portableninja
Forum Replies Created
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All of these recipes sound great! I have a couple of crockpot soup recipes that I'm planning to try this fall, I can't wait to try them out. Nothing like making the house smell good. I also love making homemade Italian food (meatballs, lasagna, etc) during the fall for the same reason.
Here's a cookie recipe. It's not really mine since it's from Food Network, but I've made it and it's awesome. The cardamom really adds a nice note.
Oatmeal Cranberry Cookies
Ingredients
1 cup http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/butter/index.html
3/4 cup http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/sugar/index.html
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon pure http://www.foodterms.com/encyclopedia/extracts/index.html
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon cardamon
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup dried cranberries (or other dried fruit)
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugars until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients. Add to butter mixture and stir until well blended. Add dried cranberries. Drop by teaspoonful onto parchment covered baking sheet. Bake about 10 to 12 minutes, or until lightly golden. Cool on wire racks.
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@Lillybilly your post could have been written for me. I was getting very frustrated about my progress in the butterfly. Then I took a video of my attempts, and realized the problem is in my caterpillar. Without a strong caterpillar, I will never be able to do the butterfly, extended butterfly, ayesha, etc. Just because I can do a caterpillar for a few seconds doesn't mean it's strong. I will do what you recommended and spend time just holding the caterpillar position on both sides to strengthen my back. I also can't do a lifted elbow/headstand so I will work on those.
It's so easy to fall into a trap that I just need more practice in a move, when the problem is really insufficient strength.
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I think I can see the confusion. Don't we all know a person who fishes for compliments? A person who says, oh I am so ugly! I feel so fat today! Just so that everyone will rush in to say no, you're beautiful and you're not fat! Those types of people can be very frustrating to be around.
Please don't misunderstand me. I know that people posting SV are NOT fishing for compliments, and that people on here are incredibly supportive. That is why I love the pole community. I have never taken a dance class in my life and I think I would be terrified to even try, for fear of being laughed at or criticized. The pole community is wonderful because it seems, for the most part, to be free of that sort of thing. People genuinely want others to succeed and are happy to support each other.
If English is not your first language, though, it might be hard to tell the difference between a genuine compliment and one that is not genuine – or the difference between a person who wants constructive feedback and someone who just needs a little love and support. Especially since it is in text, not in person.
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@dustbunny You are so right. I used to get terrible pole burn marks on my wrists and forearms. I figured that I just had to build up tolerance. My wrists are weak to start and I wasn't engaging them. It wasn't until I joined SV and started watching her video lessons that I learned about the importance of neutral wrists. It was a lot harder at first and I had to go back to square one until I built up some wrist strength. But my spins and holds are much better now, and no more burning!
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Another vote for the Divacup. I love mine. It's a lot more comfortable than tampons, less expensive, and actually helped reduce my cramps.
I will warn you though… (TMI) I once had the cup "leak" while I was in pole class. Apparently doing a challenging invert can make things move around a bit, and it must not have been positioned properly. When I came back down from the pole and went right side up… I knew I had to run to the bathroom.
The lesson is… wear black shorts during class that week, just in case!
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The important thing is that you recognize this is happening to yourself. Too often with depression, it's easy to sink into a hole where you feel helpless, and that makes it so hard to get through it. The best thing I can recommend is to keep talking about it. Either keep a journal, or talk to someone else besides your husband. If you focus on the facts of your depression (how you feel each day, and what you achieved that day, no matter how small) then it can help you recognize patterns in your behavior. Doing this helped me get "out of my head" and into seeing depression as a temporary condition, not a sign of lifelong failure.
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When I got into pole fitness, my man started getting into bodyweight fitness and flexibility. It's very gymnastics inspired. He's been learning arm balances and working on pull ups and squats, and soon plans to install a set of gymnastics rings in our garage! I don't think he's interested in being a pole dancer himself, but he does use my pole for some exercises. It's been a fun journey together. We actually look at Veena's videos together, particularly for flexibility and strength, and share tips and ideas.
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This is going to sound counterintuitive, but make sure to use lotion on your skin regularly. Of course, you don't want to apply lotion right before a pole session or else you will make it worse. But your skin needs to be properly moisturized in order to be sticky for the pole.
I had a lot of problems sticking to my chrome X-pole (which is similar to stainless) and I was ready to give up. I took some time off from poling, and I put on a lot of lotion in the meantime. Now I stick really well!
The trick is to use the really cheap water-based lotion (the kind that comes in the economy sized bottle and doesn't cost much.) Read the label and make sure the first ingredient is water (aqua.) The fancier lotions are often petroleum based or contain cocoa butter, which is really slick. Water based lotions don't feel quite as hydrating on the skin, but they're better for pole.
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I've been poling for a year now, and I still haven't told my mom. It sounds silly, but there's just never been a good time to tell her. The reason I hesitate is because my mom and I don't always have the best relationship. We love each other, but we've never really become "friends" as adults. We live about 2 hours apart, and when we talk on the phone, we always keep the conversations pretty simple. If she asked me what I do for exercise, I would tell her, but she never has! It's always felt a bit awkward to just say out of the blue "so… I pole dance!" My parents haven't been over to visit since I got a pole at home a few months ago, so whenever that happens, that will be when I tell her.
I haven't told my mother in law either, but that's more because she is pretty conservative and thinks stripping is immoral. I think there is still a perception that having a pole in your house means that's it's a sex toy, not that it's a piece of fitness equipment that you and your man both use! She hasn't been to our place either, but if/when she does, I'll gladly show her what I can do. She's an Oprah fan, so maybe she'd be more receptive to it than I think!
I'm actually going to the USPDF comp this weekend. Maybe this is a good opportunity to share my hobby with them? I can mention what my weekend plans are, show her some videos of the pros, and mention that I've been doing it too?
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I have a 50mm Xpole because the studio I learned on had 50s, so that's what I ordered. Sometimes I wish I had gotten a 45mm, especially on my bad days because my hands are small and sweaty. But my instructor had the feeling that if you are used to working on a 50, then you can always work on a 45 or a 40 with no problems. Going the other way would be much harder. So the idea is to make yourself work harder for bigger gains.
We recently had a Karol Helms workshop at my old studio and when Karol put her hand on a studio pole for the first time, she gasped and said "these are 50s?!" Since a lot of studios use 45s or 40s these days, it had been a very long time since she had used a 50. She was still amazing, but it made me realize how much difference 5mm makes.
I tried a 45mm once at another studio and it did make a difference for my hand grip, but I also found it was a lot more painful to do leg holds (smaller surface area = more pressure = more pain). Maybe when I get to the point of doing handsprings and ayeshas I will get myself a 45 or a 40. But for basic pole stuff, 50 is fine.
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You sound just like me! I also have big boobs and they get in the way of certain pole moves. I also invert by pulling my chest to my hands and then "unfolding" my arms. I'm not sure my back is really engaged much. I always have to remind myself to engage my back and don't make my arms do all the work. Veena's lessons about shoulder conditioning have helped with that, but it's always a work in progress.
I also have trouble with the CAR. I find the cross knee feels much better for me. I don't think it's required for every person to do every trick, especially if it feels uncomfortable or unsafe. Stick with what works for you.
Everyone's body is different, and you might find there are upsides to what you think are downsides. Think of it this way – you are using your arms a lot more than your back, so your arms are getting a great workout! I have a similar body type as you, and I have strong biceps. It helps with climbing and shoulder mount!
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I have been to the King of Prussia location… It’s nice and a lot easier to park at that location, but the trip would be pretty annoying from Ocean county… It’s annoying enough from where I live. Manayunk is a real pain for parking, but at least you’d be in Philly and could do more for the rest of the day. There’s not much to do in King of Prussia except go to the giant mall. 🙂
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The studio where I first learned is in central NJ (Warren to be exact) and I highly recommend it. It’s called Dakini Aerial Movement. If you’re willing to travel to NYC there is always the very famous Body and Pole, as well as Shockra and S Factor. The major Philly pole dance studio is Awakenings in Manayunk (northwest Philly). If you are looking for something actually in Ocean county I can ask my NJ friends for advice. Have fun during your visit! I’m a Sussex county girl but went to Rutgers and got married in Long Branch and vacation in LBI… I’ve been all over 🙂
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I live in Delaware currently, but I’m from North Jersey and have been everywhere in between. 🙂 where exactly will you be? That can help me narrow it down for you.
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Thank you for providing me with the technical term, Veena! Now I can geek out and read the Wikipedia article about it… https://www.studioveena.com/img/smilies/icon_e_biggrin.gif It looks like anything from 24 to 72 hours to onset is considered normal. I also like this quote:
Continued use of the sore muscle also has no adverse effect on recovery from soreness and does not exacerbate muscle damage.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delayed_onset_muscle_soreness#cite_note-Nosaka_68-7 It is therefore unlikely that soreness is in fact a warning sign not to use the affected muscle.
The more you know!
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I'm no stranger to sore muscles and working through the pain – it was expected of me when I did karate 4 days a week. But I also did a lot of damage to my body in those days, mostly in my back, shoulders, and knees. I'm reaching the age where I really want to do things the right way going forward so I don't have lifelong chronic injuries.
I appreciate the reassurance from everyone that I'm not weird! I think as long as I only have muscle soreness and not joint pain or sharp muscle pain then it's probably OK.
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I found a relatively big mirror (maybe 2' x 4') at the Christmas Tree Shop for 20 dollars. I also bought a cheap easel from Office Max – the kind you'd put a presentation board on. I can position it wherever I need it to see the move I'm working on. It works pretty well for me! I'd love a floor to ceiling mirror, but I live in a rental. 🙂
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I'm a little late to this thread, but I had laser hair removal done "Brazilian style" (meaning, all the hair was treated, like getting a brazilian wax.) I chose to get the Brazilian instead of the regular bikini because my hair down there was so thick. I wanted it all gone, or at least lessened! From the very beginning the treatment center was very clear that it would not leave me completely hairless – I could only expect "Permanent Hair Reduction." This was fine with me, as anything would be an improvement. Shaving it usually resulted in half a day of smoothness followed by a week of angry red bumps. I was considered to be the ideal candidate (fair skinned with dark hair.) I won't lie, the treatments were painful, but no worse than getting waxed. If you have had a bikini wax and managed not to cry, you will be fine with lasers. 🙂 They were not able to get "all" of the hair down there because of my pain tolerance… there are some parts that just should not be touched by a laser. But anything visible under a skimpy bikini was taken care of easily. It has now been a year since I finished treatment and I am still pleased. I purchased the unlimited treatment plan, and I'm happy I did. I needed more than the average number of treatments until I was satisfied with the amount of hair. It was nice not to have to pay extra for that. I still have hair down there, but it is soft and fine, grows back slowly, and very easy to shave. It takes less than 30 seconds in the shower to shave my bikini area, which makes beach season awesome. I recommend it for that reason – it doesn't make shaving obsolete, but it does make it a lot easier.
One thing to be wary of is the sun. You need to avoid sun exposure to the treatment area for the entire course of treatment. It's a good thing to do in the fall/winter for that reason. Be careful of Groupons for laser hair removal. After my great experience getting my bikini area done at full price, I bought a Groupon for 8 treatments for the underarms at a different med spa. The results there were not nearly as good, and they were also a lot less painful, which seemed to be revealing. I suspect they were not using a high powered laser in an effort to get me to buy more treatments at the non-Groupon price. I definitely still have to shave my armpits every other day!
Also, be sure to go to a facility where there will be a doctor handling the treatments. The laws vary state to state, but I got my lasering done in NJ (where a doctor is required to be on the premises, and in the case of the first place I went, actually operated the laser at all times.) It's a serious burn hazard if not operated correctly. Meanwhile, just over the border in NY, the equivalent of a nail tech license is enough to operate a laser. No thanks!
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Another vote for "nothing is wrong with you." I was fortunate enough to start poling at a great studio with a supportive instructor. Then I moved away, and figured I could just find another studio in my new town. After all, it's just like finding a new supermarket or hairdresser, right?
Wrong! I tried another studio near my new place. It seemed OK in the beginning, but during the class I got very lost because it was a fast paced cardio dance class with a few pole tricks thrown in. The instructor made a lot of nasty faces at me in the mirror, and even spoke to me after class in front of everyone and said "you could be good, but you need a LOT of work." This was my first class ever at her studio! What a thing to say – I felt so ashamed. Needless to say, I never went back.
I used to teach fitness classes (not pole) and I know how hard to teach a beginner class. Unless you get a steady stream of new students, you will always have to balance the needs of total newbies with the needs of students who are just shy of being ready for an intermediate class. It sounds like this instructor did not do a good job at this task. The wonderful thing about Studio Veena is, you go at your own pace, with an infinitely patient instructor who doesn't care if you hit "replay" over and over again. 🙂 Plus, everyone here is interested in your success!
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You can measure yourself if you can't get in to see a bra fitter. It's a bit easier if you have someone to help you wrap the tape around your back.
Here's a good bra sizing guide that also includes size conversions for popular brands:
http://www.biggerbras.com/how-to-fit-a-bra.shtml
Most bra specialty retailers have excellent return policies because they know how personal fit can be. As long as the item is new with tags attached, you should be fine.
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First, make sure you are wearing the right size. Be sure to go to a real lingerie store… NOT Victoria’s Secret. Many VS locations will size you incorrectly just so they can sell you a bra that they have in stock. I once told a VS employee that I was a 32E and she gave me a weird look and said “um, that is NOT a real size.” I’m so happy to be called a liar… Thanks. I should have taken off the bra I was wearing to show her. 🙂
Anyway! Once you have been properly fitted at a real lingerie shop, check out the following brands: Wacoal, Natori, Freya, Panache. Freya also makes excellent swimwear… All my bathing suits are Freya. Freya and Panache are both British brands, it seems the British designers are kinder to large busted women. DKNY and Calvin Klein also make extended sizes, but I find that they are less well made. You can get these brands at department stores or online. I like Biggerbras.com and Herroom.com. Another option (if you have one nearby) is Loehmanns or Nordstrom Rack. I often find Natori and Wacoal bras there for less than half price.
Wearing a properly sized and fitted bra changed my entire level of comfort- it’s so important! -
I have 32DD/E boobs, depending on the bra manufacturer. For things like running, I love the Moving Comfort Fiona bra. It's adjustable, high compression, and holds your boobs in place like nothing else. Its my go-to bra for exercise, but a bit too tight for pole.
For pole, I like something a bit less constricting. I also have the Ta-Ta Tamer from Lululemon. It's decent for jogging, and I used to like it for pole until I saw photos and video of what I look like in it. I don't know how such a tight fitting bra can make me look so saggy! 🙁 So I only wear that one under clothes now. I also have a Natori Yogi Wire-Free Convertible Sports Bra which is good for pole. The straps are adjustable to make a X-back, which helps for shoulder mount. It's probably my favorite bra for yoga and pole.
Finally, I just got the Lynn top from Mika Yoga Wear. It's recommended for large busted women. The first one I got was too small. I had to size up from what they recommended, but the exchange process was really easy. I have to say, it is the cutest, sexiest pole top I have ever worn. It's not as comfortable or secure as a well fitted jogging bra, but the sexyness was what I wanted. If I ever perform a recital, I will definitely wear my Lynn!
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Thanks everyone! 🙂
