Friday, January 23, 2009

This is good for me?!


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New year's resolutions and all that... someone finally convinced me to take up Pilates. Not that this is a new phase or anything, I know it's been the "cool thing to do" for a while now.
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After all, it's all the rage for the Sex and the City stars, so it must be THE workout to try. I have been hearing the same advertisement coming out of people's mouths: "It elongates the muscles, it lengthens the muscle, you get a lean long muscle...bla bla bla"
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Enough already. When my work decided to throw a Pilates class pro bono in our lunch hour, I thought I may as well try it.
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Let me be the first to tell you, Pilates sucks! 
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There's absolutely no grace to doing Pilates. I see these women in infomercials - smiling from ear to ear as they effortlessly hold their pose. 
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 Nobody informed me that Pilates moves at the speed of snails going backwards. That's right. Everything is in slow motion. It should be for senior citizens only. 
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Except for that other part that no one informed me about: Pilates is really tough!
 I'm no biker chick, but I thought I could tough out one class of working out. Turns out I was wrong. Holding those crazy poses, for what seems like forever makes me sweat and puff like the magic dragon himself. 
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Oh yeah, I totally took a beating. And the kicker ~~ After all this talk about elongating and lengthening muscles, I just checked, and it totally didn't work. I'm still 5'3". 
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So not going back.

17 comments:

Lisa said...

Well that answers some questions for me, thanks! I was going to start looking at doing something pilate-ness stuff myself. lol

Laura said...

I hate pilates too, it puts me to sleep... but I totally LOVE yoga as long as it's a flow type of yoga rather than the breathing & meditation focused type. In flow yoga, you're actually moving for most of the class, so you get a good workout. Ever tried that? I'd recommend it over pilates!

tweetey30 said...

Welcome back to blogland.. LOL.. Anyway I wouldnt try it either. I get enough just running around chasing the dang ball when Jeff and I play Raquetball. I have heard of it but never tried it.. And wont either after this. Now Yoga is another story. That looks like fun..

Sayre said...

The idea of pilates never appealed to me. I guess that I feel like if I'm going to exercise, I want to know it.

Tai Chi was a surprising workout. Doesn't seem like much but I would wake up the next day sore when I first started. I like that one because it's gentle movement and no contact, which I needed after the KenPo and being thrown down on the concrete floor repeatedly.

I have also decided to try doing a marathon in two years. Believe me, it will take me the WHOLE two years to get ready!!! I am NOT in the best of shape.

So good to see you back. I thought maybe you had given up blogging because life was just so busy!

JR said...

Thanks for the laugh! It sounds frustrating, although probably right up my alley since I have one speed these days and it's very slow. I also enjoy stretching like a cat first thing in the morning. I'll tell ya what, you start jogging with M in my place and I'll come do Pilates for you. Every inch of my body aches from the jarring motions. I knew muscles could ache, but who knew fat could hurt as well? "VV"

Queen of the Mayhem said...

I have a friend who is desperately trying to talk me into Yoga...and I tried it.....I felt like a giant ox...and holding the poses? FORGET ABOUT IT!

Eileen said...

Well, well, well...look who decided to join us this year. Glad to see you back!

One of the best excercise classes I have ever taken was at the Leisure Centre after I broke my hip. It was for people over 40 with problems. It was there that I learned what I could do, instead of all the things that I couldn't do. They take you through and develop a workout that is just for you.
You're getting old, why don't you try that?

That girl said...

Lisa - Stay away, that's all I have to say. Really, it's just a cruel way to exercise.

Laura - I've never tried Yoga, but all that meditation type of workout seems not to be my forte.

Tweets - Good to see you too! Raquetball, wow!! That can't be easy.

Sayre - A marathon! WOW - I've heard of people doing that, but I've never known any. I would love to hear how the training is going for you, and how dedicated to this you must be. I don't think there is any way I could do a marathon. (just tired thinking about it all, lol)

VV - I peed my pants a little reading your comment "fat can hurt" - how hilarious you are! No way I'm going jogging with M. In fact, I'll tell you what. I'll cheer you on from the sidelines (probably while eating an ice cream cone)

Queen - Amen to that. Why can't we just call lifting the ice cream container in and out of the fridge a workout? What? It's a 4 Gallon!

No? - Oh well who needs to workout anyway.

That girl said...

Eileen - you were probably typing as I was typing my reply - cause your comment wasn't there before.

I'm not old! Or have a broken hip!

But I will probably call the Leisure centre first thing on monday and see if they can give me some pointers. With any luck, they'll be busy and I won't have to actually start working out. As you can see, it's not my strong suit :-)

tweetey30 said...

Its easier than Pilates...LOL...

Ann(ie) said...

hehe. I'm sitting here trying to picture myself in a pilates class. I think they'd ask me to leave; that I'd be more suited for the kickboxing class down the hall. ;)

Jazz said...

Seems you need two classed to grow an inch.

Just telling it like it is said...

Yeah!! Welcome back!! I have been doing spin class and I even got lost last weekend hiking...Saved by an unattractive man... darn not the white night I envisioned. Oh well your back!!

luckyzmom said...

Thanks. Something I can cross off my long list of things to do. Miraculously, I posted recently too!

Happy New Year! I was starting to worry.

Diva's Thoughts said...

LOL!

Tamara said...

Wow!Thanks for enlightening me on this subject,cuz I have been wondering just how effective Pilates REALLY is...and from the way you explained it,I don't think I wanna waste my time.Sheesh! I get enough excercise at work.LOL.Maybe not the RIGHT kind of excercise,but on my 2nd job,I run my a*** off(literally)...so I'm glad you brought this to our attention.All the hype sounded too good to be true anyways. ;-(
I logged on this morning and was so excited to see you had left a comment about my parents on my blog! You are such a sweetheart.Thanks for taking the time to pop in,it just made my day.
*hug-hug*

BlondeBlogger said...

Have you done yoga? I LOVE yoga. It's not only so good for you, but it really does strengthen you both inside and out. My favorite t-shirt is from my yoga center and it has "length" written on the back and "strength" on the front. I wear it whenever I need reminding of my inner strength.