Before investing in any workout equipment, you want to know that it’s going to be the right choice to help you to reach your goals. This is why so many of our customers are always asking: “is BodyPump good for weight loss?”
BodyPump is popular because it’s so flexible. Your local gym might offer classes, or you can follow along from the comfort of your own home. It’s one of the most popular choices from the Les Mills collection, likely because of how simple it is to follow along. You can also modify the exercises to suit your fitness levels, so you won’t be left behind if you can’t keep up.
If you’re curious about BodyPump for weight loss, read on to learn more about this popular class. You can also read our complete Les Mills Equipment Review.
What is BodyPump?
BodyPump is a popular fitness class offered by Les Mills. The primary piece of equipment used is a weighted barbell, but it can also use a step, bands and hand weights.
It claims to be a full-body workout that uses the principle of high-rep, low-weight movements to achieve muscle fatigue. They estimate that you’ll burn around 400 calories per hour, but results will obviously depend on your individual composition and exertion level.
Another key aspect of the workout is the upbeat music and the motivational instructors. Whether in a class or following along at home, you’ll enjoy the community spirit and motivational support. If you need your workouts to be fun and engaging, then you’ll love BodyPump and the other workout classes from Les Mills.
How many times a week should you do BodyPump?
If your goal is to lose weight, you need to think about more than just increasing your exercise levels. Imagine you have an overweight dog and you take it to the vet. They would recommend reducing the pet’s portion sizes and increasing activity levels. The same goes for weight loss for people.
If your goal is fat loss, you need to achieve a calorie deficit and remain consistent. Rather than starve yourself and do no extra physical activity, or burn yourself out at the gym without changing your diet, we recommend taking a level-headed approach.
This means reducing your calorie intake while increasing your activity levels. Adding BodyPump to your weekly routine is a great way to achieve this. If you have the time, exercising 3-4 times per week will help to increase the number of calories you are burning.
You should also aim to increase your low-intensity steady-state (LISS) exercise. The best way to achieve this is by making sure you hit your 10K step goal every day. Invest in a fitness tracker and you will not only be able to see how many steps you are taking every day, but you’ll also be able to get an idea of how hard you are working during your BodyPump workouts.
How long will it take to see results?
As with any weight loss plan, consistency is key. If you are committed to making lifestyle changes, then you will eventually see results. When starting a new exercise programme and keeping track of calories, most people notice they start to see results after 3 to 6 months.
It’s important to have realistic expectations of what you can achieve, as this will help to keep you motivated. Developing good habits is also key, as habits will always take over when your motivation is waning. This will help to keep you on track with your goals.
Don’t worry if you struggle to stay motivated. Motivation is not something that should be keeping you afloat on your fitness journey.Instead, you should aim for consistency by creating health habits. If working out from home using the BodyPump workouts is what helps you to achieve this, then you should soon start to see results.
How does weight loss work?
Weight loss happens when you burn more calories than you consume. It really is as simple as that. To strike a balance, most people prefer to reduce their calories a little bit while increasing their daily exercise.
You might hit a weight loss plateau at some point, and this is to be expected. If you didn’t, you would lose too much weight too quickly, and this would be bad for your health. As you get slimmer, it becomes harder to lose weight. This is why people often struggle to reach their ideal target weight.
However, since BodyPump helps with recomposition, you might not want to focus solely on the number on the scales. Measurements and progress photos might be a more accurate way to determine if BodyPump is working for you.
Is BodyPump better than weights?
BodyPump includes some elements of weight lifting, but the main difference is in the number of reps and the intention behind the movements. BodyPump will teach you many of the key weight lifting exercises, including squats, shoulder press, lunges and curls.
The main difference is that you will be performing these exercises with a low weight for lots of reps, rather than a higher weight for fewer reps. It can give you the confidence to explore the weights section in the gym as it will teach you the basic movements.
Is BodyPump better than cardio?
BodyPump brings together elements of cardio workouts. It similar to a HIIT workout, but instead focuses on high reps at low weight. BodyPump could be considered better than cardio as it targets all muscle groups, which can be more effective for increasing muscle tone and burning fat.
BodyPump also includes a strong sense of community, so you’ll have the added bonus of being able to work out with other people. Running alone on a treadmill can feel quite solitary, so you’ll love BodyPump if you like to feel like you are part of a group.
We stock a wide range of BodyPump compatible gym equipment. If you’re ready to get started, shop this collection today.