Classes at the Gym - what works for you?

[hazelnutlatte]

I'm new ish to the gym and finding the classes much more enjoyable than just working out on the machines. Each time I go to a new class I find it really scary though and never know what to expect! At the moment I'm doing bodybalance, pilates and bodycombat but I'd like to try something new So I'd like to hear from anyone who does a variety of classes, what you do in an average week, and do you do anything else at the gym - and is it working for you in terms of weight loss / changing your shape?

I do balance and combat also along with pump, you start with low weights and build up as time goes by (you will not bulk up like a bloke as you dont have the testosterone to do so). I do kettlercise, metafit and boxfit (ex boxer calling the shots with circuits added on so it is one of the best classes I have ever done).
I started last september and have lost 3st 10lb with 1 1/2st to go before I hit a healthy BMI and I got into a pair of size 12 jeans this week for the first time in my adult life! I do 15 classes, 5 mornings and 3 evenings, a week at the moment with a few runs in the gym but when I was preparing for last weeks Tough Mudder I was doing about 20 classes! No wonder they refer to me as "the crazy one" .
You are not new for long and everyone I have met has been really nice and the instructors are always friendly which helps a lot.

Wow 15 classes a week, you definitely get your money's worth at the gym! What brilliant weight loss too! Have you always enjoyed exercise or has something just clicked this time? I've not heard of metafit before, it sounds like it would be hard just from the name though.
I'm thinking I might try bodypump next, can you tell me what I need to pick up when I go in to the class? Everyone has a barbell and a few different weights, is that right? I hate wandering into a class and not knowing if I need to get weights, a mat and so on. What size weights are usual for a beginner? And does the instructor tell you which tracks you use heavier weights for? Sorry for all the questions, I get flustered by these things. I went to a body conditioning class a few weeks ago and picked up the same weights as the person next to me - I could barely lift the bloody things, it was a really bad idea!

Monday - body pump. Fantastic for toning and sculpting arms etc.

Tuesday - gym- 30mins cardio 3mins strength training

Wednesday - Pilates

Thursday. - rest day

Friday - gym

Saturday - kettlercise

Sunday - rest day or spin if I've missed any other classes through the week.

OP, make sure you're nice and early for class and tell the instructor it's your first time. They will show you what you need. Bench top and dumbbells etc

Most beginners start with just the yellow plates to start but you'll soon get them heavier! The instructor will tell you when to increase, heaviest for squat track ext

I do body pump, zumba, powerhoop and manage about 4 or 5 classes per week

p.s. all our plates are black

I had done some dvds at home but nothing major, I got sucked in quite fast and have loved every single sweaty minute. I have even got my boxfit instructor on side and he is going to get me started in the big boy weights section soon.
I second going into a bodypump class early as they will show you some of the main moves and I would keep your weights low and to not worry about the weight changes and to just focus on the moves for the first week.
Metafit is a 30 minute class that uses body weight so squat jumps, pushups, plank and such. It's tough but you work at your own level in the given time.

Thanks for the tips, although at my gym the instructors tend to breeze in at the last second after everyone is already there! I'm sure I'll work it out though. Metafit sounds like something to aim for once I've built up some strength - I'm such a weakling at the moment, my goal is to manage a full press up, as I can barely do the modified ones at the moment!
Kato did you find you progressed to heavier weights quickly?

Before my wedding last year I did three spin classes a week. They are nice and short - 45 mins start to finish, incredibly hard work but they made so much difference. Easy to pick up the techniques and you don't have to be co-ordinated.

I do spinning and Metafit (with running and a couple of gym sessions too), I have recently added Body Pump and Body Combat.
I am also wondering about swapping spin for Boxercise circuit.
I felt a lot better in a bikini this year, through exercise and diet changes have lost 20lbs.

hazelnutlatte
this shows you how to do all the bodypump moves so you will have an idea of what to expect when you get there. Don't feel put off by what others put on their bars as you will get there when you are ready, which will be sooner than you expect.
I dropped spin (instructor was getting on my nerves) and started to run about 4 weeks ago and I have noticed a massive difference already, boxfit instructor commented on friday too and he never comments on anyones weight loss as he says he feels it can be taken the wrong way by some people.
Boxfit has been so amazing for my shoulders and I can keep up with the big blokes now when I couldn't even run his warm up when I started.

Thank you mcpie, I'm going to try pump this weekend!

I like TRX, hard work but fun. Body pump is great and circuits is good too.
I also do deep water aerobics as my chill out class. I don't find it difficult it makes me laugh though.

Have you got a proper gym programme arranged at the gym? I got brutalised at my gym by an instructor who told me what to do, how to do it properly and I do that once/twice a week too