What exercise has changed your body shape the most?

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I'm just interested to know really. I do pole fitness and it has been great for my arms, shoulders, chest and upper belly.

I have seen improvements in other parts of the body like legs but not as much as upper body.

I went to a Zumba class yesterday and felt it on my hips and thighs which is the area I need to target now so I will continue and see how it goes.

Just wondering which exercise people have found the biggest change in muscle tone and firming up

Yoga is giving me a big bum and running is making my legs a lot more muscly

Interesting re. 30 day shred. I've just gone up to level 2, but have had to have a few rest days because it's fucked my knees and ankles (to be fair I wasn't wearing right footwear - have sorted that now).

In those 2 weeks it's done loads for my arms, which is lovely, but really I'm looking to shed my stomach fat. Is it good for that?

I will do anything to get rid of the fatty stomach I've been left with post kids!

Those of you who are saying Yoga and Pilates - how often do you practise?

Weightlifting (have fallen out of it a little these days) and reformer Pilates. Only started the reformer at the end of November and have had a good few you are looking great comments.

I do reformer twice a week and usually go to two or three HIIT classes. Must get back into the weights again. I really enjoy it but lost motivation.

Running, especially trail running with hills. Very defined muscly legs and lean body shape. More of a butt than I used to have, tendency to be flat. I add a few bodyweight exercises in when I can be bothered, squats, planks and pushups. I hope I can run until I'm ancient.

TossDaily I practise yoga 4 times a week x

Zumba is low level cardio - it won’t do anything different to any other cardio class - it’s essentially just an aerobic class (& a fairly easy one at that. And before anyone says I’m wrong, I’ve been an instructor since 2009 so I know what I’m talking about)
Best things for me have been running, cycling (not just spin classes but actual on a bike for 3 hours at the weekend cycling), and Body Pump - but I teach it 3 times a week, 49 weeks a year, with heavy weight. Once a week with 5kg ain’t gonna do it - you have to put the work in!

Weight training has shaped and sculpted my body I’ve a lovely peachy bottom beneath it are beautiful shaped legs I’ve nice muscle arms many call it toned. Back looks incredible too. Diet does play a huge part too.

Kettlebell made me puke once but it’s also really good

Archie, that makes sense.

I need to start running

I dreamt I started running last night

Hi fat / low carb diet and weights !! Love doing the weights at home as I can't really commit to the gym or classes as only have a couple of nights to myself every other week ( single parent )
I should add though that I have a psychically active job so I'm sure that helps Massivley and if I had a desk job would probably need to some some kind of cardio

Weights - I'm also an instructor and while I love a good cardio class, you simply won't get that lifed shapely body from only burning calories, you also need to build muscle.

Weirdly enough yoga. Makes me much more streamlined, and makes everything longer and leaner, with definition but no bulk. Really really sucked in my torso and belly after kids.

Rowing.

Weightlifting (free weights) and increasing the weight on the machines in the gym. I can tel my arms are really toned now and someone came up to me in the gym yesterday to comment on my muscly back - result! 😁

I also started low carbing 18 months ago and the weight fell off. Unfortunately I've lost my (what I thought was too big) bum so I'm now squatting and lifting weights in the gym to get it back. Can't bloody win!

Itsnice re the 30 day shred, I don't think there are enough stretches at the end so when I first did it my knees really ached. Look up a few cool down stretches on YouTube and spend a few more minutes on them. As far as stomach is concerned, I don't think you can spot reduce fat - I notice my arms and shoulders becoming more toned quicker as I had less fat covering the muscles in the first place but I did lose inches of my hips, legs and waist. I've got a few other Jillian Michaels DVD's, No more trouble zones is good as is banish fat boost metabolism. They are modular so you can do a few or the whole thing.

Thank you Loki! I will take a look

Thank you all for the replies.

When I used to do body pump I did feel toned I guess I will have to get back to it again.

The only thing is because I do pole 3 times per week I don't want to work my upper body too much and would prefer working the bottom half as I don't want to be achey for pole and I do need to improve my bum and thighs.

Would it still be effective if I didn't use heavy weights? Also at the moment I can only fit in one body pump class per week, it's just so difficult to fit it in isn't it

Well there’s loads of squats and lunges in BodyPump so I think it works your lower body as well.

why don’t you just do two or three legs only sessions on your own instead of a class. hip trust aka glute bridges, barbell squats, leg press, Roman deadlifts, leg press, lunges static and walking lunges, leg curl lying or seated, spilt squat.