6 months so you can tell how much I enjoy them.

I have the Les Mills bar and weights but only because that's all I could get my hands on at the beginning of lockdown 1. The positives are that they are quick to get the weights on and off the bar and the individual weights are good to hold in the hand as dumbells, but they are v expensive. I got mine 2nd hand (still expensive, think I paid about £250) through the Les Mills site, they have a used section but I'm not sure how often they come up.
I've used cheaper sets at a council gym I used to go to - do the same job at less than half the price and what I would have bought if they'd been in stock.
Have you tried body combat? Great fun - takes a few goes before you start getting the moves and they have some 'base' classes to help you learn.
Body attack is high energy - 80's aerobics on steroids
Core is good, I bought a cheap smartband on Amazon but I think you can do most of it without.
Lots of people love Sh'bam but the few times I've tried it I've been all over the place and felt like a right wally!

I've had the Les Mills app since January and love it! I've mainly done body balance (which I used to do at the gym) and have recently discovered Barre which I also enjoy.

Ive been doing Body Pump using dumbbells but would really like a barbell - does anyone have the Les Mills one? If so, is it worth the extra money? Or any recommendations for alternatives? I haven't read the full thread so apologies if this has been discussed already.

Any other recommendations for things to try on the app? I keep meaning to look through but forget until I want to do some exercise and then I want to get on with it so tend to stick to what I know.

I'm loving reading about what everyone's been doing so off to read the full thread now

@Shymoon - yes . It will get easier. Take the adaptations and only lower your legs as far as you can keep good form. Little and often with core, you will gradually get stronger and your range will increase.

Hi, I recently started doing Core but my lower back keeps getting off the floor a lot even if I don't lifts my legs that much. Is it that I just don't have enough strength in my abs and it will get better?

@NeverFull I don't know of any unfortunately! I think you could probably adapt Bodypump and Core to use them but there's nothing specific as far as I'm aware.

Hi all, DH would like to know if LMOD has a kettlebell workout? He’s been using the Joe wicks kettlebell videos on YouTube but fancies a change.

Thanks very much @rosettesforjill. I've tried - and enjoyed- bodyattack and combat but haven't yet braved Grit/Grot. Maybe I should switch one session a week for a combat/attack/grot. The reason for aiming for 3 sessions of barre and sh'bam is that I'm looking forward to really mastering the moves and techniques and I thought only doing them once or twice a week wouldn't be enough to do that.

Totally agree about food, even though it's much easier said than done! My biggest downfall is that if there's junk in the house then I can't forget about it, so I try and avoid having it around. Also as a vegetarian I need to keep my protein up.

To add - by far the most important thing is diet for weight loss so I would definitely make sure you're tracking calories or following another plan

Welcome @Whatstheweatherlike!

I'm sure you would lose weight with that and Core is amazing for tummy toning even though i hate it. I might be tempted to throw in a Grit Cardio once a week or so as it really takes your fitness to another level or and/or a 30 minute Attack or Combat.

Hello, I've recently discovered Les Mills on demand and I LOVE it! It's only early days, but honestly it feels like the first time I've actually enjoyed exercising and looked forward to it. Such an impressive range of classes and the instructions are very clear. What I love most though is I've been able to try classes I've never dared to do in real life. My short, very pear-shaped body would look very out of place in a ballet class.

This thread is very helpful, but I wanted to ask a question: is it enough to only do barre, sh'bam and core if my aim is weight loss and tone? My plan is to do barre and sh'bam 3 times a week each and add on a core session for 2 of those days. I'd be exercising for 6 days a week and have one rest day, but I don't know if that's enough cardio. Any advice gratefully received!

Thanks! I'll add all those to my list

I like Core 38 - feels like a good all over workout

Yeah, I feel every minute of a Core workout. Looking at my 'favourites' list for it, I have Core Nano, Core#23 and Core #33 on my list. Core#33 is there because I liked the standing/glute track a lot I think, the rest of it may still be sheer hell.

I went a little bit off plan this morning and did the latest BC 30 minute version. Was good, feeling it in my shoulders.