Participants sometimes wish that group fitness classes had a digital display of calories burned like their treadmill or elliptical machine. Unfortunately, specific caloric expenditure for classes is a little more complicated! We have, however, reviewed the research and can offer you some AVERAGES concerning some of the Les Mills’ Group Fitness programs.

When considering this information, it is important that you understand that any number of factors can affect the numbers for you: Age, height, weight, fitness level, gender, lean muscle mass, levels of fatigue, general health etc. Yes – it’s a complex subject! Therefore, the numbers given for average calories burned should only be used as a guideline and are not intended to represent actual numbers for any individual. In order to better ascertain your own caloric expenditure during class, you could wear a correctly programmed Heart Rate (HR) monitor that can evaluate your individual HR performance as well as calculate your personal calorie expenditure in any given activity for a set duration.
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BODYVIVE™ is the newest program by Les Mills International to be released in the United States. Some of you may never have even tried it. For some reason, people seem to think this class is for the aging population. That is a misrepresentation. For this article trainers and instructors were interviewed about the audience and method behind BODYVIVE™. This program just may be the most fully integrated total body conditioning class in health clubs today. Challenge yourself to re-invent the way you think about BODYVIVE™, your body wants you to!

So, what is BODYVIVE™? This class mimics the feeling you get at a really great wedding reception after a few cocktails. You know all the songs, can do all the dances, and you’re having too much fun to worry about how you look. The first half of class is dedicated to cardio conditioning. Elevating the heart rate with low impact, high intensity movements allows for a wide audience. There are further options to raise the intensity by increasing the range of motion in the arms and legs. Functional resistance training is also part of this party class. Using the BODYVIVE™ ball and tubing, a lighter version of which will soon be available in the Midwest, participants work through their entire bodies while maintaining heart rates in the “fat burning” zone. Core strengthening, balance training, and flexibility improving exercises are all packed into this hour-long experience. .
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GIVE IT UP for giving back! Sometimes we get so focused on maximizing a profit margin that we overlook opportunities to reach out to the people we serve. In this case, Gold’s Gym Battle Creek in Michigan was giving back to the people who serve us, the military. Read on to get ideas about using your quarterly launch for more than a party. The party is encouraged, and necessary, but creative, inspirational, and even charitable events can boost the relationships that will ultimately determine the success not only of your program, but your community.

LMMW: What is your title with Gold’s Gym Battle Creek, MI? Tell us about you, your staff, and your club:
Patty: I am the GFM since September and an instructor. I am also a Les Mills Assessor, meaning I watch your videos! This is a fairly small club but our classes are near capacity at all times. I was a free style instructor first, teaching for 15 years. I started with BODYSTEP™ 4 years ago, and have since added BODYCOMBAT™ and BODYPUMP™ to my certifications. Our members are mostly females in their 30s and 40s. Our instructor team has only one male, Christopher Cooley, but we are a very close knit group. We have a quarterly launch party get together. The last one was mechanical bull riding…WITH THE MEMBERS!
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Submitted by Maria Kretschmann.

If you are looking for a way to reach untapped markets and increase the value of your BODYPUMP™ license, you might consider programming a BODYPUMP™ class specifically for teens. Consider the story of the Fond Du Lac Family YMCA. Read on to get your creative juices flowing for what could be an awesome fall schedule addition!

In this facility, teen BODYPUMP™ started after talking with parents of high school age kids. A lot of their sons were involved in weight training at school but felt that if they weren’t football players, they weren’t receiving any direction or guidance. Some had also heard from their teenage sons about the things that go on in a high school’s weight room and many were concerned about injuries. The Fond Du Lac Family YMCA became a licensed BODYPUMP™ facility this past winter. The director knew they had a great program that could benefit teens as well as adults. The class really started just through word of mouth. Throughout the entire summer, teen BODYPUMP™ was offered to both members and non-members at no charge. Classes met Wednesday and Friday mornings from 8:30-9:30. The best day attendance was 22 students.
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My name is Tammy Holdman. I have been overweight most of my life. In 2003, I weighed 260 pounds. It finally dawned on me that I was fat and needed to lose some weight so I joined Weight Watchers and a gym and over the next 18 months, I lost 100 pounds.

After many years of trying to get pregnant, it finally happened. I then gained 90 pounds with that pregnancy and went back up to 250 pounds. After my son was born, I started Weight Watchers again and joined Golds Gym, which offered a variety of Les Mills classes.

My total weight loss is now 115 pounds. I went from 260 pounds (a size 26-28) to 145 pounds (a size 6-8).

My weight loss has taken about 2 years each time. I work out 6 days a week at Golds Gym doing Les Mills classes. I could not afford a personal trainer so I have made the most out of the Les Mills classes. I take BODYSTEP™, BODYPUMP™, BODYATTACK™, BODYCOMBAT™, BODYJAM™ and RPM™. I’ve made great strides with the personal help of Lisa Huseman, the best Les Mills instructor ever!

I have two children and a wonderful husband and I am now a certified aerobics instructor teaching aqua and free style step/cardio classes for Golds Gym.

CONGRATULATIONS Tammy! What an inspiration you are. We are grateful you shared this story of weight loss success and hope it helps others! Keep doing what you do!

To submit inspirational stories and/or personal triumphs, please contact editor@mw.lesmillsusa.com