Your Aerobics Class Is Holding You Back

Posted on Jun 04, 2009 by Andrew in Featured, General Health & Fitness, Inspiration, Proper exercise form, Riff .

The great thing about Go Healthy Go Fit is that from time to time, I get a chance to vent my frustrations while helping to educate a fantastic following of health and fitness readers! And that is exactly what today’s post is all about. I went to the gym right after work and I had been looking forward to hitting the heavy bag all day. However, for the fifth time in three weeks, I was promptly shoo-ed out of the heavy bag room to make way for an army of aerobic-robots.

Now, I consider myself to be a very respectful guy but unfortunately, I can no longer hold back when it comes to aerobics. Here were my initial thoughts on the encounter:

The aerobics instructor looked like an out of shape high school kid… why would anyone take fitness advice from someone like that??
I’m sorry, but 99% of the people in the class were out of shape
The movements that they were doing could not be considered challenging on any level (keyword: challenging)

It was these thoughts that got me to thinking about aerobics as a fitness routine. In the past, I’ve always given this workout the benefit of the doubt, rationalizing that some people would never work out if it weren’t for aerobics classes. But when you actually break down the type of activity required from aerobics as well as the results attained from it, you will see that all aerobics classes do is hold you back from your goals in health and fitness. Here’s why:

High Pace Is NOT Equal To High Intensity

Most defenders of aerobics claim that there are very few workouts that can match the pace of these specific classes. Unfortunately, a fast pace workout will only provide you with fitness results when you are being challenged physically. That doesn’t mean that you need to have heavy dumbbells involved per se, seeing as body weight circuits do provide fantastic results (ahem, Craig B). But the positioning of aerobics movements are meant to take stress off of your body as a whole to isolate specific muscles… without enough weight to challenge you! Therefore, results are limited.

Take Advice From People Who Are In Shape!

This is the single most tragic commentary in the fitness community… across the board. When the spokesperson of your specific workout style (aerobics) is Richard Simmons, you have serious problems folks!! Granted, there are plenty of instructors out there that teach aerobics that are in fact in shape, but I’d be willing to bet my bottom dollar that they engage in much different workouts when it’s time for their own personal fitness session. That’s why you only see them doing aerobics when they’re teaching a class… not a coincidence.

On the flip side, take a look at these boxers and their physiques. Now, don’t you think it’s more likely that they’re hitting the heavy bag as opposed to taking an aerobics class (Oh wait, they conduct interviews during their ACTUAL workouts)? So why wouldn’t you do the same!?

The Gym Should Be For Results, Not Playtime

If you’re looking to pass the time and have some fun, you should do it at home with a DVD. But if you’re really looking to improve your physique, please enjoy and share the gym with others on the same plane. Aerobics classes are simply the grown up version of recess, and trust me, you look much more childish than that kid swinging on the jungle gym after a healthy dose of Elmer’s glue.

In closing, I’d like to extend a personal invitation to any aerobics instructor and/or devoted attendee to pick my brain on how to work out effectively. I will even provide a free workout session to show you a better way to get the body you’ve always wanted (who knows, if we get enough people together we might even be able to have a class). Just realize that you will actually have to work hard and not just spin your wheels.

Possibly Related Posts:

Tags: aerobics, do aerobics work?, do you actually get results from aerobics classes?, fitness, health, is an aerobics class the way to go?, Nutrition, what is the worst workout in the world?, why aerobics don't work, why do people still do aerobics?

16 Responses to “Your Aerobics Class Is Holding You Back”

Susan Greene

Jun 04, 2009

5:13 pm

I’m not sure I understand what exactly you’re objecting to. Is it that you feel aerobics isn’t a real workout? Is it that the people taking the class aren’t fit in your opinion? What should they be doing differently to see results?

I have to admit, I do take aerobics-type cardio classes but I also do weight training. You have me wondering if the cardio classes are a waste of my time.

Reply to this comment
- Andrew
  
  Jun 04, 2009
  
  7:35 pm
  
  Hey Susan,
  
  I’m trying to say that aerobics (A) isn’t a real workout and therefore (B) those who only do aerobics workouts are not fit as a result of it. In order to see more results, they must challenge themselves with either weights, body weight circuits, or some combination therein. That’s not to say there aren’t other ways to get in great shape, it’s just that aerobics alone will not get the vast majority of people where they want to be fitness-wise.
  
  I would argue that you see most of your results from the weight training. If you enjoy the aerobics class as a social endeavor, by all means you should do what makes you happy. But if you’re looking to maximize your results, your efforts could be much better served with High Intensity Interval Training, weight training, body weight exercises, etc.
  
  Thanks for your comment and keep ‘em coming!
  
  All the Best,
  
  Andrew
  
  Reply to this comment
Chelle

Jun 04, 2009

7:04 pm

I don’t think aerobics are a waste of time, but you do have a good point about people who attend aerobics classes but never push themselves or their limits. Ideally you need both aerobics and strength training if you want to see the best results.

Reply to this comment
- Andrew
  
  Jun 04, 2009
  
  7:38 pm
  
  But the point is that the nature of aerobics don’t add to the overall benefit of getting a fit physique (because it doesn’t help you build muscle). All you’re really doing is burning calories, and not enough to make a difference. Bump up the intensity for the best results.
  
  All the Best,
  
  Andrew
  
  Reply to this comment
browngrl

Jun 05, 2009

4:51 pm

I work out with a trainer and on my own doing an intense focused workout. I also go to zumba classes (and I walk and I bike and I dance)- not so much for the work out per se but because it is a fun activity. I like to encorporate fun activities that get me up and moving as part of my overall healthy lifestyle. I think everyone should workout AND encorporate lots of fun activities as well. You are too judgemental - maybe some of those people you saw aerobicizing were doing the same thing as me - having fun after doing a proper workout earlier.

Reply to this comment
- Andrew
  
  Jun 05, 2009
  
  9:57 pm
  
  Hey browngrl,
  
  I totally get the premise behind the “fun activities” concept that you speak of. However, in this particular article as is the case with the overall theme of the site in general, I am always looking to point my readers in the direction of both health and fitness ideas/concepts/suggestions which will provide people with the greatest overall results. And while aerobics may be fun, that specific activity in and of itself does not produce fitness results.
  
  Now, I would be all for SHARING the gym, however, most aerobics classes do not allow other people to work out in the same room/area while a class is in session. Therefore, why should an activity (which does not produce the greatest results… a.k.a. the most fundamental reason why people work out) be given exclusivity over another activity, which does provide results?? It just doesn’t make sense to me. My biggest beef with aerobics is that those particular classes do not possess the same respect for gym space as other work outs exhibit (such as “working in” in weightlifting, a time limit on cardio machines, or alternating teams on a basketball court).
  
  That being said, as long as we all show each other a mutual respect, staying active is always a plus in my book (when compared to a sedentary lifestyle)! Thanks for your comment!
  
  All the Best,
  
  Andrew
  
  Reply to this comment
Susan Greene

Jun 06, 2009

4:50 am

Andrew, you wrote: “Why should an activity (which does not produce the greatest results… a.k.a. the most fundamental reason why people work out) be given exclusivity over another activity, which does provide results?? It just doesn’t make sense to me.”

Here’s your answer: Because the gym is a business. The owners want to make money, just like any other business owner. Offering those aerobics classes is a way to entice a group of members, the unfit types in your opinion, to join the gym and pay their montly dues.

Aerobics are a draw and appeal to a specific demographic. If you eliminated those classes, do you think those class attendees would play hoop or hang in the weight room? Probably not. Instead, they’d go find a gym that offered the classes they enjoy.

Also, you may be underestimating the benefits of those classes. Of course, I don’t know about those offered at your particular gym. But I do attend at least 5 classes a week at my gym, and they’re all extremely challenging. The instructors really push you to work your hardest and to teach you the right way to do the exercises so that you maximize their effectiveness and avoid injury. Plus, the comraderie of working out with others helps keep you motivated.

Sorry, Andrew, I can’t agree with your post. Yes, you’re a member of the gym. But you’re not EVERY member. Different strokes for different folks.

Reply to this comment
- Andrew
  
  Jun 08, 2009
  
  8:00 pm
  
  Susan,
  
  Thank you for the well thought out response to my comment. While I see where you are coming from and God knows that I, along with many others, understand the camaraderie that any activity at the gym provides. However, my point is simply that the act of exclusivity over a common area in a membership based business such as a gym is completely absurd. And to add insult to injury, the very activity being given exclusivity in this case is one that in my opinion, does not provide the greatest number of results for the greatest amount of people. I may not have conveyed that point strongly enough, but it is the foundation for this particular post.
  
  I would be more than happy to place a retraction for this post if and only if all aerobic classes around the world realize that a gym is something that should be shared and enjoyed by everyone. After all, I would never ever ask someone to leave the room while I was hitting the heavy bag because I was taught to mind my own business and worry about myself as opposed to others.
  
  By the way, I was unable to hit the heavy bag today because of the Monday back-to-back-to-back aerobics type classes. It’s a crying shame.
  
  Thank you again for your thoughtful comments and I hope this response has helped to shed some light on my views on the subject.
  
  All the Best,
  
  Andrew
  
  Reply to this comment
Tuscanystone

Jun 06, 2009

4:59 pm

harsh Andrew! I suggest join a gym that has a separate dance class room so people enjoying themselves dont annoy you. I’ve never even heard of an aerobics class taking president over a gym room. Weird!

As for you not seeing results. Dont really understand what you’re on about. Surely its gotta be better than sitting on your arse? Like badminton, or basketball or any other sport, aerobics is an enjoyable ACTIVITY!! End of! You want a 6 pack, then that’s fine, but some of us just want to remain active and enjoy our life.

Lighten up mate! lol

Tusc

Reply to this comment
- Andrew
  
  Jun 08, 2009
  
  8:10 pm
  
  I know where you’re coming from, and if we all were able to share I would be totally cool about the situation. But I work hard all day, do my research and then write a post, and then all I want to do is the workout I feel like (same as the aerobics people) and I simply can’t because these classes think that they have the right to claim stake of that part of the gym. I had to take a pot-shot at them because they are keeping me from my goals, and I don’t like that since I don’t keep them from their goals (whether it be remaining active or whatever). It’s just very frustrating and I felt like venting a little, trust me it helped!
  
  Why can’t we all just get along and share??? It’s a concept that grade schoolers know how to execute, but not aerobics instructors apparently.
  
  All the Best,
  
  Andrew
  
  Reply to this comment
THOMAS

Jun 20, 2009

7:25 am

Hello guys, i just bumped into the thoughts and comments predominantly from Andrew and Susan.
As a Fitness Instructor and a Personal Trainer i “totally” understand where Andrew is coming from and i “totally” understand where Susan is coming from.
If both of you don’t mind i want to share my experiences, and personal thoughts and some facts.
Ok, Andrew is trying to in plain english explain what gives you results, what workouts gives you results what “time wasting workouts” can and cannot do.

Susan, aerobics is a fantastic way to build cardiovascular fitness, nobody can argue this fact. It’s also motivating as well because the music is pumping and there are 30 other people in the class doing the same thing as you are.

Both regular carivascualr (aerobics), and weight training (anaerobics) when done as a routine it will create boredom and you wont even realize it. I have seen people at various gyms performing the same workout whether it’s aerobics or weight training and they still have the same body as they first started out with as i used to see them day day out for more than 5 years.

Andrew’s point is totally “results oriented”. There is scientific evidence that has been practically demonstrated by top level exercise science/human movement professors at universities all over the world that, weight training has much greater benefits than aerobic based exercises. Now, this doesn’t mean aerobics doesn’t work or people shouldn’t do it. When the issue is creating that physique you dream of then you really do have to do your homework about realistic training, nutrition, psychology (mental toughness). With serious weight training you only have to spend no more than 45 minutes. If a weight trainer is spending more than 45 minutes and they do, then he/she doesn’t know what they are doing, being lazy, or they are totally unfit. This is where aerobic exercise is of benefit to weight training. For realistic results of aerobic (cardiovascular fitness) the intensity must be high in an interval format. Take a look at professional 100 metre sprinters. Do you think they run long distances and do 100 laps to get cardiovascualr fitness? The answer is NO. Have you seen how toned, muscular and well defined their body’s are? They do 2 types of serious training to get that shredded body they have. 85% of the time they hit the weights, that’s right more than they do sprint training, and yet they are 100 metre sprinters.

I think the best way to sum up all the comments and constructive arguments i have read, is that you need a well balanced combination of ALL types of exercise. Weights matter in fact do come first or should have more priority over others. You need aerobics as well, how else are you going to breathe???

I have always found and recommended Martial Arts training in Pure western Boxing, Muay Thai (thai boxing) and brasilian jiu jitsu as an ‘EXCELLENT, FUN, STRESS KILLING, FAT BLASTING” aerobics exercise. I think you will gain more benefits from these than your average aerobics classes in a gym.

Yours in Health and Fitness.
Tom

Reply to this comment
- Andrew
  
  Jun 22, 2009
  
  7:35 pm
  
  Hey Tom,
  
  Great comment! I think you really summed up the argument nicely, as well as made an astute observation pertaining to the direction of life-long fitness, or what it should be. Can I still rag on aerobics though?? lol
  
  All the Best,
  
  Andrew
  
  Reply to this comment
LBSS

Jul 28, 2009

7:37 pm

Good post and I generally agree, but don’t be so quick to denigrate recess. It’s incredibly important for kids to run around during the day without any kind of adult direction. Many people have written about the reasons why, so I won’t get into specifics. I’ll just say that it’s awfully insulting to recess to compare it to aerobics classes.

Reply to this comment
- Andrew
  
  Jul 29, 2009
  
  6:01 pm
  
  LBSS,
  
  Yes, I agree with you that recess is a fantastic concept… but aerobics is not unfortunately.
  
  All the Best,
  
  Andrew
  
  Reply to this comment
Studio Element Personal Training

Sep 01, 2009

5:30 pm

My only beef with many aerobic classes is that they are sometimes instructed by people who are not very educated in health and fitness. I am quite particular since my entire staff at Studio Element Personal Training are degreed and certified.

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Jun 14, 2009

[...] burn fat or burn time. Today’s episode of Sunday Funday is all about the latter. While my own proclivity towards aerobics is well documented by this point, even I can admit that there are varying degrees of uselessness [...]

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