How many exercise classes a week

[MintyGreenDream]

For it to make a difference to how toned your body is?
I know diet has a lot to do with it too.
I did a "Total Body" aerobics/weights class today but I'm looking at doing a Body Pump one on another day.Would that be too much?

I do 3x classes and follow them with heavy weights in the gym after. If I can sneak a 4th gym session in the week I will but finding the childcare to do it is difficult

@MintyGreenDream

For it to make a difference to how toned your body is? I know diet has a lot to do with it too. I did a "Total Body" aerobics/weights class today but I'm looking at doing a Body Pump one on another day.Would that be too much?

You could do a class a day and it'd be fine, depending on what your fitness level is (Start gently I'd say, and keep moving up to increase intensity and duration).

@devildeepbluesea and @Steelesauce - when you say heavy weights - what weights are you talking? I love weights but just use 4kg dumbbells and an 8kg kettlebell which feels like a workout but doesn't feel like much of a challenge. I'd love to get into proper heavy weights

2x of any type of exercise to maintain your current level of fitness and 3x to improve it (which was what I was taught at college when training as a PT).

It depends what you are doing in a gym session as to what it is you’ll maintain/improve. If you’re lifting heavy weights in short sets for example you’ll have massive muscles in no time. If you’re predominantly doing cardio at all 5 sessions you’ll have great cardio health. If you’re lifting lighter weights in multiple sets you’ll have leaner muscles. If you’re stretching well and doing yoga or Pilates you’ll get great lean muscle tone Bette core..etc.

Always totally dependent on the context/type of exercise as well as the efficiency of technique and level of effort.

*better not Bette!!

[quote leavesthataregreen]**@devildeepbluesea* and @Steelesauce* - when you say heavy weights - what weights are you talking? I love weights but just use 4kg dumbbells and an 8kg kettlebell which feels like a workout but doesn't feel like much of a challenge. I'd love to get into proper heavy weights[/quote]
It's all about progression. I tend to do between 3-5 sets of 5-8 reps and for example I'm working my squat weight back up. Started at 30k, currently at 50k, goal is 100k once again by Christmas. The weight is still easy so I'm increasing each time I go. When I start to fail the reps I'll stick at the same weight til I can do all the reps. Same for other exercises, but different weights of course. You'd do well to ask a gym instructor to coach you for starters and work out where you currently are.