Zumba, What Were Your Results?

I've been going to a Zumba class for two days a week since January. I absolutely love it. I hate exercising and have never been able to stick with a program. Now, when I have to miss a Zumba class, I am upset about it. My mood has drastically improved, my energy levels have increased - I feel wonderful! When I finish the Zumba class and there is no question in my mind that I got a good workout because I am completely drenched. I take my class at the Y and started in the Zumba Gold for beginners and seniors. That is a good way to start because you can learn the steps without feeling intimidated and it still kicked my booty. I have since moved up. I bought the Wii game for my kids but didn't get the accountability of other people in the class so I would usually quit after about 30 minutes of doing it. I have only lost 10 pounds but I haven't been dieting or anything else. I know I have gained muscle weight because I'm starting to see some definition in my arms, legs and upper torso.

I am a group fitness instructor at a gym, and I also take a lot of different group fitness classes. I love Zumba, and I think it is a great class at any fitness level....or 'coordination level'! However, I really think that how much you burn, and how much you will enjoy the class is solely dependent on the instructor. Because the classes are not pre-choreographed, there's a lot of room for the instructor to make the class her own. Which is great...if she's good. So, my advice would be, don't waste your time or money on the DVD or game....you most likely will not stick with it. Find an instructor that you love. You may have to go to lots of different classes to find 'the one', or hopefully more than one. One of my friends is a former Spurs dancer, and she teaches Zumba. I don't like her class at all. I barely sweat, and the energy is low. Another friend of mine teaches yoga and Zumba, I LOVE her class! Her 'skill' isn't as high as the other one, but I sweat my booty off and she's super entertaining.

I will also say this....at my gym the class averages in Zumba are about 25-40 people. Those people are almost all exclusively Zumba-ites. They've been doing the classes for months, sometimes years. Maybe they all lost a ton of weight at one time, but I haven't noticed any real change in any of them. If your goal is to lose weight, it's important to a) have a good diet (duh), and b) 'shock' your body on a regular basis. Our bodies adapt to new excercise very quickly, so it's important to change it up. If you do end up joining a gym, check out the WHOLE group fitness schedule, and challenge yourself. Make it a goal to try every class at least once. Don't ever think, "Oh I could never..." Any class at any gym should be able to be modified for beginners. If the instructor is worth their salt, they will show you those modifications.

Also, if you're just starting out, group cycling is a great way to burn some calories without feeling like you're making a fool of yourself! You can 'fake it til you make it', because no one can tell what resistance your bike is at, and there are no moves to try to copy. You can truly take it at your own pace. Hope this helps!

PS~Another great cardio dance class that IS pre-choreographed is BodyJam. If you have that at the gym you pick, definitely try it. There's a lot more consistency among the instructors.

I have only done live classes, so I know nothing about the dvd's or Wii game,. I worked out at a gym for about 60 days before ever starting zumba. I was doing the elliptical, bike, and treadmill for 45 minutes 6 days a week. I lost about 10 pounds. 2 weeks ago, I went to my first zumba class, and after that first class I thought to myself -goodness, here I have thought I was getting a work out at the gym!- I wasn't breaking much of a sweat, and I didn't feel bad in the morning. With zumba, my entire body is wet after the hour class. I've only gone to 6 so far, but the difference I feel in my muscles, is awesome. I'm using parts that haven't been touched at the gym. When I step out of bed in the mornings, I hurt/ache. But thats what I wanted. I want to feel like I am doing something. I have lost an additional 4 pounds in the last 2 weeks.

Last summer I needed to lose about 20 pounds. I started eating healthier and did Zumba three-four times a week. I lost 15 pounds in two months and had an absolute blast. I love Zumba, and I am absolutely not an exercise person. I still do Zumba one or two times a week (but have mostly switched over to other classes that are more weight training and stuff). You can do Zumba at any fitness level - it will really help you lose weight, gain endurance, and have fun at the same time. I haven't tried the DVD or Wii Game... don't think they would have worked as well for me since having to go to class was my motivation. Also, with an instructor and 20 other people in the room, I couldn't slack off.

A few months ago when I was pregnant I bought the Wii game. I didn't want to spend money on the class thinking I might over do it if I took the entire hr class during my pregnancy. When trying to do the game the thing I really didn't like was the fact that it thinks your doing the steps right even if you aren't yet and it will move onto the next step. I found myself getting lost a bit in the steps. My mom and SIL are taking an actual class and they say they end up sweating like crazy and really feel like they are getting a great work out. From what I hear, between the class or the Wii game you get a lot better work out with the class. I'm interested to see if anyone has gotten a dvd cause I would love to try that.

Let me start by saying I have not done a Zumba class. I hear they are a lot of fun. Group classes can be great because you can be motivated by the rest of the class. I teach a spin class at Bally's and I am an online Fitness Coach with Team Beachbody. Beachbody has a lot of really great workout DVD's. I have always been a cardio junkie...running and cycling. My weight kept going up a little every year. My husband bought the Insanity workout program and I lost 14lbs in 60 days. I had bought other workout DVD's in the past and would get bored with them. For one reason there wasn't any variety. The other thing they were stand alone. Usually no meal plan or way to have any accountability. You get all of this with Beachbody. Exercise is great for your body, but if your goal is to lose weight as well then you really have to incorporate a healthy eating plan. I offer a FREE Fit Club on Saturday mornings if you would like to come and try out one of our Beachbody workouts. We meet at Lake Highlands Baptist Church in the Family Life Center 642 Brookhurst Dr., Dallas TX 75218. Class starts at 8:30 so it is best to get there at 8:15 to get signed in. I would love for you to join us this Sat. Message me if you have any questions or want to know more about the workout DVD's.
M.

My Zumba instructor said that doing Zumba alone a great cardio, but it will not get you toned unless you start using 1-2 lb weights along with it.

I have never tried an actual class, but I have the Wii game. I like the game just fine, it gets me sweating and moving. It does not track your movements 100% accurate, but it is fun. The zumba for xbox 360 is more accurate, heard that it tracks your movements much better. I think I would like the Wii game better if the songs were ones that I would recognize, but I like it non the less.

great question!! I have no idea, I would like to try it though.

my friend has been doing it for a few years, and all i know is that she looks like a rockstar!