Well, tomorrow marks eight weeks since I started body pump.

I have dropped a good five pounds, and gained a whole lot of muscle. I am hard every where, and just seem to be getting harder. I have increased my weights a good deal since the beginning too. I squat with 63 pounds, and started with only 22. I started chest presses with about 12 pounds as well, and now am doing around 26 pounds. My strength and endurance is awesome, and I bring a new challenge for myself every class. I do about 4-5 of them a week, and never get sore, no matter how heavy I am lifting.

I know many people disagree with lighter weights and high reps, but I am very pleased with my results. I am starting to see the definition coming through, and get awesome muscle pumps during the bicep tracks. It has been so long since I have had a muscle pump, I forgot what it was like. I am building muscle, but it is very hard and very lean. Yes, there is a lot of definition to the muscle and yes, I look muscular. However, I hate whimpy girlie arms, and want well rounded and defined delts, biceps and triceps.

My new goal is to go and take the training to become an instructor. I love and enjoy body pump so much that I want to be a bigger part of it. I don't know when the next set of training courses are available, but I will be there. I guess it takes about three months to complete the training. I am not sure of the whole process yet, but I have my favorite instructor form my gym as a mentor. Just befriending her is worth all the sweat and hard work in my classes. She is a total inspiration to me, and has unbelievable strength, endurance and the body.

I am staying with body pump all the way! I am doing the high protein diet that many bodybuilders follow. Of course I am not consuming the ridiculous amount of calories bodybuilders consume (my hubby is a BB and it makes me ill to watch him eat sometimes). I will always be doing body pump, but am curious to see what my end results will be after a few months. I am pleased with what I see two months in already. Now I will have to bust my ass for the next weeks and see where I am at.

For me body pump is a blessing. I love the music, I love the woman that come into class with me, I love the instructors and I love the motivation the classes give me. Even a bad day turns out to be a good day for body pump classes. I have never had a bad workout yet, and I can't begin to count how many classes I have done to date.

So, what is body pump?

I got great results in my first month or two using 10 pound dumbbells and resistance bands. But once my muscles started to appear, I needed more than lightweight dumbbells to make them continue to grow.

So show us some pics. I think everyone has got the picture that you love your classes. You sound like an advertisement for Body Pump! Where's the beef? :D I hope they showed those commercials in Canada.

Here is a link to Body pump

http://www.bodypump.com/participants/html/frameset.htm

With these classes, you can go light or heavy, depending on your goals and fitness level. I tend to go pretty heavy, but I have the power to back it up. It is difficult due to the high reps, but I get a killer workout everytime.

I go up in weight every couple of weeks typically, since it is all about building muscle for me. I don't think I need to worry about not being able to increase weight some day, since my body will be where I want it to be by then. The max weight I can put on the barbell is about 180 pounds. I can't see myself needing to do much more then that ever.

So, what is body pump?

I got great results in my first month or two using 10 pound dumbbells and resistance bands. But once my muscles started to appear, I needed more than lightweight dumbbells to make them continue to grow.

You would almost think I am an add for body traning systems, but honestly, I am not. I have done all sorts of training over the eyars, and never experienced anything like this. I honestly believe in it.

As for pictures, I never thought to take any. I also know my husband would blow a gasket if I posted pics on myself online. Once I am another 8 weeks into this, I'll take the chance and post some pics. I am just not ready yet.

So show us some pics. I think everyone has got the picture that you love your classes. You sound like an advertisement for Body Pump! Where's the beef? :D I hope they showed those commercials in Canada.

I have been doing it on and off for a year and when I am consistent, the muscle building really shows. I don't feel however it works out all parts of my body in a multi-dimensional way. So I add some othe exercises to it, particularly for the back and abs. (Rows, pull-downs and Pilades). But I have been listening to Bustmybutt rave about it and I must admit, I feel about the same about it as she does.

I remember Bustmybutt on other threads recommending the other classes from this same organization, in particular, Body Combat. They only offer that class once a week at my gym at a time not too convenient for me. But my sense is that it rounds out what I feel is missing from body pump.

I have to admit, I too, have considered taking the class to become an instructor.

Not that I want to fall into sterotypes, but I do think the high reps, etc. are more suited to women. I have observed men being in the classes over the last couple of years. They do not get as hard or as defined as the women. But they also try to lift much heavier weights that always seem a little beyond their capacity. The men over time tend to drop out. But the women always stay--and they look great. And it is particularly great for older women such as myself. The music is enthusiastic and if you have a good instructor, it is a wonderful experience.

Here (http://forums.johnstonefitness.com/showthread.php?t=7348) is an earlier thread discussing them.