Is just Bodypump ok or do I need to mix things up?

[ThisIsBanana5]

My preferred type of exercise is group classes, once I'm booked in I do actually get up and go rather than a solo gym session where I keep telling myself I will go in a few minutes and never do. I also work harder when there's someone telling me what to do.
The one at my local centre that tends to fit best in my schedule and I like is Bodypump. I also like kettlebells and used to sometimes go on a lunchtime but then a regular work meeting got scheduled at the same time.
My question is, should I be looking to do something different on a regular basis or is any exercise good even if it's the same thing once or twice a week. I occasionally do Pilates at home (via YouTube, if anyone has any recommendations I would be glad to hear them) too.
I feel it if I haven't been for a while so I think it does do me some good, but equally I don't use particularly heavy weights or feel like I can increase the weight I use, even after doing it regularly for 2-3 years. Realistically I'm not going to increase the amount of classes I go to and am aiming to just do something I don't hate and not be completely unfit, rather than setting goals and transforming myself.
Would welcome your thoughts. Thanks!

I am biased because I teach Bodypump and I love it. It is a great programme for building muscular endurance and improving your functional strength. However, it doesn’t offer much in the way of cardio vascular training. Ideally, you want to be getting your heart rate up a few times a week. This does happen in Pumo, especially in the squat and back tracks, but I think an extra bit of pure cardio is beneficial, so you could consider swapping one of the BPs for a Bodyattack or Combat, or other cardio/aerobic class offered by your gym.

I do a mix of pump, attack and combat and do 1 balance a week too for some stretching

Thanks for your reply. I am in awe of you being able to remember all the choreography, there's no way I could do that!
I have to admit Attack and Combat have never appealed, but actually I forgot to say there is a HIIT class I like but sadly I can only get to it if my other half gets home from work early enough so it's a bit of a gamble. I walk a lot but not sure how much that raises my heart rate. Will have another look at the timetable...

Les Mills on demand is great, you can do attack and combat in the comfort of your own home. I was the same as you and only enjoyed group classes, however I get the same motivation at home on my own doing attack and combat. It's also got pump classes on it too.

I love Body Pump, but I mix it up with some cardio so spinning or body combat and then a stretch class. I am feeling so much better and fitter for it

@dementedpixie I also love Balance but it feels like an 'easy' option so I feel like I'm wasting one of my infrequent gym visits! Illogical, I know!

@Toinfinityandbeyond3 Over lockdown I was doing home online workouts but in all honesty now we're allowed to leave the house and the day has some structure, if I don't commit to the date and time I just don't get round to it.

@ThisIsBanana5

Thanks for your reply. I am in awe of you being able to remember all the choreography, there's no way I could do that! I have to admit Attack and Combat have never appealed, but actually I forgot to say there is a HIIT class I like but sadly I can only get to it if my other half gets home from work early enough so it's a bit of a gamble. I walk a lot but not sure how much that raises my heart rate. Will have another look at the timetable...

It used to take me ages to learn each new release but I can do it in a few hours now. The programme is so formulaic and there’s only so many ways to work the muscles, so it’s usually variations of the same moves but just in a different order/with different tempos! Balance takes me longer to learn, but I’m getting quicker at that too!

HIIT is ideal CV, so I would go along to that class when you can. Walking can be great- only you will know if it gets your heart rate up significantly. If it doesn’t, walk faster or find some hills to walk up! I sometimes walk our dog on the Downs and can get an excellent cardio blast from striding up the hill.

Thanks everyone for your comments.

Talking of Les Mills, can I check if I was the only one thinking it was a strange name and wondering why it was sort of French but not... before (after an embarrassing amount of time) realising that the bloke who started the company was probably called Leslie? Just me?

@ThisIsBanana5 I thought that too for ages 😂

Phew, glad it's not just me! I always likened it to the musical Les Mis in my brain. Luckily it's not something I ever need to say out loud!

Massive Les Mills fan I have done on demand in particular since 2017. I sometimes call it Les Mis by accident lol.

I do most of their programmes but mostly Pump Combat and Attack. Also love Tone and Step Athletic on there recently. I love that the "new to Les Mills" section is updated regularly like a few times a week so there's always something new for me to do and keeps me excited.

I go for pump, combat and attack, or sometimes a general lbt class just to try and mix it up a bit.

I always felt like I couldn’t possibly increase my weights in pump, even though other people where lifting way more than me. In the end I bit the bullet and increased by the smallest weight for one track a week, and then 2 tracks, and so on. I freely admit I selected the tracks I felt would be do able for me initially! And some weeks I plateaued and done a few weeks without adding another track in, but eventually moved on. Im not saying I’ve increased loads of weight, but every little helps. I’m in no hurry, I’ve nothing to prove to anyone, so it suited me. Honestly adding 1.25kg each side of the bar for one track was fine. Maybe try it, it’s only 4-5 mins per track and if it’s too much, take it off, you’ll only miss 30-45seconds of reps.

I definitely thought it was called Les Mills like The Mills and was just someone trying to make their company sound fancy...

Thanks for enlightening me! Looks like it's this chap: en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Mills

I also love how it's a family affair with Les Mills. The whole family is involved but also love the father and daughter that do Bodystep. I honestly think I know them all as it's all the same faces on on demand but I love that 🙈🙈😂

Yes, it’s a real family biz! Les Mlls opened his own gym in Auckland and then came up with the ideas for the classes. His children and now grandchildren run the company these days. His daughter Jackie and Grandaughter Diana usually do Balance together. Mind you, Diana pops up in multiple programmes. I think her husband does one of the dance programmes too, Shbam or Jam. Diana’s brother is in the company too but behind the scenes I think.

My absolute favourite of the presenters is Kylie. I believe she is in her 50s and I just think she looks absolutely incredible. I love her style of presenting too. Khiran who has appeared in the most recent Pump releases is also fab.

Oh dear, I appear to be fangirling

I don’t know how far back you can go with the On Demand, but if it’s available on there, I recommend BODYPUMP 105. It’s a pretty good release overall, but the highlight is the bicep track presented by Scottish Dave. If you like your men bearded, sweaty, and er Scottish, go and have a watch. You won’t regret it.

Love Les Mills. My favourite is Sh'bam for a fun cardio workout. Would love to get into Body pump but scared it'll hurt too much then I won't be able to do anything for a few days!

@Hooveslikejagger thank you for the motivation to up my weights. I will see how I feel, think I might go tomorrow night. No promises though... recently I had a few weeks off due to Christmas then isolating for Covid; when I went back I had a measly 5kg on each side for squats and I swear it hurt to sit down for 3 days!

My gym offers Balance or yoga straight after Pump. I find it a good way to cool down and get a stretchy class in each week (of limited time to visit the gym). Would that be an option?

I LOVED sh'bam as an aerobic workout but the instructor left and I've not found anything to replace it. 🙁

I've shuffled my childcare so I am going to try Combat this week - I've not done it in 15 years.

I too had 3 days of thigh pain following the first class back after Xmas. Ouch!

My gym has Pump but not the other Les Mills classes but they have other great HIIT and Pilates. I mix up pump with pilates, and walking and HIIT for the cardio plus some tennis.

I have a small frame and use TINY weights but that’s ok for me.

I also though it was Les like in French for ages

Sh'bam looks fun, just Googled it. We don't have that at my gym.

@waterlego

I don’t know how far back you can go with the On Demand, but if it’s available on there, I recommend BODYPUMP 105. It’s a pretty good release overall, but the highlight is the bicep track presented by Scottish Dave. If you like your men bearded, sweaty, and er Scottish, go and have a watch. You won’t regret it.

Yes you can still get 105!

The outdoor releases lately have been great. Amazing inspiring scenery!

I do body pump and love it but I do find there is never enough stretching so I also do gentle yoga, yin yoga and Pilates. Bonus if I do a yin yoga after body pump as I feel so relaxed afterward. Always a really good night sleep on those days.

I'm doing Bodypump and love it for toning up but need something for cardiovascular fitness that is low impact as I have problems with my knees. Does anyone have any suggestions for a good low impact cardio workout?