Here's my suggestions for weights to get you started. Rest is every bit as important as the workout, so make sure you get to bed at a decent hour. Get rest - Do the class three times a week, and never two days in a row.Pick a class time, put it on your schedule, and stick with it. Be there - Anything you do consistently for a month will become a habit.Remember: if it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. Weight doesn't get you results, form does. Focus on form - It's not about the weight.The head choreographer is Mike McSweeney, who has been involved with program development for nearly 15 years. BodyPump Success Plan For MenI'm here to tell you that BodyPump - the most successful group fitness program in history - works. At 40 years old I'm in the best shape of my life - far better than in my 20's and 30's. In less than two months I started seeing results - and by the following year I had earned my BodyPump instructor certification. So I decided to give it one last shot - this time, though, I drastically reduced my weights, and finally started focusing on my form. The form that these guys demonstrated was absolutely exquisite - and it was clear that they had somehow gotten results at this sort of thing. In fact, after six months of struggling with bar weights that I couldn't properly handle - and seeing absolutely no evidence that I was getting any results - I was ready to chuck the whole thing.īut just as I was about to call it quits on this latest "fitness failure", I watched one of the BodyPump instructor videos that Tami used for her practice work. I know, because I went through it - had my wife Tami not been a BodyPump instructor I'd probably never have even tried the class, let alone stick with it. If I can get them to ignore what the gal in front of them is moving and keep their own weights on the light side, they'll probably have a good time, and maybe even come back again.īut that's easier said than done. And if they'll listen, I try to impress upon them one key fact - it's not about the weight. If I'm lucky, I'll manage to catch a new guy before class, or right afterwards (if they stay that long!).
I've observed this same scenario play out in class after class. But by the time the sixth track (biceps) ends it isn't fun anymore - everything hurts, the music seems to go on and on, and what's the deal with all the reps anyway? Although most guys stick it out to the end of their first class, most never come back. Because after all, these are plastic weights. Guys look around the room, figure they should move at least as much as the ladies, so they slide some extra weight on the bar.
So now it's time for chest presses, so let's get down to business.Īnd that's usually the beginning of the end. The little warm-up thing isn't too challenging, and the squat thing was interesting. Most men stick around though, maybe because their girlfriend or wife put them up to it, or maybe because they've heard it's a lot of fun - so why not give it a chance. Is this stuff for real? How's a guy supposed to get a real workout in a place like this? Then there's the plastic weights, the hollow bar, and the little step then they use for a bench. Sure, there's a few guys here and there, but they're clearly outnumbered. Ladies often dominate BodyPump classes - and that's the first thing most men notice when they first walk in the room.