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Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Next Pole Goal: THE BACKBEND

So, as I've said many, many times, I'm not very bendy in certain directions.  For example, I can completely fold in half if I'm bending forward, but my spine barely moves if I try to go backwards.  So, I've decided to make the backbend one of my pole goals.  I'm actually using a lot of yoga techniques to get myself there (here's another article about yoga).  Since I do so much hunching forward:  typing on the computer, spinning on a bike, etc., walking is painful because, as my physical therapist says, that's the closest my spine comes to bending backward. 

So I am trying to be more cognizant of my posture and spend a little time doing moves that cause me to bend backward.  And eventually I WILL do a backbend!









From Pilates on the Pole's Facebook page

Monday, February 21, 2011

Couch to 5k update...six weeks in

I am starting week six of the couch to 5k program.  The program lasts for nine weeks total.  You can check out the link above, Facebook, Twitter...it's becoming quite a popular program.  I downloaded an iPhone app which helps a lot because it tells you when to switch between running and walking.  And it's working for me!

Here's the schedule:

Week Workout 1 Workout 2 Workout 3
1 Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes. Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes. Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.
2 Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes. Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes. Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.
3 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following:
  • Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
  • Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
  • Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes)
  • Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following:
  • Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
  • Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
  • Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes)
  • Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following:
  • Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
  • Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds)
  • Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes)
  • Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)
4 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
  • Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
  • Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
  • Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
  • Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes)
  • Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
  • Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
  • Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
  • Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
  • Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
  • Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
  • Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes)
  • Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
  • Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
  • Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
  • Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
  • Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
  • Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
  • Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes)
  • Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
  • Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds)
  • Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
5 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
  • Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
  • Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
  • Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
  • Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
  • Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
  • Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)
  • Walk 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
  • Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog two miles (or 20 minutes) with no walking.
6 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
  • Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
  • Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
  • Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)
  • Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
  • Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then:
  • Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes)
  • Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes)
  • Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes)
Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2-1/4 miles (or 25 minutes) with no walking.
7 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes). Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes). Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).
8 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes). Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes). Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).
9 Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes). Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes). The final workout! Congratulations! Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).


Basically, I ended week five by jogging for TWENTY MINUTES STRAIGHT.  In week one, I only had to jog for a minute at a time and thought I would die.  I'm really excited to finish the program and am contemplating the Bridge to 10k program to prepare for Bay to Breakers (which is a 12k, or 7.5 miles).  I don't actually plan to run Bay to Breakers, but my back pain has diminished significantly.  I haven't lost any weight per se, but my legs are thinning out noticeably.  The running seems to be working well for me.  Who ever thought I'd be a runner?!  NOT ME!

My next running goal will also include speeding up.  I seem to feel the best when I run 4.5 miles per hour.  That's a pretty slow jog.  But at least I am jogging the entire time.  After I finish the nine weeks, I will run at least once a week, trying to move up to 5 miles an hour -- with an eventual goal of being able to run an entire 5k at 6 miles per hour, which is a 10 minute mile.  Not a marathon pace whatsoever, but fast for me. 

Has anyone else done this program?  I am excited to hear about any changes to your body and mindset. 

PoleSkivvies strikes again!

Jennifer of PoleSkivvies asked me to write a guest blog for her.  And here it is!

http://poleskivvies.com/2011/02/ballet-for-pole-dancers/


Ballet for Pole Dancers

This week, while I’m still reveling in the afterglow of my pinup photo shoot, the fabulous Lori Myers has agreed to help me out with a guest post. You can find more of her writings at her blog, As the World Twirls.

Have you ever met a 200 pound ballerina?

I know, I haven’t either. But I have recently begun incorporating ballet into my workout routine. Not just to benefit my pole practice, but also to amp up my workout in general, get me into shape, and help me move out of the mindset that a big girl can’t dance.

Most people who know me would say my style on the pole is raunchy. 

I like loud, dirty, fast rock music. I gyrate my hips. My friend, Jimmy, says I have a liquid spine and I can wiggle like there’s no tomorrow. I use my overt sexuality on the pole to cover up for the fact that I don’t know how to dance! I played baseball as a kid. I wasn’t taking ballet. I was twice the size of other kids, anyway. I would have been the round girl giggling and stomping the other girls’ feet while the feathery light girls with their hair pulled too tightly into buns pirouetted and danced on their own toes.

I have watched other girls do ballet-inspired pole routines. So beautiful and elegant. Perfect lines. Perfect faces. Perfect legs. That’s so not me, but someday I hope it will be.


I have really started to work on my strength and cardiovascular fitness. I am doing pole once a week at the studio. I have been doing spin (cycling), yoga, running (Couch to 5k), and spending a little time lifting weights. Once the couch to 5k program is over in six weeks, the focus will switch back to lifting more weights so I can get stronger. I am also going to be adding in pilates reformer classes to work on my core. My upper body and core strength really sucks!

Transformation

In order to help the transformation, I have started doing pliés in the five ballet positions. For the first time in my life, my butt almost has a shape (I’ve been doing squats for years, so don’t tell me I need to squat more)! I start with a couple of demi pliés, then three or four grand pliés. I move through each position. I stand in front of the mirror and barre in my tennis shoes and running shorts, surrounded by gym rats who are grunting and lifting heavy things. I try to block out the noises, make my neck look long and graceful, hold my arms out “pretty” and pretend for a minute that I’m actually a ballerina.

It really only takes five or six minutes, but my legs get warmed up pretty quickly and my butt is clearly improving!! 
 
I learned about pliés while taking a burlesque pilates class at The Absolute Center in Lafayette, California. It was a fun class and our instructor, Chelsea, taught us a lot of “quick and dirty” tricks to get into shape. I’ve also noticed a huge difference in my flexibility during my yoga practice, which will help later on as I work toward being able to do the splits.

So now that I have the basic movies down for warm-up, I’m moving on to the arms. When I pole, in particular, I am trying to keep my entire body in mind as I dance. How my legs look, how my arms flow, what my face is doing.

I recently filmed a lap dance/tease video at Twirly Girls Pole Fitness in Pleasanton, California. It started out as a joke between friends and me just acting silly, but after watching myself (and comparing it to a video from a year ago), I am impressed with how much I’ve improved!

Don’t get me wrong … I have a long way to go, but I believe a big girl CAN learn to be a ballerina!

How about you?

Do you like to pole just to do tricks or do you consider yourself a dancer? Do you have any “quick and dirty” tricks to keep yourself in pole-worthy shape?

Lori is great at giving us pole dancers something to think about. Get more of her raunchy, no-holds-barred style at As the World Twirls.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Next Pole Goal: The Splits

So, even though I hit my first real pole goal of inverting four months early, I'm not exactly a regular inverter yet.  I'm considerably larger than most of my classmates, so in the interest of safety (needing a spotter), I have only inverted at two different classes.  I realize I need to strengthen my core, so Andrea has suggested that I hold plank on and off while watching television.

While I am getting ready to further that pole goal, I have set a new one.  THE SPLITS!  I want to be able to do the splits.  I don't even know the difference between regular splits and the "Chinese" splits, but I want to do them.  So, last week, we took a photo in class to see how far down I could get.  I was actually pretty surprised.  I don't have as far to go as I would have thought.  Even with the scars from my inner thigh lift and the fact that I've never been very flexible anyway, I got down pretty low.  I tried again this week, and thanks to running for couch to 5k, I was REALLY sore and stiff and didn't get down quite as far.

But at least I have a starting point...and here it is.

Love that face...hahahaha!!!

Goal:


Tuesday, February 15, 2011

The habits of successful weight loss surgery patients

Before I had surgery, I was told to buy the book, "The Success Habits of Weight-Loss Surgery Patients" by Colleen M. Cook.  I read it before surgery and again after.  You can check it out on Amazon.com HERE

I'm coming up on seven years out.  I'm battling a little bit of weight gain.  So, it's time to get back to basics.  I just pulled my book out to remind myself of the things I should be doing to remain a successful weight loss surgery patient.  I'm going to list her principles, but not explain them here.  I don't want to improperly plagiarize her book, or cause people not to buy it.  I suggest if you are having surgery or have had surgery that you pick this book up.

Principle 1:  Personal Accountability

Principle 2:  Portion Control

Principle 3:  Nutrition

Principle 4:  Fluid Intake

Principle 5:  Regular Exercise

Principle 6:  Vitamins and Supplements

She also talks about getting back on track and a complication she had six years out.

I know this blog entry contains almost no information...but it's a personal reminder that I can get back on track and still be considered a successful gastric bypass patient.  I'm going to start re-reading this book today.

Thank you to the Examiner.com!

Amy Rabinovitz, of the San Jose Fitness Examiner, kindly posted information about the Lovely Rita Fundraiser!  Thank you, Amy!!!

(Note:  The fundraiser this year is April 17, not April 11...we have e-mailed Amy to fix this.)  :-)

http://www.examiner.com/fitness-in-san-jose/twirly-girls-lovely-rita-fundraiser-benefits-national-kidney-foundation


The Lovely Rita Fundraiser organized by the students and teachers of Pleasanton's Twirly Girls Pole Fitness is a benefit for the National Kidney Foundation,  and it's straight from the heart:
One of  their own, Lovely Rita (aka Rita Pearson) is a three-time kidney transplant recipient.

On April 11, 2011 there will be an all-day event at the Twirly Girl's studio 660 Main Street, Pleasanton, Ca 94566 that includes special classes, a silent auction, raffle and recital.
All the money raised goes to the National Kidney Foundation, via Rita's team at the National Kidney Foundation Walk in San Francisco, May 7, 2011.

Last year the Twirly Girls raised nearly $3000 but this year they have redoubled their efforts.  Along with the day-long fundraiser, they created and sold a special 2011 calendar, so there is nearly $1000 in the Lovely Rita fund already. (Click on the slideshow to see a picture from the calendar)

According to the Agency for Healthycare Research and Quality, (which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services), an average of 3.7 million adults in the United States were treated for kidney disease each year between 2003 and 2007. Kidney disease can lead to renal failure and may be caused by diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

This is an energized and committed group of friends and colleagues, and the very best kind of community outreach.  If you've been considering pole fitness (and haven't we all?), head up to the studio and  give it a twirl.

If you like this article, sign up for the spam-free email notifications of future San Jose Fitness Examiner articles, and keep up with  fitness activities and news in Silicon Valley.

Continue reading on Examiner.com: Twirly Girls 'Lovely Rita' Fundraiser benefits National Kidney Foundation - San Jose fitness | Examiner.com http://www.examiner.com/fitness-in-san-jose/twirly-girls-lovely-rita-fundraiser-benefits-national-kidney-foundation#ixzz1E2ufZyvz

Friday, February 11, 2011

Stripping vs. pole fitness

With the recent drama surrounding the breast cancer charity turning down a donation from the American Pole Fitness Association, it brings up the difference between stripping and pole fitness.  Or the lack thereof.  Depending on who you ask, of course.

I've heard both sides, and I get it for the most part.  Pole fitness girls (and boys) want to be taken "seriously" so they try to distance themselves from the "dark and dirty" strippers.  Strippers are offended because they're busting their ass on the pole too.  I can't speak for anyone else, so let me give you my opinion.  I know I've vaguely touched on this before but I want to write more specifically about it. 

I don't hate on strippers.  One blogger put it beautifully...(paraphrasing here, and probably badly at this point, since its been so long since I read the quote)...there are a million ways to get into shape so if you're doing this for fitness, you have to ask yourself why you chose to wrap yourself around a pole. 

***

Side note:  That "quote" is from The Pole Story...GREAT BLOG...and she talks a lot about this subject:

http://polestory.blogspot.com/2010/01/sensual-sexual-side-of-pole.html

http://polestory.blogspot.com/2010/01/pole-dancers-guide-to-anti-poler-part-1.html

http://polestory.blogspot.com/2010/02/pole-dancers-guide-to-anti-poler-part-2.html

Heather also touched upon this subject before:

http://thatshowipole.blogspot.com/2010/01/sadly-stigma-remains.html

Jennifer from PoleSkivvies too!

http://poleskivvies.com/2009/05/strippers-and-pole-dancing/

And Yannori from Express the Sensual:

http://www.expressthesensual.com/2010/02/24/pole-dancing-isnt-just-about-the-tricks/

***

But I digress...

I understand that the general population thinks stripping is essentially the same as prostitution.  And I get that some strippers get into prostitution, but I don't think they all do.  In fact, I know not all do.

I think some women consider stripping an empowerment thing.  They are controlling what the men see and touch.  Others consider that selling your body, even if you aren't having sex with anyone.  To each his own.

I know that in my own class, I am learning to be fit and I am learning to be sexy (and more comfortable with myself -- and with my body and how it looks right now, not 10 pounds or 50 pounds lighter than it is right now).  So, for me to look down on stripping and call myself only a pole fitness enthusiast would be almost disrespectful to the roots of my sport.  I have said on many occasions that if I had a better body and a little more rhythm, I wouldn't be opposed to making some money as a stripper!

I imagine it can be easy to get sucked into drugs or prostitution, making more and more money, etc.  But that is a whole other subject.

So anyway, at the end of the day, I don't care if pole fitness was born from stripping.  It is what it is.  I enjoy what I do, and I can't change history.  If you haven't tried it, before you judge, get on a pole for just one class.  Then come tell me that you don't have just a tiny bit more respect for a stripper who can work the pole!

Monday, February 7, 2011

Strippers get breast cancer too

I just heard that a breast cancer charity turned down a donation from the American Pole Fitness Association today. I guess "stripper" money isn't good enough for them? Considering pole dancing and pole fitness is dominated by women, you'd think they would be all over that. Shame on you! Do charities REALLY have to care about where their donations come from?

Okay, I get it that PETA shouldn't take money from the National Beef Federation or whatever, but why would a breast cancer charity put a moral judgment on pole dancing?

It's really irritating me right now. I hope the APFA decides to publicize the name so I can tell people not to give them their money. They clearly don't need it. If I'm going to passionately fundraise for some charities, I can actively rant against others.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/AmericanPoleFitness