PoleNerd
Forum Replies Created
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Are you still experiencing pain or discomfort? I still think it could be from pressure on your sciatic nerve. Your butt area probably experienced awkward pressure and friction from the bike seat (hehe).
There are many stretches you can do that will alleviate lower back and sciatic pain. Here is an example of one that I've used and it's helped: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqvXv1Lb9xE&feature=related
Sadly I'm not a doctor, but that is my guess. For muscle pain, those magnesium tablets sound interesting. . .I'll have to try them.
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I also have a chrome xpole and it takes a good while (20-30 mins?) to really warm up. I also have to be hot and a bit sweaty. Dry, hairy skin kills grip as as well (I don’t shave much in winter…oops).
Like others said, white vinegar really helps.
To warm up the pole and myself, I just do a lot of spins/movement around the pole and attempt to do moves (though I slide right down). The bottom and top of the pole take the longest to warm up.
It’s all very frustrating if you’re impatient – but the eventual stickiness is so worth it. I’m sure the hotness and humidity of summer will bring a whole different set of issues 😉
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In response to your oher question – I’m not sure how you could incorporate full p90x and poling, unless you substitute – there is only one day of rest, plus poling is intense! Maybe do one day full poling + lower body workout, the next just dancing and strength training?
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First, which program are you doing? I can only speak on the Classic.
I did it for 3 months. I’d say the mind-numbing soreness improved after the first and second week. But keep in mind that the next phase will introduce a while new set of workouts, so the soreness may come back. Also, there will be some days where you give more intensity than others (though Tony wants every day intense).
Are you following the dieT plan? I could NOT do just one serving of carbs per day – it was not enough to get me through weighTs and dreaded plyometrics!
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How often are you eating? You could try going no more than 2-3 hrs between eating to keep you fueled.
It really annoys me when people think the only purpose of working out is to lose weight – thin people need exercise, too.
I had the same issue with toning lower body – dancing in heels really helps! Booty drops are really effective and fun 🙂 I’m also doing a separate ab routine from p90x.
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Where exactly is the aching? It may be pinched nerves, like your sciatic nerve. I sometimes get it after walking in heels all day, which throws my body out of alignment — so achy and uncomfortable! Stretching and heat help, but only time will really heal.
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OK, I sounded like a huge baby -"Doing stuff with my left arm is HARD, wahhh." I'm willing to do more everyday things w/my non-dominant side. . .it's just been difficult so far.
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p.s. constantly weighing yourself and counting calories and food groups may get stressful and discouraging. . .it probably works for some people, though.
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@ennfier2277: it's hard finding that one (or many) motivation(s) to help you keep a healthy diet and exercise reigmen. For me, it got to a point where I just COULDN'T take it anymore: my pants were so uncomfortable, I hated looking in the mirror, and I constantly felt fatigued. I'd say poling was my motivation, since it requires me to be scantily clad in front of a mirror for extended periods, contorting my body in all sorts of ways.
Changing my diet was discouraging and stressful at first, because I wanted immediate results, and I was so used to eating crap all the time. Your body will adjust, though, and your cravings for crappy food will decrease (though it may never go away – which is fine!).
Understand and accept that you will go through an experimental phase. It will take time (weeks?months?) to find what works for you, and what will keep you going.
Perhaps the key to staying on track is to find healthier foods that satiate your cravings. For instance, if I want something sweet, I try to opt for chewing gum, drinking fruity tea, hot chocolate, or adding honey stuff.
It's so easy for food-related things to become stressful and obsessive! Maybe you could practice working out or simply stretching when you get that urge to "emotional binge." Emotional binges are probably the hardest urge to break (I did it all the time when I was a teen).
The good news is that poling gets you in amazing shape, especially if you include a lot of cardio. However, for most people, diet will play a huge role in obtaining that toned, defined look.
Once I started adding more dancing (cardio) to my poling and cutting out most crappy food, I noticed a HUGE difference in how I looked and felt. I no longer cringe when I look in the mirror, and my pants fit again! Plus I have more energy.
The diet that is working for me so far:
-cutting out processed crap (deli meat, chips, cookies, etc.)
-reducing salt, sugar, and saturated fat
-drinking lots of water, tea
-no more binge drinking!
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The inspiration was a combination of going to my first strip club and stumbling across Tara Karina on Youtube. Like ScarlettHoney said, I was also in awe of some of the strippers, and their grace with the pole. . .not to mention their bangin bodies!
In Tara Karina's profile, she mentioned that she started poling as therapy for her mental health issues. For most of college and a year or so after, I seemed to have health issue after health issue, on top of depression and anxiety. So I was looking for physical fitness that would keep me entertained and make me feel strong. I was sick of feeling weak and, well, sick!
I also loved dance and yoga, and pole seemed to strangely combine the two forms. So I stalked Youtube for about a year, and eventually started stalking StudioVeena. I received my first pole in December 2010, enrolled for Veena's lessons in January, and haven't looked back since! I feel healthy and strong. . .I cannot remember the last time I even had a cold! It may not be the pole dancing, but I am sure it is only benefitting my body and well-being.
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Also a fan of p90x's Ab Ripper X. . .there may be some moves you won't be able to do at first, but keep doing it and your muscles will start cooperating, I promise.
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Karol Helms. I may have a crush on her. Love that she looks so fearless and sexy on the pole, yet off the pole she seems sweet, goofy, and shy, almost. Have you guys seen her modeling pics, too? Swoon.
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My cellulite has really been pissing me off/getting me down while I'm pole dancing. I'm pretty proud of what I can do, and I think my body is looking sexy from the pole, but when I do certain moves (particularly split-like moves), the cellulite is overkill! When I do an elbow stand and extend my leg backwards…ew. It's preventing me from doing the move!
I'm thin but have t&a, and with the t&a comes cellulite.
I've noticed it's increased since I started working in an office and gained some weight, but I was under the delusion that poling would help burn it off. My upper body is getting really toned but I haven't noticed a significant difference in my legs and butt…are there any pole tricks I can do to help, or do I have to start incorporating non-pole moves? (squats, etc).
If you saw me, you'd prob be like WTF, ARE YOU INSANE? but all I can focus on right now is my cellulitely, stretch-marky ass and thighs. I love the overall shape of my booty and thighs, but the majority of the great polers appear to be smooth-skinned and lean muscle. ugh. rant over.
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"Stretch marks are often the result of the rapid stretching of the skin associated with rapid growth (common in puberty) or weight gain (e.g. pregnancy, muscle building, or rapid gain of fat) or in some cases, severe pulling force on skin that overcomes the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermis' elasticity"
Maybe it's from the "severe pulling force" from moves like plank, etc?
I notice crazy inner thigh skin pulling when I'm practicing plank, especially since my skin's so dry right now. hope it won't mess up my skin's elasticity!
Can you see a dermatologist?
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agh, sorry Veena…maybe I was thinking of which leg to step with first? That definitely helped me.
Does it actually matter which leg you raise first? I rememer the part where you first placed your inside leg agains the pole, but when you did the move again it looked like you were raising the outside leg first…maybe I just have to watch it again.
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I'm a beginner and this is a move I get, though it's definitely not easy. It uses a lot of bicep and ab strength – my bicep is always sore after practicing this move! Also have bruises where my thigh "rests." That said, I can't hold this move for long.
Have you tried it on both sides?
Also, have you tried it on spin mode? Not sure if Veena would recommend that, but I find it easier.
I found that by lifting my inside leg (the thigh that rests) first helped me 'get it,' though it ultimately made the move more difficult; it's not what Veena shows in her vid. I watched her video about 20 times to understand the movement and learn to lift my outside leg up first.
Think of tilting your body back instead of just lifting your legs up – Veena shows the body tilt (effortlessly, heh) in her video.
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I tried the vinegar last night – it worked so well! I first wiped down the entire pole with vinegar, then wiped my hands with it. The smell was intense at first, since I didn't dilute it. All I could think of was salt and vinegar chips, which made me hungry….hah.
I poled for about an hour, and I only needed to re-wipe the pole and my hands once. It seems like ithe vinegar dissolves the oil on your hands and any grime lingering on the pole.
It did increase thigh chafe and discomfort though – ouch! Probably because my skin was already pretty dry – this winter has sucked.
Anyway, I highly recommend the vinegar for grip! Thank you for the suggestion, Heathalynne!
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sorry, I meant to say I cannot get the Ankle Attitude spin…I keep miscalling it Front Hook Spin. I'm a NOOB!
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You're not crazy or too hard on yourself – perhaps impatient, but aren't we all when it comes to poling! It's so much fun and we all want to do all the tricks.
I find that often when I walk away and come back to something, my brain "gets it" the second (or fifth, or twentieth) time around. Not sure what that's all about.
Don't give up on the knee hold – but if it's stressing you out so much, definitely take a break. Some day when you try it again, you brain just may click and your muscles will get it, though it could merely be a strength thing as you said. That said, you know what you need to do.
Good for you for having so much determination. You may think you are giving up now, but you have stuck with it for a "4 solid months" – that's commitment.
I CANNOT get the front hook spin. While I have only been poling a few months, it baffles me that this move is so difficult, when I can do other intermediate moves and I have strength. While my brain understands how to do it – my body doesn't follow suit, so it may actually just be a strength issue.
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Hi there! Yeah, I've heard good things about Boston Pole Fitness…I'd love to start taking "real life" classes to mix things up (and progress).
When I make it in, I'll be sure to look for a little blonde one – hopefully there won't be more than one!
I've driven down Moody Street so many times and somehow missed SuperShag…so lame. Hopefully I'll check that out soon, too. Thanks for getting back to me, you guys!
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bought a bottle today…not only for the pole, but also for its many other alleged uses (cleaning, laundry, etc.). Will let you guys know how it works for grip!
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Thank you. I guess I’m lazy.
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Sadly I don’t tell people I pole. The only people who know are my boyfriend, mom, and sister, but I don’t think my mom and sister understand how crazy pole dance is!
I’ve only been poling a few months, so there is still plenty of time to gain confidence to share…I’m thinking I’ll become more open when I become more advanced, so I can blow all the skeptics away!
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Are you able to afford physical therapy? It may help you heal faster and prevent you from injuring it again.
I pulled a muscle in my upper back (non pole related) and a professional massage helped (once the severe pain went away). Also curious about acupuncture. Sometimes rest simply isn’t enough.
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I had been stalking Veena and her site for over a year, dying to pole, and I finally got my first pole a few months ago. I have been trying to teach myself since then.
I finally bought Veena's lessons the other night (Gold Membership), and I already love them. They give so much more motivation, and enable you to review again and again, at your own pace. They have also helped me backtrack on some learned moves to make sure I am doing them properly.
The best part if that you have access to ALL the levels – so if I am feeling brave, I can move onto an intermediate move – or at least see how a move is executed (and realize I am not ready whatsoever to attempt it!)
