Question for Krypto - or any one else who cares to comment

[Gimpy]

Good day all,

I mostly lurk in the shadows on this board. I noticed a thread that was posted several days ago, and in this thread was the discussion of Krypto stating that she had gone and done the BodyPump training with the thoughts of becoming an instructor, but had changed her mind about doing so. So, that brought me to this question. Would doing a BodyPump class several times a week, along with weight training routine be considered overtraining? I am curious to how people feel about this. Any comments or suggestions are welcome!

Thanks!

[Cherie]

I don't see the benefit of doing cardio daily and fitting a weighttraining in, when does your body rest and how can you combine cardio with weights properly spaced out?

Cherie

[Gimpy]

Being that BodyPump is a total body weight-training program of sorts, it was to my understanding that this was not a cardio-type workout? Am I wrong? In essence you would be adding additional weight workouts, although using lighter weights.

[Gimpy]

In addition, for those of you that are not familiar with what BodyPump is, check this out:

http://www.bodypump.com/participants/html/frameset.htm

This program is being offered by a Gold's Gym in my community. [img]/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[kungfu_chick]

I think BodyPump is a fun way to get a cardio and toning workout in one, but when I'm doing serious weight-training, I prefer have a proper day of rest rather than do a BodyPump class. A few classes a week wouldn't be overtraining if you weren't doing any other weights work, but otherwise I don't think they really fit together.

[Proud to be a kiwi- home of BodyTraining Systems!]

[a-folov]

Ehh, too much cardio for my liking. If the female body responds to cardio the same way that the male body does, it's not good for your weight-training regimen, in my opinion.

In my experience bodypump classes are not cardio at all. You do a range of exercises (squats, clean and press, bicep curls, chest press) with fairly light weights- you lift continuously for a couple fo minutes to music for each exercise. It doesn't really get your heart rate up, and also you can't lift really heavy weights as you just can't keep going. I stopped going because I liked doing my own weights. Also if you realise you've picked a weight that's too heavy, you can't drop down as everyone else in the class thinks you're a wuss.

As regards doing weights and bodypump, you should do it if you do it with light weights (as it IS weight training and many people use it as such), but if you're serious about lifting, don't bother- it'll only wind you up.Hope this helps.

[lifterchick]

I think the post you're referring to was Krypto's response to my wondering if I should give up the body sculpting class I teach twice a week. My class is strictly weights (no cardio), but it is an endurance based class so no one is really lifting anything heavy. The reason I'm thinking about dropping the class is not so much an overtraining issue as it is that I find I don't have the time and/or energy to fit in my own, more "ambitious" workout on the days I teach. They are not truly rest days either, though, so I think they are getting in the way of my personal progress. I guess in effect I think they are causing UNDERtraining!!

If I were to just take the class when I chose to instead of being to committed to instructing twice a week, I think they would be valuable for times in your training where you are coming off a period of heavy lifting, like a week of active rest before you change up your routine a bit.

BTW, I still haven't actually quit instructing. I'm never one to make a quick decision, I just need to sit with it a while until I feel comfortable, but I think I'll be letting it go. Since I started teaching almost 7 months ago I've actually gained weight and there are lots of reasons for that but, like I said before, I definitely think it's partially the decreased intensity I'm able to give to my own training.

<blockquote><font class="small">Posted by: Gimpy:</font><hr> Good day all,

I mostly lurk in the shadows on this board. I noticed a thread that was posted several days ago, and in this thread was the discussion of Krypto stating that she had gone and done the BodyPump training with the thoughts of becoming an instructor, but had changed her mind about doing so. So, that brought me to this question. Would doing a BodyPump class several times a week, along with weight training routine be considered overtraining? I am curious to how people feel about this. Any comments or suggestions are welcome!

Thanks! <hr /></blockquote>

Personally, I wouldn't do it. The BodyPump classes are basically ENDURANCE classes, cause you have to pick a weight that you can KEEP lifting for WAY more than 12 reps. So by doing that, the only thing you're really training is for muscular endurance (which is fine if that's what you want). I really don't see where it would have any place in your regimne. I suppose you could use it for your cardio, but even then, I don't really think it taxes your cardiovascular system enough to cause any improvement beyond a total beginner. In other words I think those BodyPump classes are really only good for people who are TOTAL beginners (i.e. previous couch potatoes) and are just looking for a way to get started into becoming more fit. I think its usefulness will wear off rather quickly once you get past being a beginner.

Other than that, of course it's a social thing, if you just feel like belonging to a group or participating in something fitness related in a group setting, go for it. But as far as improving your strength and cardiovascular system beyond a beginner goes, I don't think BodyPump classes are the way to go. It just depends on what your goals are. If you want to challenge yourself to see if you can do X amount of weight for over 20 reps then go for it. Even I (beyond a beginner) can make it a challenge for myself, and I absolutely LOVE challenges but as far as my fitness goals go, there's just no point in my trying to do X amount of weight for over 20 reps other than just to see if I can do it.

And yes, if you are doing these classes several times a week along with your regular weight training then yeah, most likely it's going to be overtraining. But again, it depends on the person, it's something you'd have to find out for sure for yourself. I actually just emailed the lady in charge at the Gold's gym cause she is still wanting me to teach BodyPump classes and one of the reasons I gave for not wanting to do it was the fact that if I was doing those classes several times a week, it would be too much training on my legs which would negatively affect my speed skating. I get plenty of leg training with my speed skating, to do the BodyPump classes yet would be overkill for me. Anyway, hope this helps. [img]/forum/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]