Body pump newby

[Newstartplease24]

I have been advised to start weight training. Have not a clue how that works. Have booked a body pump class for Saturday. Will it kill me? Will the instructor show me what to do? Can I choose easy weights? Should I cancel and if so how should I begin?

I’d say to start with low weights until you know how it works, there’s a lot of swapping weights and you need to get quick at it. Dont worry about your first class, someone will show you what to do.

Love BP, just getting back into it, start with light weights, try get to the class early, so you can get a decent spot and get all your equipment, I turn up at least 10/15 mins before the class is due to start. Being late or even on time will sometimes mean you are at the very front, if it’s a busy class, then you need to get your equipment, so stepping around people, once the class has started is not ideal. If you can fit at least 2 classes a week initially you should see/feel results pretty soon.

Wonderful! Body Pump is an amazing accessible class, you will love it.
Well, the first class you will probably hate, but after that you will love it.
They say it takes about three Les Mills classes to feel comfortable with the movements, so if you will need to go back a few times even if you feel you don’t know what you’re doing.
The beauty of body pump is that it’s easy to follow, just arrive a wee bit early and make yourself known to the instructor, they will talk you through it.
When you get the hang of it you can lean into the music and really work. It’s really one of the best classes out there.
I remember being so rubbish I went home and googled the movements and practiced before I went back. This was many years ago! They refresh the programme every three months so you don’t get board.

I would also say, that while it’s a great full body work out, it’s not weights. It’s cardio using weights. If you want to weight train you’ll need to get into the gym itself.
It can help build muscle, and help you learn the movements you’ll need them in the gym, but the are modified as it’s low weight high reps, and weight training tends to be high weight low reps.

what matters is your moving and sweating - it’s a great way to start.

I love bodypump, but I really hurt myself when I started doing it as had never done weights or squats before. If you are inexperienced like I was, I would recommend getting a PT to show you the moves first. Bodypump can easily cause injuries as you do the moves fast to music.

Bodypump isn't weight training. It's just weighted cardio. Weight training is things like deadlifts, squats, bench press etc using barbells, dumbells and kettle bells.

I should have added... you need to do less reps and heavier weights

Just to echo what others have said; Bodypump is good fun but it isn't weight training.

If you've been advised to start weight training it's a gym you need, not a cardio class. For your first time, book a session with a PT to show you good form for the standard lifts (deadlift, squat, bench press etc) and then take it from there - either using a plan you find online (there are lots of good ones!) or by booking a few sessions with a PT to get you started.

Thanks everyone. So I need a pt then - I don’t know where to start in the gym. Not sure how to go about that hmmm will googling help me or do I need real life instruction?

Your gym will most likely do an induction with a PT for free?
The weight machines are brilliant, they isolate the muscle your trying to work, forcing you to do the movements properly. You just need shown how to set them up so you’re sitting at the right height.
Once you have the idea of them, you can play with them all.

You also need a little cardio, so the body pump won’t be wasted.

Body pump is low weight, high rep, if you've never lifted a weight before then I think a 45 minute class might be the end of you!! It's also really boring IMO as it's very repetitive - think a 3 minute track of squats at different speeds.
Does your gym not offer to create you a programme and show you how to do the exercises?

I usually do Pilates, swimming & aqua. I did my first class last Friday. I'm still here! I had no risers on the platform and used the lowest weights in the bar. It was surprisingly enjoyable.

I'm going again this week and am going to do a Monday class too as apparently two a week is good.

Start with really low weights, and take form & technique seriously (so many people don't). Particularly try to ensure you squat properly - I see such bad squats in body pump classes - injuries & strains waiting to happen!

But Body Pump is not really lifting weights in terms of weight or resistance training. It's much more of a cardio exercise style. It's too fast and the weights are too light & there's too much volume of movement to lift roperly heavy in a way that creates muscle growth. Body Pump will tone what muscle you have, but you won't achieve significant muscle growth.

So if you enjoy Body pump, try to get into actual weight lifting with dumb bells and proper bar bells - it's great being very strong & lean!

I love bodypump - 13 years and still love it!
You can go as light as you please and build your weight up. It's a full body workout so it is the best place to do everything and learn moves from scratch. Let your instructor know you are new and they will guide you.
You won't look back!

Who's told you to start weight training? Do they mean actual weight training or just to incorporate some weights into your workouts?

Body pump invoives a barbell and plates. You add on and take away for each track and the instructor will guide you. The step is just for lying down on (I use 3 risers a side so it's easier to get back up 😆). You can stick with the same weight throughout the class to start with or even hold a loose plate instead of the bar.

Agree with PP, as much as lots of people like Body Pump, it's not weight training and won't have the benefits that weight training provides.
Have a read up on weight training, weighted squats, deadlifts, bench press etc.
You could pay for the odd session with a PT to check your form, or design you a program, or see if your gym will do a decent induction

Body pump is great, ex instructor here! It isn’t hypertrophy training no, but it’s endurance weight training which is low weight/high rep. Brilliant for burning calories and leaning you out. Only reason I don’t teach anymore is time!

just let the instructor know you’re new and focus on technique rather than reps. The speed will come as you get more confident!

Thanks everyone

I’ve done lots of body pump and it is very good for toning, there are videos of body pump classes on YouTube to give you some idea what to expect