Aqua classes: any good for toning and menopausal tummies?

[MotherofGorgons]

I am not very overweight, but I am at the top end of a healthy BMI and have a bulgy menopausal midriff. I also don't like most exercise except walking and swimming, but the latter is quite lonely. Considering aqua classes. Are they any good for general toning and losing a bit off my tum. Never tried them. Are they scary?

[FLOWER1982]

No. They are very gentle exercise. They’re good for keeping moving and joints, bouncing about in the water to a bit of music, I wouldn’t particularly say they’re good for toning but better than sitting on the sofa! I always found my aqua class to be very friendly and good fun .

[Beanie567]

If you get the right one then it’s great! I go to an evening session which is mainly attended by middle aged women and some men and the instructor is fantastic at getting us to work really hard. It’s great fun though and I find I can do so much as the water is supportive and it’s just fun! I know about it the next day too.

I did try a class at the same centre during the day and it wasn’t anything like as intense.

[Twiglets1]

I agree with @FLOWER1982 been doing Aquafit for a year now and not noticed any toning to my menopausal tummy. It is enjoyable though & better than being a couch potato while browsing Mumsnet which is my other hobby!

[kefirgiraffe]

I can easily burn 400 calories plus at an aqua class with the right instructor and definitely feel better and fitter for it!

[Menora]

This is how I started off getting into exercise so I will say they are fun and really good way to start off. It’s so good for your mobility

there is no way I could have burned 400 calories in a pool like this though. It’s actually hard to burn 400 calories, I would say it’s an overly generous estimate, please remember that fitness trackers are not accurate.

I did not tone up either and it got too easy for me so I moved on from it after a few months BUT like I said it is really good and enjoyable and I recommend it

[Geebray]

@kefirgiraffe

I can easily burn 400 calories plus at an aqua class with the right instructor and definitely feel better and fitter for it!

How do you know how many calories you burn?

OP, for a tum, a rowing machine is brilliant.

[Menora]

@Geebray

How do you know how many calories you burn?

OP, for a tum, a rowing machine is brilliant.

Edited

You can wear Apple Watch in water. I assume or you can enter into My fitness pal as an exercise

Mine tells me I burned 300 odd calories when I walked 4 miles

[Menora]

You can’t really spot reduce fat though. Unfortunately

[kefirgiraffe]

@Geebray - yes, Garmin worn in the water

[Geebray]

There is no way of accurately working out what calories have been burned. Not by an Apple watch, not by a Garmin.

[BogRollBOGOF]

Aqua is good cardio and low-impact resistance so a good introduction to adding strength, but probably not enough to really look "toned"

Your core will help stabilise you in the water, but it's not particularly a core workout.

It tends to attract older women. Also good for pregnancy and rehabbing injuries. It's quite an entertaining kind of class.

[Namerchanger1]

Zero chance of an actual class burning 400 calories. Like when Zumba teachers say you’ll burn 700 calories a class

“tone up” just means build muscle and lose fat, you won’t do that in an aqua class. Not to say they aren’t good for mobility and gentle exercise, but it’s definitely gentle

[kefirgiraffe]

@Namerchanger1

Zero chance of an actual class burning 400 calories. Like when Zumba teachers say you’ll burn 700 calories a class

“tone up” just means build muscle and lose fat, you won’t do that in an aqua class. Not to say they aren’t good for mobility and gentle exercise, but it’s definitely gentle

The one I go definitely isn't gentle!!

[EBearhug]

It depends on the class and instructor. Most aqua classes are quite gentle. The water means it's low impact, so it's good for those with joint problems, whether caused through injury, over weight, arthritis or whatever. It's also something you can do at your own pace to some extent- which can mean some people chat through the class, and others actually get out of breath.

There are exercises you can do which focus on your core, but generally it's not what the focus is in class - and you won't usually do enough of any single exercise to focus on one part, even if you really push it in class - I'd say it's better for aerobic exercise and general fitness.

If there's a deep water aqua class near you, that's worth a shot, as they're definitely harder work, but they are few and far between. But if you want to tone your stomach, probably better to focus in weights or something.

(Been doing aqua for about 30 years at different pools with different teachers.)

[GCAcademic]

Re. swimming, if you do front crawl (properly) that is good for toning the abdomen. Lane swimming can be quite sociable, too, depending on the pool.

[Pigriver]

I agree that classes differ. I go to one that uses foam weights for resistance and I can really feel it the next day. Good for working arms and shoulders. There are people who take it easier and the instructor always says you get out what you put in. I also do a Legs, Bums, Tums class once a week which is a lot harder.
I did a different class today as it's the holidays and kids were at a club. Much gentler and it felt a bit of a waste of time. Mainly retired ladies who do it to keep moving and to socialise.

[GOODCAT]

I swim, amongst other things, and have done a few aqua fit classes very occasionally when I am on holiday and want a bit of variety. I found them gentle and fun. They are good if you have been injured as the water is supportive.

I wouldn't expect them to tone you, but I work on the basis that any exercise is good and changing it up ensures you exercise a wider range of muscles. I would recommend going to one and just seeing how you find it.

[EBearhug]

@GCAcademic

Re. swimming, if you do front crawl (properly) that is good for toning the abdomen. Lane swimming can be quite sociable, too, depending on the pool.

I have a vague memory thst back crawl is meant to be the best overall stroke.

If I can do butterfly, it's a good indication of my current levels of fitness, but it's antisocial to do it in most public sessions, unless you have a lane to yourself. (I had a lane to myself today, but I wasn't going to try fly.)

[Namerchanger1]

@kefirgiraffe

The one I go definitely isn't gentle!!

It doesn’t build muscle though

you coils raise your arm above your head 100 times which would be tiring but doesn’t build muscle

[Menora]

There is still no way you would burn 400 cals doing aqua fit even with a good instructor

The arm raising exercises just over exerted my traps and made them very tight. Didn’t build muscle no. No one needs to hold their arms in the air for 2 mins it’s not working any of your arm muscles it’s all traps and shoulders. This was one thing that used to annoy me

but it is fun and good for mobility so I would still encourage it

[ShanghaiDiva]

Good for mobility and balance. Aqua hiit is pretty good too.

[LoreleiG]

I really like aqua and I always feel it afterwards. You can work at different paces. I’d go for it and see how you feel. You could always supplement it with a YouTube abs workout a few times a week. Or move on to something else.