Step versus Zumba - which gets the best results?

Those of you that come to Zumba know that it is great for sculpting the body and toning those muscles, however, those of you that come to step swear by fantastic looking legs, toned arms through the resistance bands and the most amazing abs when we do that amazing gut busting workout!

Well, I was curious to find out what the results would be when we did an actual comparison and some of the results were startling! I did an Internet search and came up with the the following information from the official Zumba forum for Zumba instructors.

Average Step Figures

659 calories burned
131 heart rate
29 minutes in target heart rate

Average Zumba Figures

822 calories burned
146 heart rate
42 minutes in target heart rate

Observations

Zumba is more fun!
Zumba music definitely encourages movement.
Step focuses a mot on a lower body workout. Despite using big arm movements, step leaves out hip movements but definitely works the core in a different way.
Step students all had amazing lower body strength.
Zumba moves incorporate many body parts simultaneously.
Zumba intervals were more distinct.
Zumba class reached their target heart rate quicker and kept it there for longer.
Step students felt like they could go on longer than the Zumba students.
Zumba students were exhausted at the end of the class.

This research was done in America and the step students had obviously never been to a class like mine as my participants are sure to agree!

I think ANY exercise is better than none and just because one is 'deemed' better than another may not necessarily be true for everyone. We are individuals after all. There is certainly no reason to be saying that you are not doing a class because it is no deemed as effective as something else only to then do nothing!!!

Another important note this week. I have been noticing how people go from extremes of motivation and whilst I am puzzled you HAVE to remember one thing - YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU AND ONLY YOU.

I LOVE fitness and in that respect I am very lucky. I passionately hope that you will learn to love exercise and activity and enjoy it and want to do it but I cannot create that feeling in you, that has to come from within and wont happen to everyone. For those that it doesn't happen to, you have to stay focused and committed and keep that end result in mind. I am here for you to support, motivate and encourage but I cannot do it for you -- if only it were that easy!

Okay, lecture over! I have been in Hereford this weekend and after breakfast this morning we all went out, sister, brother in law and three kids and went for a lovely walk despite the wind and rain. You can only get wet once right? It was refreshing, exhilarating and I feel great now sat here typing this. You may not see it as conventional exercise but it all counts - don't put yourself down. Be PROUD of what you have achieved. See everything in life in a positive frame of mind, negativity drags you down - stay away from it and stay focused and there is nothing that you cannot achieve.

Have a great week!