A few different questions.

bformosa922163 started this discussion · 7/18/2013

Hello Polers I have a few questions 1) have any of you lost a significant amount of weight by pole dancing? 2) if so, what did you eat while losing the weight and how many times a week did you pole? 3) did you pole just at home, at a studio or both? 4) what was included in your lessons and how did you integrate studio veena in your sessions? Last question I have is: Have any of you had any self esteem issue that pole dancing has cured? Please explain. Would you prefer pole dancing just at home or a studio? The reason for asking these questions is because I have had some self esteem issues due to my weight. Since increasing my fitness activities, my self esteem issues have been slowly fading. Thanks in advance.

23 replies

ScoopAway · 7/19/2013
Ummmm this is the best thing for all of the above. I eat the same as I used to (weighed 155 lbs) and go to a studio to pole three times a week. In the last month I've lost ten pounds. WITHOUT CHANGING MY DIET (though for awesome results eat healthy!) I also feel inspired all of the time. And just happy to have something to think about and work on. Some people might judge you for it though. Just as a heads up.
bformosa922163 · 7/19/2013
Thanks for a reply. Yeah I've been hip hop dancing for 7 years and started pole dancing 2 months ago. I've lost weight in the past and have only just learnt the art of maintaining my weight. Everyone in my life knows that I pole dance and they don't have a problem with it (lucky for me), but if strangers give me a weird look, I'll defend my choice of pole dancing and attempt to inform them. It's good that you've lost weight on a balanced diet. I'm not a big fan of the word diet, I think if you are going to lose weight, make it your lifestyle.
chemgoddess1 · 7/19/2013
Pole dancing does so much for the mind and soul it is hard to explain. Studio time seems to enhance this tenfold. First, it is a a time just for YOU. Many studios have you exploring your emotions through dance and that in itself is healing. Women are drilled that if you are not a size 2 then you are not sexy and studios totally dismiss that. There really is something healing about hip circles and body rolls that make you feel sexy again....you can't NOT feel sexy doing them. In most studios there is no competition with one another and just total support. There is a learning to love being in your own skin. All of these things do wonders for your self esteem, not to mention getting fit along the way. There are a bunch of blogs out there about this exact phenomenon. As I started, it is hard to explain and put into words. But it is magical!
frenchhornprof · 7/19/2013
I've been pole dancing for a year and I haven't lost much weight to speak of, but I have gained some awesome muscle. I love seeing the women on here who aren't stick thin but can bust some crazy moves. I eat healthily, and am working on eating fewer processed foods. I usually pole 3-5 days a week, and this summer I've been going to a studio once a week. I use Veena's stretching to increase flexibility and lessons for getting my form right on moves. To address the self esteem issue, the best thing pole has done for my perception of my body image is to be okay with my cellulite. Most media erases the fact that it exists, is normal, and can even be present in very skinny people depending on their body. Even though I don't have that athletic body that would be nice to have, pole has been the one thing to help me be more happy with the body I currently have. I really like going to the studio because it challenges me in ways I don't always get at home. Plus, there are all body types at the studio, and most people are encouraging. In my experience people tend not to be too concerned with how much a person weighs because we're all so busy achieving our next goals on the pole.
bformosa922163 · 7/19/2013
Very true. Media tend to be unrealistic and make people feel bad about the skin they are in. As for cellulite, I find that after I have done a workout, it disappears but then comes back again. Since starting pole dancing, it has helped me be comfortable in my own skin, but as I am only doing it at home, I am starting to feel that I need to be more challenged and finding it hard to set goals for myself. Can anyone recommend a good studio in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia)?
water · 7/21/2013
check out Bobbi's studio in Melbourne
bformosa922163 · 7/21/2013
Ok thanks, will have a look
Koidragon · 7/22/2013
Um, correct me if I am wrong, but I don't think there is a Bobbi's in Melbourne? - I had this question just recently and posted it (it's a pretty recent post) and there were some very helpful responses if you want to check it out - but Bobbi's (which is meant to be an incredible studio) is in Perth, Sydney, Singapore and Malaysia according to their website.
water · 7/22/2013
I must be wrong then, I thought they have-or had a studio in Melbourne. Sorry if I gave a misinformation :)
Koidragon · 7/22/2013
OR there might be a secret santa Bobbi's that we aren't allowed to know about until we are chosen...
water · 7/22/2013
Maybe so :) a few years back I was very close to go there and take a waitressing job at my friends restaurant there just so I can go to Bobbi's :D
Koidragon · 7/22/2013
To be fair I should answer the OP's questions considering the hijacking going on :) 1) have any of you lost a significant amount of weight by pole dancing? I wouldn't say I have lost a significant amount of weight, but I have definitely lost some, and I have made amazing strength gains - which is a big claim with my fitness history. Mind you, I am very much enjoying the ways my body is changing with pole. 2) if so, what did you eat while losing the weight and how many times a week did you pole? I train around 3 times a week, with those three having a full day in between and are longer intense sessions. I eat all day - grazing, making sure I get enough protein, vegetable and carbs without too much sugar. I tend to find though the better you treat your body, the more your body craves the good and healthy stuff. 3) did you pole just at home, at a studio or both? I am predominately in a studio, although I do do exercises to help with pole outside of the studio. 4) what was included in your lessons and how did you integrate studio veena in your sessions? In my studio lessons there is a warm up, a lot of conditioning and then technique. In my own stuff I use a combination of conditioning and strength and flexibility exercises - Whilst I have not tried Veena's lessons as yet, I understand they are quite comprehensive. However having such access to some incredible instructors as well as having been a personal trainer and MA instructor for many years, I haven't yet taken the Veena plunge, and am here more for forum and community. Last question I have is: Have any of you had any self esteem issue that pole dancing has cured? Please explain. Would you prefer pole dancing just at home or a studio? Absolutely, specifically with stretch marks and the fact that I am, and always will be, taller and curvier. Even with my years of training, even when I had a rock hard visible 6-pack, I had a bum and boobies. Seeing women of all shapes and sizes (and ages) running around in itty bitty shorts and not blinking an eyelid at what anyone might see simply because it isn't about aesthetics has given me a new happiness in my own form. More than this though, it stops being about your body. We have too much focus (I am very guilty of this) in how we look, what we want to look like, how we think we should look and how others think we look. Pole is so much more than this, if you can open yourself up to it.
bformosa922163 · 7/22/2013
Yeah I had a look at Bobbi's studio, there isn't a studio in Melbourne unfortunately. And I agree, most women tend to focus on how they look instead of accepting the skin they are in. I am so guilty of this and my fiance' is always telling me not to worry about what people think of me, but sometimes I can't help it. I'm starting to like the idea of taking up lessons from a studio because I'm having trouble structuring my lessons at home. Is it better to have a friend go with you?
Koidragon · 7/22/2013
I think it is different for everyone - personally, whilst I have indeed brought many new people to pole (to share the love and bruises and pain), I am very happy just going by myself, as I prefer to really get into my 'pole' headspace when I am there. Trust me, within a lesson or two at a studio, you will meet new people anyway. Also taking a few studio lessons may give you some different ideas for your own home structure training - but the biggest thing for me (and why, for myself, even with a pole at home I go to my studio) is that there are very advanced polers with critical eyes able to see when you aren't engaging somewhere, or have just this one little thing wrong which is the reason you can't nail that move. The machine gun as an example - there is no way I would have worked how to do that on my own, and it is a super easy move once you know the trick :)
bformosa922163 · 7/22/2013
Very true. I think I would be able to progress more at a studio. Might have a look into it this weekend. :) Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of time during the week to practise so all my pole time is on the weekend.
Koidragon · 7/22/2013
I think a combination of the both is best - and don't get me wrong, in a perfect world I would be super motivated and do all of my training at home. But, going to the studio is also a really great head-space thing - as soon as I walk in those doors it just feels great. ANd I have learnt a whole bunch of moves/combinations simply because I watched someone in open practice and said 'Corr, how did you do that?' :)
Jag5303 · 7/22/2013
I went from a size 8/10 to a 2 ( total of 30 lbs) doing nothing but pole! 3-4 hours a week
Palace · 7/22/2013
Jag, how long did it take you to lose the 30 pounds?
Jag5303 · 7/22/2013
I'd say about a year. I was building strength that whole time as well. If I had hit the pole with some strength already under my belt I'm sure it would have happened faster, but I was a weakling. Like...could barely pick up a gallon of milk kind of weak!? Now.....I carry allll the groceries on one arm to save myself a trip. Because...aint nobody got time for multiple trips to the car to unload groceries 😉
Palace · 7/22/2013
Thank you for sharing. Do you have before and after pics? That is awesome. So how did you build your strength?
bformosa922163 · 7/23/2013
Hahahaha jag that is very true. I'll do the same thing. My fiancé doesn't like it though because he always wants to try to be the man.
calipolepixie · 7/23/2013
1) Have you lost weight since starting pole dancing Not through pole dance alone but I know alot of girls have been able to lose significant weight with pole dancing as their only exercise. However, I am one of those girls that has to do multiple forms of exercise in order to lose significant weight. I have to do cardio 2-3x week, weight training, pole and diet/healthy eating constantly in order to lose significant weight. I have lost inches more than weight from doing pole. I have toned up and gained muscle. 2) if so, what did you eat while losing the weight and how many times a week did you pole? I am a low carb dieter have been for over 5 years...I only eat carbs 1x a day(sometimes less depending on my mood) and I eat ALOT of veggies, salads, fruits and drink tons of water & coconut water. I pole 2-3x a week. 3) did you pole just at home, at a studio or both? I was poling at a studio and doing SV lessons for close to a year but a few months ago I quit going to the studio due to finances and for the last few months, I have been solely learning on my own using SV lessons and other web pole tutorials. I enjoyed the studio lessons and miss it sometimes but I have been progressing well learning on my own with SV lessons and with the support of my friends here on SV and in the pole community :) 4) what was included in your lessons and how did you integrate studio veena in your sessions? When I went to the studio, I enjoyed the group interaction and 1-on-1 help from the teacher but I also had SV lessons while I was going to the studio because it was a great supplement to what I learned in class. Also SV's lessons often taught me things that I DIDN'T learn in class or different ways to get in and out of moves, which I didn't often get in studio classes. In many ways, I found SV lessons more proactive in my progress in pole, than studio lessons. Last question I have is: Have any of you had any self esteem issue that pole dancing has cured? Please explain. Would you prefer pole dancing just at home or a studio? I did have self esteem issues--past anorexic and just felt terrible about my body after my 3 rd baby. I had lost all confidence and didn't feel sexy anymore. Pole awakened my sexy, made me feel comfortable in my own skin, it's powerful, addictive and liberating. Pole has made me strong, brave, fearless and proud to be me. I'm special and unique and pole allows me to express who I am and how I feel and that is the most amazing feeling. Pole has changed my life. Like I said above, I have danced in a studio and learned solely at home. I like both for different reasons, however now as a more advanced poler, I am finding that learning at home and attending workshops occasionally, has been more indicative to my progress :)
abcollins1 · 7/23/2013
Veggies and fruits are carbs.... if you are eating a lot of veggies/fruits, your carbs may not necessarily be low in relation to the rest of your diet. Be sure to eat adequate protein and fats as well... a lot of women say they are "low carb" but what they mean is that they have cut back on grains, not necessarily carbs. Unless you are specifically tracking cals and grams you do not know if you are truly low carb or not. Usually when we talk about true low carb diets, we are talking about 100 grams or less of carbs per day, which is not a lot of foods if you are eating a lot of starchy veggies. For instance, 1 medium potato is about 40 carbs, acorn and butternut squashes are also starchy and tend to be higher veggies in carbs... so if you are having troube losing weight, its important to track.