S/O Strength training-H&F's official "stance" on Body Pump?

[otowngirl]

Obviously this class isn't designed for "lifting heavy" given the high reps in each muscle group workout.  Still, does it count for "strength training?"  I've been doing it a couple months now and have been able to incorporate more weights in the routines, but should I be worried about plateauing at some point in terms of muscle development and looking for something new?  I've certainly noticed more muscle definition in the arms, but then I go online and read things like "newbie gains" and I'm all, IS THIS EVEN REAL? Lol.

[kams]

I loved pump. I stopped doing it when my training schedule started to max out my available hours, but I thought it was great. I did plateau after about a year, but still enjoyed it.

[valetgirl]

Like PP, I hit a plateau after a year and I wasn't interested in continually upping the weight. It's still a good class. I typically don't have the motivation to do strength training for an hour on my own, so it's great in that regard.

[finallykrisb]

I would say it counts for strength training.

[Wines Not Whines]

I love Body Pump, but like you said, it won't get you lifting heavy. But I'm not interested in heavy lifting right now, so it works for me. I've learned that I won't lift weights on my own. I need a class format so someone will make me do it. It's definitely made me stronger. 

[cinco]

I enjoy it, and consider it strength training. I don't do it enough to plateau, and I try to up my weights every once in a while.

[otowngirl]

Awesome, thanks for the feedback, all. Glad I can keep pumpin' it guilt-free for now.

[taratru]

Body pump is the only lifting I do. Why wouldn't it be strength? I lift pretty heavy in there.

[otowngirl]

Feb 21, 2014 19:31:40 GMT -5 taratru said:

Body pump is the only lifting I do. Why wouldn't it be strength? I lift pretty heavy in there.

That was my thought, too, but then I learned there was an anti-BP school of thought among lifters. Or maybe not so anti-BP, so much as "BP isn't real lifting." Which, for heavy lifters, sure.

[otowngirl]

So now that I have your attention, what do y'all lift for each muscle group?

[hannahb]

It's strength training. People always recommend on here to lift heavy (I.e low reps, high weight) and yes to gain bulk (I'm not saying man bulky) that's true. I think that low weight and high reps has a place too. It helps build endurance strength. Depending on what you are training for I would argue that it may be more beneficial. Am I making sense?

[brooke77]

It is the only strength I do (did). I stopped a few months ago when my running mileage increased. I noticed I lost a lot of definition and really need to make BP a priority again. I lifted some decent weight.

[wambam]

I know very little about it, but I just looked up a video and it really bothers me that they're squatting so high.

Looks like it would be fun though

[gt7301b]

Feb 21, 2014 19:33:28 GMT -5 otowngirl said:

Feb 21, 2014 19:31:40 GMT -5 taratru said:

Body pump is the only lifting I do. Why wouldn't it be strength? I lift pretty heavy in there.

That was my thought, too, but then I learned there was an anti-BP school of thought among lifters. Or maybe not so anti-BP, so much as "BP isn't real lifting." Which, for heavy lifters, sure.

There are anti-everything people. I think it is a good class, if it works for you keep doing it.

[naldridge]

Feb 21, 2014 19:34:10 GMT -5 otowngirl said:

So now that I have your attention, what do y'all lift for each muscle group?

Crickets...

I'll tell if y'all don't laugh - I'm a lightweight! I mix it up a little depending on the release, how I feel and if I've been doing other weights but typically:
Warm up: 12.5/side
Squats: 22.5/side
Chest: 12.5-15/side
Triceps: 10/side
Lunges: 10-15/side
Biceps: 12.5/side
Shoulders: ~12.5/side

I really enjoy lifting "heavy" (for me) but class is my social time, so I try to go when I can. Also my closest Y just switched from Les Mills to BTS and I don't like Group Power nearly as much as Body Pump.