Pilates and P90X: Confessions of a Plump Pilates Teacher

I can hear the faint sound of screaming from the Pilate's community. Nothing could be further apart in strategy and sensibility than Pilate's and P90X. In the beginning of my learning about Pilate's, I was excited to know that I could work out in a no to low impact way, actually reshape my body in the most beautiful way, and lose the aches and pains of aging. The idea of a hard and fast exercise plan repulsed me as I fell deeper in love with Pilate's. For a while, I got into fantastic shape and stabilized my weight because I had healed the mind body connection. But then it happened. At 55, I began the serious entry into menopause. I didn't start yelling more, crying at the drop of a hat, or any of the other imbalances in attitude and behavior expected. I did start to hold weight at an alarming rate. In six months, I gained 30 pounds. What the heck?! Frustrated and humiliated, I kept trying to get it under control and I couldn't. At the same time, a relationship stress issue aggravated some deeper inner turmoil that I thought I'd dealt with.  Teaching Pilate's or any other exercise with extra weight is anathema to any instructor. Because of the peace I'd developed in the mind/body place, I never thought of just hanging up my career although there was a time when I would have. I do love and trust my body so I knew it had it's reasons for the way it was responding to life.

In the meantime, my dear friend, Sara (in her 30"s), had begun using P90 and turned into a super model. Yes, I paid close attention to that and the other changes she was making in her life. She got off sugar (with few exceptions), started eating clean for a lifestyle, and seemed happier than ever. I love a good success story especially if I see it unfolding right in front of my eyes. Knowing what her weight had been before she started, I figured that if she could do it, then so could I. I never have had the sense to stay away from some big challenge that obviously seems impossible to someone my age. So I started working out with her 1- 2 times a week. God knows, I looked so goofy and weak.

I kept on with my goofy self and sure enough I started to get stronger. Lesson: when you have nothing to lose but weight, goofy doesn't matter. Plus, my workout partner was so gracious and has some pretty funny memories. Can I tell you how much more motivated I am when I work out with her? Little things like that make alot of difference.

Because I know I can do it now, we start P90X on April 1, 2012. This Friday, we photograph (good for her, so sad for me), weigh , and measure. I forgot that she's entering us in a contest. Eeek!

The food plan won't start until Sunday but I went ahead and got off sugar. I use Tim Ferris' Slow Carb Plan from his book, "The 4-Hour Body." It's simple and finite. From being on it for only three days, I am down four pounds. I like the food, too. My body is so relieved to be off sugar that it began stabilizing right away. Go check this out for your self.

I recently read the quote: "You crave what you eat." That is so true.

Now, I still had to deal with the relationship stuff. I have some skill in this area but I'll admit I couldn't fix this one. I felt both terrified and so very angry. God had already planned my rescue. On Sunday, I had my hysterical crying fit where He showed me that I hated Him for allowing yet another sick person into my life. I had to admit it before I could quit it ( and ask for forgivenes). It brought up a level of pain that I didn't know was there. It was hard but necessary to admit I had these awful feelings. They were driving my desire to eat the very things my body reacted to with weight gain. I had tried in vain to soothe them away with the wrong food. It wasn't alot of food all the time but it was simply wrong for my aging, sugar-sensitive body.

So what about Pilate's and P90X?  That's what so wonderful...when I do a P90X workout and then do Pilate's behind that as I teach the next class, Pilate's undoes all the bad body sensations caused by the very strenuous P90X exercise. Pilate's has that magical ability to heal the body from so many things. I now have the best of both worlds working for me.

We will blog our progress to help any other takers on the P90X on a new blog. I'll give you the new link in the next post.

Hey, always remember to bring your own sunshine with you wherever you go...

Perfectly Lovely

For the first time since I began teaching Pilates, I gained significant weight. If you know nothing about that, I both hate you and want what you have. Teaching with extra weight makes it  harder to do all the moves I want. My clothes don't fit nicely. These things, added to an already intense fear of being fat, can cause me to think in a very different and negative way about myself. Before Pilates, I'd panic and do something rash to get rid of it and, that will bring the weight back on  faster that not dieting. There is a difference in the way I feel about my body now. I'll  never forget the moment when I began to love and appreciate my body. After six months or so of  regular Pilates, I had an epiphany. I suddenly realized that I loved my body. I'd seen it change and strengthen but it was more than that.  In Pilates, I had to apply my mind to the work my body is doing so the mind/body connection had healed. My mind was no longer working against my body. Now, the extra weight I carry doesn't make me hate my body. I still don't like it but I feel more patient and caring towards me.  I wish this for every woman on the planet. Other forms of exercise are effective but only on Pilates can you heal the rift between and mind.  I feel perfectly lovely and I like it.