[mizvix]

Thanks pole-twista and prncsopowr! Actually thankful at the mo that i’m so exhausted with work and good poling that i’m getting a good solid 4 hours a night lol!! After about 11 years (started when i was at school doing exams) i’m getting used to it!

Just had some home made veg soup https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif and heading dance in about 2 hours – cant wait! this challenge has made me really motivated and feel like i’m doin really well mentally and physically so thanks to everyone for helping!!! xox

[mizvix]

Me too…. prepare for more ‘pole accidents’ posts lol!!

[mizvix]

i’m the same withthe iguana. i can lower down to the floor that way but i hate going up! it’s one of those move that i did a couple of times to say ‘yes, iguana, done’ and have swiftly moved on! slippy hands scare me a lot too.. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_surprised.gif

[mizvix]

Yep!! totally agree with everyone else! it helps me with my stress and my bf would agree that when i miss pole my life, and his https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif , is much less cheery! i’ve always had issues with my appearance but as poling keeps me toned it really boosts my self-esteem – bra and knikers in front of mirrors??? put a pole in the room and it’s ok!! I also tend to lock myself away a lot – confidence issues – but somehow unless i’m snowed under with work or absolutely dying i manage to drive the 30mins to the studio. I’ve even been known to go when i’m sick just for the social aspect!!! so yes, pole does indeed = therapy.

Good luck!

[mizvix]

Thanks for the tips pole-twista!

you managed to hit the nail on the head – i have stress related insomnia which means in winter i’m lucky if i get 3-4 hours sleep a night! It’s always worse in winter cos i don’t see daylight which upsets and frustrates me and I get stressed driving in bad weather (2 hour commute each day – no alternatives). This means my immune system is already stretched. I already cook all my own meals using fresh ingredients and eat fresh fruit daily so i suppose that’s one thing i’m doing ok at. i will have to start using hand sanitizer more though – on an average day i’m in contact with at least 180 kids and their schoolbooks which cant be good for your health!!!

[mizvix]

1 week in!

feel really good cos i’ve managed to keep my promise and not let work take over my life (only been one week, but it’s a start)! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumright.gif But, i am super tired trying to fit everything in and i havent even been managing the weight training and flex training that i wanted to do – it’s been all cardio, pole and a bit of abs here and there. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif I know work will calm down a little bit in a week or 2 which means i should have more time to myself to do an extra half hour here and there of weights or flex.

On the plus side, i’m down 2.5lb, half an inch on each thigh and one of the girls in my dance class commented on my ‘six pack’. It’s not there yet – i’m carrying too much body fat for a proper one – but there is some definition returning! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif

it’s coming into winter though and my immune system is rubbish https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_puke_r.gif which means things may start to slide. tips welcome!!!!

[mizvix]

with the side crunch thing – take it easy the first few times you do it – i didn’t feel it working when i did them on tuesday, but by wednesday evening i realised i’d done too much! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_pale.gif aim for 10-20, depending on your current level of strength. And remember to keep abs engaged and back straight to maximise effectiveness https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumright.gif If my psychotic, sadistic instructor comes up with anyting new i’ll keep you posted!!

[mizvix]

I have a treadmill in the house https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_redface.gif my bf and i were spending a fortune on gym membership but not getting the benefit cos of work and other commitments so we bought a treadmill as our xmas prezzy to each other!(cost about £250 in the sale – less than half our total annual gym costs). ideally i try to run 3-4 times a week for cardio and to fight the flab. i do crunches as well as lower ab work – leg lifts, ‘bicycle legs’ etc (sorry – i don’t know real names!) and i work my sides through side planks and side crunches using the pole (hook knee on pole, lean body out perpendicular to pole and crunch up sideways). this works well to keep my tum under control (though by no means perfect!) one thing i do notice that makes a big difference – sweets / crisps / chocolate. I’m not a nutritionist this is just my observation. my ‘podge’ (in the middle of my tum just under my belly button – i’m flat at the sides) gets big very quick if i eat junk but it takes a long time to work off.
S, 3 key things: cardio, tum work (don’t forget the sides) and reduce junk food.

Sorry this post is so long!

[mizvix]

This might sound a little bit ‘out there’ but it’s a move my instructor has been teaching in our advanced class.
https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/bom.gif From extended butterfly, bring your extended leg through the space between the pole and your hooked leg.
https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/bom.gif twist your body upwards (your bum should end up against the pole)
https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/bom.gif straighten your legs and cross ankles
https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_cheers.gif at this point you should look like you’re about to do a CAR.

From here you can do sit and split / pole sit / full CAR – pretty much anything. I’ve tried it about 5 times but can’t quite get my bum onto the pole. it’s an unusual transition so I think it’s worth trying as scorpio flatline and brass monkey are the ones that people are more likely to do. If anyone manages this tell me your tips!!! lol!

[mizvix]

i’m thinking this would be good for me too – over summer i was really active but now i’m back to work i’ve already skipped 1 pole lesson, ‘been too tired’ to do my running and started snacking. lots.

So…
height: 5”4”
weight:9’8
waist: 28
thighs: 22
widest point https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_lol.gif : 34 (about an inch below my belly button – all my weight goes here https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_sad.gif )

Goals:
height: 5”8” (i know, but i really wish i could be taller without high heels!! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_wink.gif )
weight: 9
waist: 27 (i like my waist)
thighs: 21 (they’re muscley but i like them too)
widest point: 31 (hate this bit!)

steps to achieve goals – exercise:
2 formal pole lessons per week – tues and thurs
3 morning runs during the week – 15 mins minimum each session
mon and wed – tummy work (copied from pole class), side planks and oblique work, arm weights
saturday am – 30 mins run (increasing to 45 mins by end of challenge), callanetics, arm weights. Additional side work – side planks and oblique exercises.

steps to achieve goals – diet:
healthy b’fast 7 days a week – fruity muesli
Lunch – fruit / left-overs (doesn’t seem much but we don’t get long in work for lunch so anything more and i feel ill!)
dinner – lean meat, veg. small carb portion.
evening snack – no idea https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif . it’s at this point i devour lots of biscuits https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_porc.gif . slice of toast with low fat butter.

things i need to reduce / avoid / replace: https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_pale.gif
cheese – i snack on cheese – there’s no need for it!
chocolate biscuits – have plain ones instead
rice and pasta – replace with wholegrain versions!

i think this is a good start. it’s pretty much what i do when i’m not working but can never manage to maintain once i’m back in the rat-race. Hopefully this will help to motivate me! Thanks girls! https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_thumleft.gif

[mizvix]

I’m right handed but can spin on both sides – it does look a lot better when you perform if you don’t have to keep adjusting your stance to use the ‘correct’ arm! There are pole moves i can do on one side but not the other; i do star from basic invert with my right knee hooked but have to hook my left if i SM into it! For handsprings/ ayshas etc my right arm needs to be low – my left wrist is super weak and aches badly if i use it in that position. I do what’s comfy really! but thankfully my left bicep is starting to catch up on the right – looked bad for a while there!!

[mizvix]

When my big brother was born he was called David. My mum got really annoyed when people would shorten it to dave or davy etc. So, when i came along, my parents decided on a name that couldn’t be shortened – vicky. https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif

unfortunately, my darling big brother always called me vix, which stuck – even my dad calls me it now! When I qualified as a teacher he started calling me ‘miss vix’. Not being the creative type, it just seemed easy to use here – i changed miss to miz because i thought it sounded catchier!

[mizvix]

if you have persistent muscular pain you must rest and get it checked out – otherwise you could cause more damage. I had to take 3 months (yes, 90 days) off dance after a car accident – i couldn’t even put weight on my right side in spins without severe pain and inverts were out of the question. anti-inflammatories to manage to swelling and pain, lots of massage and then gentle working of the muscle helped to build it up, but 9 months after the accident i still had pain, especially when i got stressed (that muscle tensed up something shocking!) or did too much work on it. it’s now been almost 2 years but i still notice a weakness in what used to be my strongest shoulder. So take it easy!!!

1 good point (i’m in a ‘silver-lining’ mood today)…
because i couldn’t use my right arm for anything dance related, i can now spin just as well on my left! (Do doctors really think we can stay away from our poles??)

[mizvix]

no idea yet – can’t even find details on x-pole site. i’d assume it would be more expensive than their TG pole though, which is already a lot more than their standard x-pole. keep our fingers crossed for a special launch offer!!

[mizvix]

We start from standing but that means you do rely more on momentum rather than tummy muscles. you can do SM from floor, so as long as the chair is steady and not in your way when you invert I don’t think it would be a problem as it’s kinda the same concept… https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_scratch.gif