Heaviest Person In My Pole Class

peachyyy started this discussion · 5/27/2012

I'm 5'4 and 152 lbs, so I'm not super overweight, but I am still chubby. I used to be almost 50 lbs lighter than what I am now. There are only four other people besides me in my pole class, and they are all extremely fit. I feel really embarassed when I can't hold myself up for very long, or when I struggle during burpees or other conditioning exercises my teacher has us do. My class only meets once a week, and I have trouble with my confidence because everyone else is so fit and picks things up so easily. I'm trying to eat healthier so I can shed the pounds, but does anyone have any tips for getting stronger on the pole fast?

8 replies

JeHanne · 5/27/2012
You can experience gains in your strength after each workout and recovery but don't rush yourself. You want to allow yourself a steady challenge but also enought time to recover and refresh for the next workout. Keep doing exactly what you are doing. Many people say the best way to improve at pole, is to be on the pole. If you are doing conditioning exercises in class that you can do at home a few times a week that may also help you with general conditioning. Do not be embarassed that you can't hold yourself up right now. Even fit people have struggled with that. Before pole how many times did you actively support your entire body weight while hanging off of something? You will get stronger with each class and exercise session. Be proud of yourself!
peachyyy · 5/27/2012
Thank you! I never thought of it like that before.
Krista Bocko · 5/27/2012
When I do conditioning in my classes I always try to incorporate some that students can easily do at home (ie don't req a pole) and I encourage them to do so. Anything you can do outside of pole class will be great!
Veena · 5/27/2012
Unfortunately, attending a class once a week is not enough to build up strength. Don't be discouraged though. the girls had some great advice. Like they said, there are always things you can do at home, even if you don't have a pole.🥂 If you are interested there are strength and conditioning lessons here on the site. You do not need a pole for these, they can be done with a wall or door way! Working on strength 3 times a week leaving a rest day in between workouts is a great start to building up strength! ❤️
MelCat · 5/27/2012
EVERYBODY has different strengths. Emphasize the ones you have and be proud of them. You're going to notice others excel at the things you struggle with just because it's so easy to focus in on that. But you have no idea the things you do others might be struggling with and envying you for! For instance, I have a girl in one of my classes who was trained in ballet growing up, did belly dancing for a few years, and when she starts to dance it is a full on performance. And you can tell every other woman in the room is envious of her confidence, fluidity, grace, and sexiness when she dances. But all she can focus on is her struggles with split grip spins as she's been working on them for months. So she forgets all of her strengths due to her slower progress with that. Others have the same happen when it comes to climbing: Suzie could have the 3 gorgeous spins that Mary can't get, but Suzie just notices how Mary seems to climb the pole so effortlessly. Keep building your strength, and always look for the things that you ROCK in class. And be proud how you can keep adding things to those list as you progress :)
jade s · 5/28/2012
Try not to be so hard on yourself. When I started 3 yrs ago, I was 5'3" and about 140lbs, plus in a class with ladies who were accomplished dancers. Until about the last 8 months, I was pretty much stuck at a basic invert and climb being the most advanced tricks I could do. Partly because I didn't have the strength, and partly because of my lack of confidence that I couldn't do much more than that. I'm down to 120 now, and I've found an instructor that knows when I'm ready for a new trick even when I don't think I am. I'm doing things now that I never thought in a million years I would be able to do. The thing is...just don't give up! Try not to get discouraged or compare yourself to others. Work on your body movement while building your strength, and you will get there!
Ophidia · 5/29/2012
Im glad you're trying something challenging for yourself! As others have said, be allow yourself to progress at your rate and try not to compare yourself too much. From a teachers perspective, I am always amazed by the bravery of a student for whom pole is more challenging than others but who sticks with it and charts their own improvement at their own pace. From a personal perspective, I know that everyone struggles with some feelings of being "less than", especially in a room full of other women who we want acceptance from. For me, pole is a journey that has helped me in many ways, and sometimes my struggles end up helping me find unexpected strengths and build a personal style:) Good luck!
Former member · 5/29/2012
How long have they been poling though? We could be comparing apples to oranges, you know? It's so hard not to compare ourselves with others but that's time wasted which could be spent celebrating what you CAN do and what you HAVE progressed on. Veena's right though, one time per week isn't enough to gain the strength you need. Definitely check out the lessons on this site, Veena's the best and her lessons do a great job breaking things down so you know exactly what you're working. And I bet you the girls you envy are feeling insecure about their abilities too :) xoxoxo