Questioning the effectiveness of barre workouts...

[RedPanda]

Originally Posted by Judith L

I don't think I've ever heard of barre workouts promoted as a way of losing weight or getting muscle definition. "Long lean muscles" refers more to the way the muscle is developped, I believe, not "getting skinny". I've never considered "toning" to necessarily involve muscle definition. And I've never looked to barre workouts as the most efffective way to burn calories.

I was just thinking that. Not every form of exercise will - or is intended to - burn calories, or create muscle definition.

Nor is every form of exercise the be-all-and-end-all.

I do barre workouts - as part of a well-rounded workout regime - mainly for the aesthetic results, and to improve my balance, and to work the smaller muscles around my hips and bootay. But mainly for the aesthetic results, and I'm telling you - my pants do not lie!

[Sue B]

I don't know a whole lot about barre workouts, but flipping through the barre/ballet workouts on Total Fitness DVDs, a lot of the covers do have blurbs about burning fat or burning calories.

[Lucky Star]

Originally Posted by Sue B

I don't know a whole lot about barre workouts, but flipping through the barre/ballet workouts on Total Fitness DVDs, a lot of the covers do have blurbs about burning fat or burning calories.

Exactly. P57 & Bar Method mention calorie burning frequently.

[Hej]

They are not lying when they claim that the workout burns calories. Contraction of large muscle groups does burn calories. Actually, contraction of any muscle burns calories when I come to think of it.

Body weight exercises can require more strength than other types of "resistance" workouts--I'm thinking of the pushup, tricep dip, plank, pullup variations in various barre workouts. I must say, I've gained what I consider genuine strength from them that I didn't get from other types of workouts. And the balance work in some of them is amazing.

I dunno. Brynn Jinnett is most certainly a highly qualified professional, but I think she has a bit of an axe to grind...

[Carb8985]

Originally Posted by Lucky Star

Exactly. P57 & Bar Method mention calorie burning frequently.

P57 and Bar Method have been reported to burn somewhere between 400 and 500 calories per session. That seems like a reasonable amount to expect from a total body workout.

My boyfriend who is doing P90x right now has a HRM and it reports that he burns somewhere between 400 and 500 calories for the weight workouts (more for the Yoga and Plyo).

Sounds pretty good to me.

[JP44]

Originally Posted by Carb8985

P57 and Bar Method have been reported to burn somewhere between 400 and 500 calories per session. That seems like a reasonable amount to expect from a total body workout.

My boyfriend who is doing P90x right now has a HRM and it reports that he burns somewhere between 400 and 500 calories for the weight workouts (more for the Yoga and Plyo).

Sounds pretty good to me.

I like barre workouts very much but I only burned 150 calories doing P57 Classic 1. Conversely, I burn about 400 doing Booty Barre 1. I think it depends on the bar workout. I don't think the Bar Method ones burn very much. Dancers Body might be the only exception.

However, I do Barre workouts for the toning/strengthening/flexibility benefits, rather than the calorie burn. I have like several things going crappy in my life right now & Barre workouts are a nice zen place for me.

I agree w/ Hej that the author is mainly interested in self-promotion. Not sure why she wants to burn bridges w/ her previous employers to build up her own business.


Joan

[Carb8985]

Originally Posted by JP44

I like barre workouts very much but I only burned 150 calories doing P57 Classic 1. Conversely, I burn about 400 doing Booty Barre 1. I think it depends on the bar workout. I don't think the Bar Method ones burn very much. Dancers Body might be the only exception.

Joan

Now I'm curious! I have never actually measured my own calorie burn. Like you, I don't do barre to burn calories, but because I love the workouts and the aesthetic and functional results. I'll have to borrow my BF's HRM and do some research

FWIW, most people across the web report burning somewhere between 250-350 calories for P57 classes, but maybe those are the live classes.

In any case, thanks for sharing your thoughts!

[JP44]

Originally Posted by Carb8985

Now I'm curious! I have never actually measured my own calorie burn. Like you, I don't do barre to burn calories, but because I love the workouts and the aesthetic and functional results. I'll have to borrow my BF's HRM and do some research

FWIW, most people across the web report burning somewhere between 250-350 calories for P57 classes, but maybe those are the live classes.

In any case, thanks for sharing your thoughts!

I think it depends on the number of push ups & length/type of lower body work. I bet P57 Express burns more than P57 Classic, especially when you add on the killer 'bonus' work at the end of Express.

The Classic has more 'down time' than the Express & the Bar Methods (led by Burr) have eternal set up time.

I haven't measured calorie burn for the 2nd vol. of P57.

I use a GoWearFit to measure calorie burn.

Joan

[Barbara P]

Originally Posted by neatski

Interesting.

Then again- some people are more focused on the visual effects of a workout rather than strength building or health advantages.

this is sooo true. So many focus solely on calories burned, weight lost. There is a whole lot more to fitness than that.

I do barre alot, if there were Refine DVDs I would probably try them.

I also swim, run, do step,pilates, yoga, fusion workouts, lift weights - in short, I do a lot of things.

I find it very off-putting though when one touts one particular type of workout as the be-all and end-all for all.

I really think a balanced approach is what works for most people, and it most definitely works for me.

If I did just one, or even two, types of workouts, I would bored stiff. Even if it were swimming, which will always be my #1 and I've been doing 5-6 days a week (and for years every day) for 31 years.

[acta5534]

I've never count calories lost when doing barre. I just know I've lost tons of weight and kept it off from doing it. I'm not sure what her motive is for writing that article, but it's not gonna stop me from doing barre. It's the only thing that has worked for me.