what class would you cut out? yoga, pilates, strength, cardio?

[newholidayx2]

Due to costs increasing Im thinking of cutting out a few of my weekly gym classes.
I currently do Yoga, Pilates, Strength & Cardio/step
I also walk the treadmill every morn and some nights before classes.
Was thinking of cutting out all classes but the cardio/step (hey! its fun)
Now Im thinking of keeping Pilates (it is a good stretch, balance) and cutting out the others.
I can get cardio on the treadmill, weights on the 8 cybex machines and free weights.

What would you do? Trying to get the most variety

 

[disneychrista]

IMO the two things that are most important with weight loss is cardio and strength. So I would cut the Yoga & Pilates. But on the other hand, if you can rotate classes i would try to do that. Do one week of strength, one week of pilates. And keep the cardio every week.

 

[AmyBeth68]

I would stick with the Pilates...IMO (totally biased as a pilates instructor ). But...what Pilates OR Yoga offers you is that core work for the abs, back, waist, etc. You should also be getting lots of strength work in with either pilates or yoga....plank, rings, leg work, etc for toning. I've done all kinds of things...weight lifting, kickboxing, etc and nothing tones like pilates or yoga for *me* . I just happen to be more into the pilates. I'm such a strong proponent of a strong core though to help prevent back issues and the stretching can't be beat!

Cardio is sooo important! Using the treadmill daily will do that for you! You can definitely get cardio in a non-class form but Pilates and Yoga are best performed in class . Weight loss is best achieved through burning calories so walking/running will really make that happen for you. The typical Pilates class will burn around 300 calories fyi .

 

[newholidayx2]

thank you

thats what Im thinking
the treadmill and weight machines wont give me the stretching/balancing

how do i keep the treadmill & weights challenging though?

 

[AmyBeth68]

To make the treadmill more challenging you can do interval type training....increasing pace, decreasing pace, increasing incline, etc. I'd mix it up. Do it with music if you can. Make a mix of songs...some slow, some fast and try to keep up with the beat. You can also add short bursts of running in with the walking if that doesn't bother your knees . walk for 4 minutes...run for 30 sec to a minute!

As for the weights...the way to keep that challenging is to gradually add weight and try to maintain the same number of reps! Not much else you can do there but to increase the weight slowly over time.

 

[swilphil]

It sounds like you like the Pilates and cardio step, so keep those.

Make sure that you do weights on your own though. I have a terrible time spending more than about 15 minutes doing weights when I'm not in a class.

Every six weeks (if not sooner), you should increase the weight you lift. If you drop your cardio class, make sure you regularly increase your intensity on the machines-- run, instead of walk; increase incline and speed. If your gym has an ellipitical machine, give that a try!

 

[NancyIL]

I admire anyone that will go to a gym. If I had to go leave the house to exercise, I'd never do it!

I have several exercise DVD's that I use with weights, and I alternate cardio between the Nordic Track and exercise bike in my basement. I just need to exercise first thing in the morning, BEFORE I turn on the PC, or I'll be doing my workout at 5:30 at night as I did yesterday!