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Why do people bother coming to Pump if they're not prepared to sweat and push a bit?   

There are participants in some of the classes that I go to who have been going for months/years and haven't put their weights up in that time.  And we're not talking those who really would find it tough to go higher because they're already pushing physical boundaries.  We're talking people who might just about make it up to 10kgs (total) for squats but mostly just stick 3.75kg on each side and breeze through things.  I watched a few girls in another gym tonight put on 3.75kg on their bar for the warmup and leave it there for the full class without changing it at all despite the instructor giving the usual cues.

Each time that I feel in a comfort zone, I've tried pushing the boundaries by adding more weight.  I can't imagine doing a class without having to fight through the burn at some point.  I can have the heaviest bar in the class amongst the women but looking at the weights suggested and discussed here, I feel like a rank tyro.  My heaviest way is 20kg (total... obviously!) for squats at the moment but with so few people in my classes pushing the boundaries, you rarely get the competition and camaraderie to goad yourself into upping it as much.

I guess I just don't understand why someone will put in an hour of their free time and not try to get the most out of it.  Surely after a year of minimal weights, they're not going to be seeing much benefit?  

 And when is the optimal point to push your weights up another step?  I tend to wait until only the final round is fatiguing me rather than feeling it in the second which is often a few weeks into a new release. Any other strategies for deciding when to move it up? 

What do you propose, they not go to Body Pump at all?

Some people just want to go to burn calories and to maintain something, not everyone wants to get stronger (I'm not speaking for myself).

Instructors say to push yourself and increase weights all the time, so if they keep going to Body Pump then they already know they're supposed to push themselves and they are making a conscious decision not to.

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Applespider:

Why do people bother coming to Pump if they're not prepared to sweat and push a bit?  ... There are participants in some of the classes that I go to who have been going for months/years and haven't put their weights up in that time ... Each time that I feel in a comfort zone, I've tried pushing the boundaries by adding more weight.

I guess I just don't understand why someone will put in an hour of their free time and not try to get the most out of it.  Surely after a year of minimal weights, they're not going to be seeing much benefit?  

I'm on your side on this one. I aim to get maximum results by pushing as hard as I can every time. However many people go to gyms to see and be seen. Others don't like to get sweaty or be in pain, so stay in the comfort zone. They will, of course, get something out of the class and some calories will be burnt, but I agree it is a little counter-productive not to get your money's worth. 

Applespider:

 And when is the optimal point to push your weights up another step?  I tend to wait until only the final round is fatiguing me rather than feeling it in the second which is often a few weeks into a new release. Any other strategies for deciding when to move it up? 

I wait till I can get through the track without being fatigued and/or feeling the burn at the end of each track. As you push harder and harder, and really increase weights, each increment higher becomes more difficult. Inevitably sometimes you will have to go up as an experiment before you think you're ready and just accept that you may have to go down again.

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The other week, my instructor pointed me out to the rest of the class and said "Now thats how you should look at the end of a Body Pump Class".  I was stood in a pool of my own sweat, bent over trying to get my breath back ready for the next track!  As for weights I try and increase when i get near to the end of a release once the tracks are getting easier for me.  Also on some of the tracks, I find I can add a little on at the end after the last rest, just to push myself.  The current bicep track is good for that as the last part isn't too long and I can take the pain just about!  Only been doing it since Feb though, so not seen too many new releases, but totally hooked!.

On a different subject, tried my first combat class last night. OMG that was a killer, but great fun, think I'm going to be hooked on that class too!

Just concentrate on yourself, pretend your the only participant in the class. It's not a competition to see who can go the hardest in a class, your only opponent is yourself, it's the only person whose weights you should be worried about and how you can do so much better.

I kind of feel you, Applespider; deep down inside I wonder what would happen if that person tried to increase their weight. I'll bet they'd surprise themselves!

But I also agree that we have to recognize that some participants are there for other reasons; some people, plain and simple, don't like that hurtin' feeling! I believe that the pain factor is one of the things that stops a new exerciser from sticking with a fitness program. So if a person wants to come to class and keep themselves in the comfort zone for the full hour... hey, have at 'er. At least they're coming to class and moving their body. If the alternative is to push a heavy barbell and then never come back, I'd rather they stick with a light one. I'll still stand at the door and pat them on the back at the end of class, even if they walk out totally composed without one drop of sweat. At least they showed up.

Last night I wasn't feeling well, so before I started my class, I made a pact with myself that I was going to take 'er a bit easy on the weights - dropping my weight for squats, back and chest for sure. I got through the squat track and I wasn't really hurting, sweating or huffing/puffing, and you know what? It was REALLY boring, and I felt like I couldn't effectively coach people through the burn, because I wasn't feeling it. A heavy barbell makes the workout so much more "fun," doesn't it?

 But, "heavy" is relative, and 3.5 kgs might be truly heavy for someone else in class.

HellRazoR:

What do you propose, they not go to Body Pump at all?

Yikes... no.  I'm all for people at least being off their sofa.  I was just curious about what proportion of other class participants fall into that category - those who appear never to have tried pushing themselves despite the encouragement of the instructor to do so.  I get the tried and failed, I get the tried and didn't like the feeling, I just don't get the 'never tried at all'.  

 

MoodlesAU:

...pretend your the only participant in the class. It's not a competition to see who can go the hardest in a class 

Although half the fun is interacting with the class... otherwise I could just stay out in the free weights but I take your point.  I will continue putting up weights regardless of others.  It was just that a week or so ago, there was another girl in the class and we were pushing ourselves in a friendly way - encouraging each other to make it this week that we upped our weights and it was fun.   

 It got me to thinking that if you go to a class where the majority lift heavy weights, does that encourage participants to see that as the norm and push themselves to get there?  Whereas if you're in a class where the majority are on 3.75kg for most tracks, do you assume that's 'normal' and stay put when you reach there?

 

ecullingham:

.deep down inside I wonder what would happen if that person tried to increase their weight. I'll bet they'd surprise themselves!

I'm sure they would...  

I got through the squat track and I wasn't really hurting, sweating or huffing/puffing, and you know what? It was REALLY boring, and I felt like I couldn't effectively coach people through the burn, because I wasn't feeling it. A heavy barbell makes the workout so much more "fun," doesn't it?

Precisely!  I love the sense of achievement and that warm 'glow' of the afterburn.  A class just isn't the same without it.

I think that it is important to remember there are many reasons to come to class and as much as I like to see my class push themselve, I also love to see them do it right and with the high reps, if you push too much, form goes out the window, which is something that I hate more than people not working hard (according to my perception)...

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Always grace appetite with soul!!!

i went to a class a couple of weeks ago where there was a cover instructor and the instructor did the whole class with 2.5kg on each end of the bar except for lunges where she used no bar at all and shoulders where she had 1kg plates   I'm all for people working at their own level but it's just not motivating when my bar is 4.5 times heavier than the instructor's.  In fact, i felt a bit embarrassed, like i was showing off and I didn't enjoy the class at all. 

I've been going to a class recently that's had various instructors covering for the last month and I've noticed that the member's weights are changing according to how much the instructor is lifting, even though it's more or less the same people attending the class.

 

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Not tired are you???

I agree that people are in class for a bunch of different reasons, and that's great, but recently I was in the cardio section of our gym and I heard a member that is one of those that uses the smaill weights for the WHOLE class complaining to another member, "I don't think I'm going to do Bodypump anymore...I'm just not seeing the results anymore!"  I bet you could see the steam come out of my ears!

 As for knowing when to go up on weights, I tell my classes that if at the end of a track if I had said there was one more set of singles, and they thought they could do it pretty handily, then it's time to move up.  As for motivating folks to do this, one day a month I'll tell them it's "donut day"...they are to pick one (not the warmup, cooldown, or abs) track and put one extra "donut" ( a small plate) on each end.  Then at the end of each track, I'll ask who added weight to it and give them a "good goin'" praise.  I also encourage members to come and tell me after class if they've increased their weight...hey...don't you want to shout it to the world that you did three larges on each side of a squat track?  I do!

Totally understand where you are coming from.  When I first started teaching, this is how I felt.  I'm very type A myself, so I'm always looking for ways to improve and push more. BUT, I have learned that there are many types of people who take classes. Sometimes they are just there to be with their buddies and get a little workout in, some have injuries, etc.  Perhaps it is time to relax a little and just let it go.  I would have to say, though, the only time I would say anything is if I heard somebody complain about not improving, etc. Then, that might be time to step in and explain the whole building with the weights for results.  For the most part, I've found most people are good at regulating themselves.  There are always the few who come in and do their own thing.

ultraviolet:

I've been going to a class recently that's had various instructors covering for the last month and I've noticed that the member's weights are changing according to how much the instructor is lifting, even though it's more or less the same people attending the class.

 

and  that's exactly why they tell us that instructors should also be role models as concerns the weight used.

Went to a class in another country recently, where the instructor used an empty bar. All this "yes, it's heavy! but we can do it!!" is not very motivating in that case.

Also, I've been teaching some classes where the previous instructor also used 2,5 kilos max. And I like it heavy. Since I took over, it's just amazing to see how much weight people have been adding (and yes they can still keep the technique). Men of course don't want to lift a lot less than a girl and girls see that yes you can lift more and no you won't look like a bodybuilder. Just warms my heart

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Folks attend bodypump classes for different reasons some attend the classes to loose weight - some attend to socialize - some attend for their own personal esteme - some come to class so that they can loose weight and get toned. Others attend class to simply have a good time.

In relation to weight specifications sometimes you need to strip it back. That is what is needed sometimes.

In relation to being a role model "I set the example" I don't consider myself a role model. Role models are police officials, teachers etc... as said I set the example and it is up to them to follow. I don't push them into doing something they don't want to do.

I do my classes either in a group fitness room or classroom I worry about my craft and concentrate on my own thing. I don't get into situations where I am being negative about another instructor or teacher as that is not my thing. It is up to the class to say something.

IMO! 

it's actually our manual (2006 edition), page 28, that claims that "You are a powerful role model" (imho, they are probably only talking about BP in this case). And it also tells us (p 31)  to coach the class to work the upper limit of their individual fitness.

Now,  of course there's nothing wrong with coming to pump just to socialize and have fun. But as a previous poster mentioned, then they shouldn't really expect the same results in fitness as people who come to the class mainly to get fitter. Different aims, different results, as simple as that.
 

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"work the upper limit of their individual fitness." is the key word they know what they are capable of lifting - working within their individual limits. Every class is different "people" and age and demographic. It is not 100% black and white and each person is different in varying degrees. You can work a class to the upper limit by using a controlled weight selection showing awesome form and proper execution of movement without "lifting inappropriate" weights and showing not cool form and lack of proper execution of movement. I have seen in the last decade instructors who pile on the weight and have less than perfect form I also have seen instructors in the last 10 years used a controlled weight selection and demonstrated all key elements of proper exercise selection and completed an awesome Bodypump class the thing is that we need to demonstrate that stripping back the weight to a reasonable weight level we can instruct an awesome class while properly showing awesome form and showing different and varying options to the class and not adding excessive weight and looking less than correct in form and proper execution of form. The whole role of an instructor in the past 8 years I have been with Bodypump is to show safe and consistent execution of exercise. Yes we can build up the weights to 30 kgs each side for squats as I have done. But then decrease the weight selection back to a reasonable level and work with the class in some sort of order to increase the weight with the class. This allows the participant to set goals - and working with me in weight controlled weight increases (cycle) the weight up in percentages, then this is manageable IMO. Working a room where you are always in the highest weight limits I would consider boring and not motivating the class. Working with the class in a coaching mode both increases the end retention of the participant making them come back week after week not knowing my strategy each week which makes it entertaining and challenging for them and me.IMO. Then we have the debate of instructors mixing to add to the mix as well, the participant not knowing what is being selected for the class which makes selecting weights an impossible thing for some participants to select not knowing what is coming up how can they increase/decrease weights when each BP session is mixed and they are totally confused to what weights to select and when to increase or decrease when idealy if they had a consistent track selection then they can make a valued decision on what they need to increase and or decrease.IMO! that is what makes it confusing from their point not knowing what track is being used from BP session to another session then we have the situation of participants not being able to increase and or decrease weight selection, IMO!

In the case of a "Role Model" that is a big huge thing to do. I lead by example - role models are people as I said are Drs - teachers - Law Enforcement Officers - mothers / fathers etc..... I don't want to be a role model in a group fitness class. I lead by example!

IMO