HyperHorsegirl
Forum Replies Created
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Runemist, we have Carnation Instant Breakfast here too. I absolutely love it and have been drinking it since grade school. I'm partial to the vanilla flavor myself, but I like the chocolate too. I am also slightly anemic, so the iron in it helps (each packet is about 25% of the daily recommended intake of iron), plus the protein is really good (10% per packet, plus whatever protein is in the milk you use). Levels vary slightly depending on which flavor you get. They recently rebranded the product and are calling it "Breakfast Essentials" now. I like the powder packets myself, but they make ready-to-drink bottles too.
I don't have much endurance myself, but I know that's just because I don't practice as much. I don't do much cardio and I don't spend a lot of time on lifting or doing other strengthening exercises. I go to classes at my studio three days a week, but just that time alone isn't enough to make a huge difference to me. Honestly, I'm not surprised when I get tired quickly. I just haven't worked toward that level of endurance consistently enough to be able to improve upon it. I suspect I really need more cardio in order to dance longer, but it's hard to run in the Texas heat (I hate treadmills).
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I bought some cute fabric today and am going to be trying my hand at sewing my own Strength Wraps/Vertical Swag wraps. The designs from both those companies just didn't quite suit what I wanted as far as colors and coordination goes, so I'm going DIY for this! I hope it turns out well.
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I'm getting ready to order some things for my friend's "pole bag"!
So far, I've got coordinating headbands for the both of us, knee pads, grip-strengthening stress ball, thigh high leg warmers, arnica gel, and a hot pink water tumbler for her.
I also have plans to include two microfiber towels (one for sweat, one for pole), a small spray bottle of alcohol, and a few other small things.
I'm still looking for fresh ideas and thanks to everyone who already chimed in. You've helped so much already!
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I'm loving the suggestions so far! Keep it up!
I wish I had wrist protection when first starting. I've actually rubbed the skin off of my wrist from being so excited and trying so hard to get a spin. A quarter-sized chunk of skin was just gone and then I spent the next few weeks desperately trying to keep a bandage on it while still practicing.
I know this is only one workshop (1.5 hours) but I hope she'll come back with me again. It's really difficult with our schedules right now, but she's planning on moving closer to me (about 35 miles away now) in August.
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@nicolen548 – Yes, I noticed that too. I read the review first and then watched the performance and I immediately recognized that he said "exotic" not "erotic".
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Writers on Today Entertainment were not as impressed. It's a shame. I'm glad the judges reacted positively, but the media really brings it down by saying things like this.
http://www.today.com/entertainment/pole-dancing-ballroom-dancing-stars-finals-get-freaky-6C9996528
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And now I try to click the link from an email notification and I'm prompted to log in again. Clicking "Home" now causes the same problem as before.
I think my log in just isn't sticking for some reason. I don't like having to constantly keep logging in to get to the page I want to see, but I guess I can do it if it works.
No matter how many times I log in after clicking the link from my email, though, it won't take me to that comment. It just takes me to the general home page.
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And of course now, after having the problem for 10+ minutes and finally deciding to ask, everything works smoothly.
Home takes me straight to /messages, just as it always has.
Weird.
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Tigg's Collection is shutting down, but she's still making stuff with the supply she has on hand. Can be anything you want. Check it out.
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I use My Fitness Pal and love it. I went to a nutritionist in January and she tested my metabolic rate. She told me I should be eating 1400+ calories per day without exercise in order to lose weight. MFP lets you customize your calorie goals, so I plugged in 1400 and that's what it goes off of. You're not stuck with a 1200 calorie goal.
I have a coworker trying to lose 120 lbs in a year (she's down 50 in 7 months so far) and she's seeing the same nutritionist. When she wasn't seeing any progress at a certain calorie level, the nutritionist actually told her to INCREASE her intake. It seems counter-intuitive, but your body needs a certain amount of fuel to function, regardless of what activity you do. If your body is receiving less than this, it will begin to stagnate and hold on to nutrition where it can, to have guaranteed fuel. My coworker was burning more calories during her workouts than the nutritionist originally thought, so she wanted her to eat more to give her body more fuel to handle it. Sure enough, the next week, my coworker started losing weight again.
The nutritionist also told me that if I was going to work out, that I would need to eat more and add on some calories. I assume that this is what you mean by "eating back" calories. She explained that your calorie goal is a NET (input-output=net) goal, so I don't feel like I'm "eating back" calories. I focus on getting my NET number to what I was told it should be, through a process that was scientifically measured by a professional. That net number is already set at a deficit, I don't need to make a bigger deficit which might put me at unhealthy levels. You can disagree (and even think I'm stupid), but this is what I believe and that opinion is unlikely to change. If I work too hard exercising and don't eat to meet my net calorie goal, my energy goes down and I feel like I'm starving over the next few days, regardless of what I eat. My body is telling me I need more! I've gotten pretty good at listening to what my body needs, so now that I've been doing this for several months, I can tell when I don't eat enough and when I'm overeating. I have to "eat back" calories or my body feels miserable. I know there's a lot of debate around "starvation mode" and all that. All I know is that I trust this nutritionist, she's very qualified, she has lots of happy clients (including some very important people) who have seen results, and her advice has worked for me and my coworker.
I've lost 10 lbs (when I was weighed last month – I don't own a scale) since January. She helped me see what I needed to do, and I've been doing it and have seen a change. It's been slow, but change is happening. From January 14th to April 1st, I have lost 10 lbs! That is SOMETHING! I hope that when I get weighed again at the end of the month I can add another 3 or 4 lbs to my total lost. I think I can.
Everyone is different and what works for me and my metabolism may not work for others. Even though we saw the same nutritionist, my coworker and I are on very different plans with different goals, even though we both want to lose weight. I just wanted to share what I was doing and what has worked for me.
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They say, with the picture on the link I just posted (see pic from link below) that "It is not Griptease or Pole Sleeve- it is designed and produced by X-Pole- for X-Pole- silicone sleeve." Interesting.
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/625616_555040337850848_1082336354_n.jpg
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https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=555040337850848&set=a.183653191656233.40109.175969099091309
What about this one? They say "fabric, lyra, and silicone". So, is it powder coat or something else?
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I don't think any of the instructors at my studio are certified (I could be wrong) and it's a mixed bag. There are some (and they're my favorite to take classes from) who will pay close attention to form and aren't afraid to give out corrections and stop people who aren't ready to do certain things. They always have modifications on hand to make it safe for everyone. Then there are others who will let anyone throw themselves into anything regardless. I got injured in one of her classes, though I should have listened to my body better too.
I think that the instructors who are alert and cautious with their students could do as good or better at teaching than someone that has a certificate. A piece of paper does not make you a better teacher. Some will always be better than others. I just take classes from the ones who take care of me and I avoid the instructors that I don't enjoy. Do I care that my instructors aren't certified? Not one bit.
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Don't forget good crash mats for safety. Places that specialize in aerial almost always have good mats and nets and won't teach anything without them. My pole studio has a few shorter silks that are for very limited things. The instructor (understandably) won't let anyone climb high or do anything crazy in the silks because they don't have the mats for it. They basically use the silks for a twist on strength and conditioning and for very mild, low-to-the-ground poses. I'm not an expert and I haven't taken a "real" aerial silks class before, but I think the safety equipment is just as imporant as the silks themselves.
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I don't know if I recommend buying shoes that aren't meant for dancing. Friends of mine have done this and have had some difficulty. The soles aren't as grippy and they'd often slip and slide when bringing their feet down from a spin. The last thing you want is for your feet to slide out from under you. Adult stores that sell Pleasers and the like also sell replacement soles that can be stuck to the bottom of the shoe and help, but I don't know if it's worth it to do that on street shoes.
I don't dance much in shoes due to my weak ankles. I have learned that it's important to pay attention to the heel to platform ratio. I have 6" heels with a 3/4" platform. The angle is quite steep and makes it hard for me (typically a non-heel wearer) to dance in them. On the other hand, you can get a 7" shoe with a 3" platform and they will be far more comfortable than my 6" shoe. I wish I had learned early on to pay attention not to the height of the heel but the heel-to-platform ratio.
I'd also recommend trying them on in a store. I wear a half size up in Pleaser, but a different style of the same brand in the same size caused my toes to pop out the top of the sandal, which is quite dangerous. Even though I like those shoes, I can't wear them. Fit is important when changing between styles. Ankle straps are always a plus, but I've seen people who really like the mule style because of the greater coverage of the plastic on the top of the foot. They don't fall off because of the grippiness of the plastic and a sort of "suction" it creates on your foot. I have seen them fly off with some moves, but for most things, they stay on fine.
I have also been told by my instructors to look at the actual heel shape. Flip the shoe upside down and look at the heel. Circular heels, like most stilletos, are harder to walk and dance in. Heels that are squared off, like an extended semi-circle, will give greater stability.
If you dance at home and only have carpet, I don't necessarily recommend shoes for that. I have tried walking on the carpet in my home, which is typical off-white apartment carpet, and have actually fallen because the plushness of the carpet rolls the heel around. Some can handle it fine and some carpets are less plush than others, but I figure it's worth saying.
I'm not an expert on shoes by any means. I only have the two pairs, one that I can't even wear. I guess I can say that I've had a lot of errors with my trial-and-error when it comes to shoes. For the most part, I'm a barefoot girl. That doesn't stop me from oogling over heels though. Best of luck on the heel search for those who are looking!