What can Pilates accomplish in the best case?

anemoneprose

I am going to be trying to rehab a shoulder (rotator cuff injury) and ankle (chronic tendonitis), and have arthritis in both knees (chondromalacia). Serious resistance training will be a ways away, but Pilates is something I will be able to do sooner. If diet's in check, what is the best that can be hoped for in terms of body composition?

I've gained 10 lbs this summer, so want to lose that, but the main issue (after normal function!) is fat:muscle ratio. BMI currently 21.5, prefer to be near 19.6, female (I know BMI is crap, just a point of reference, here. I also know Pilates won't get me far, am just curious in terms of what it can actually do.)

I seriously can't lift weights right now, please don't tell me I'm a baby about it

anemoneprose

bump

DavPul

We can't predict the future and we can't know how effective any program will be for you because we don't know what your intensity level will be. Just start pilates and find out what you can do and how far it can take you

BeachIron

It's not going to give you the same results that lifting will over time, but you also have limitations that you can't ignore. If pilates is what you can do, then do it and give it your best shot. It's certainly far better than nothing. Just make sure that your nutrition is keyed.

spoiledpuppies

Pilates can give you amazing results. A lot of people don't give it the credit it deserves--and also probably couldn't make it through a good class!

MizzuzR

I have never done mat pilates but I did take reformer pilates classes and really liked it. After awhile I really notices that I was leaner and more toned. I would still be doing it but the studio that was affordable moved and was just too far for me to realistically keep going. I miss it!

anemoneprose

We can't predict the future and we can't know how effective any program will be for you because we don't know what your intensity level will be. Just start pilates and find out what you can do and how far it can take you

Crap, DavPul, you're right. I hate not knowing where I'm headed. But you're totally right. Thanks

(intensity will be MAXILATES)

anemoneprose

It's not going to give you the same results that lifting will over time, but you also have limitations that you can't ignore. If pilates is what you can do, then do it and give it your best shot. It's certainly far better than nothing. Just make sure that your nutrition is keyed.

Will do! Thank you

anemoneprose

Pilates can give you amazing results. A lot of people don't give it the credit it deserves--and also probably couldn't make it through a good class!

I bet you're right! I think it was going to be called Controlology, which sounds more difficult than fun, but hey!

I have never done mat pilates but I did take reformer pilates classes and really liked it. After awhile I really notices that I was leaner and more toned. I would still be doing it but the studio that was affordable moved and was just too far for me to realistically keep going. I miss it!

Glad to see results are there to be had! Yeah, it's annoyingly expensive, but what are you going to do :ohwell:

Shy_Yogi

I've been doing pilates for awhile and it is a great workout. I think Joseph Pilates, the inventor of the workout, said it best when he said:

"In 10 sessions, you feel better, 20 sessions you look better, 30 sessions you have a completely new body.”.

I've always carried that around with me and reminded myself of that. On my 30th workout (which was long ago lol), I did indeed have a new body. Granted, it isn't one like lifting or running...but you will be sleeker, stronger and toned. I can tell you that when a new person comes in to class (I work at a college, so when I say new, I mean 20 year old fit guy or girl - I'm 45), I can way out work them in Pilates. They grunt and groan, I barely sweat lol.

Give it a try....you may fall in love with it like I did.

Good luck!!!

lyndausvi

Little late here, but a few months back I had a frozen shoulder. After I was cleared by the doctor I started reformer Pilates with positive results. The instructors really take care of me, making sure I used less bands or make modification to some exercises. as to not hurt my shoulder. There are hundreds of exercises that can be done it's not hard at all to find a modification for any injury. I found some of the shoulder exercises were similar to what I had to do at PT, except now I get a full body workout.

I've been doing reform twice a week for 2.5 months now. My shoulder is almost 100% better. My overall look is leaner and tighter. I'm way more flexible and my abs are getting stronger. I've never really enjoyed lifting and this seems to be a good substitute for me. Sure it might (will?) take me longer to get the results you can get from lifting, but I'm okay with that.

GL

Sabine_Stroehm

I've been fit all my life. I've been lifting (in one way or another) since 1996.
I do circuit training classes.
I run.

I joined Pilates (mat) about 3 weeks ago and it's kicking my *kitten*.
It's a killer core workout.
Don't discount it.

I walked in the first day and thought: well this will be relaxing.

I came out sorta shaky.

It can take you farther than you imagine.

I'm hooked now.

anemoneprose

Thanks so much for your replies! Really great to hear success stories

I've started on PT for now -- it's taken me a while to find a physical therapist I trusted -- and plan to incorporate Pilates as soon as I can afford it. (The PT is expensive & frequent, for now ). But, I found a great studio that offers individualized Reformer classes really near my place, and am excited to start on it when I can

I got on an Omron scale the other day (yeah, I know they're only estimates & not great, but finding someone who knows how to use calipers is a pain). It told me I'm 30% fluff I believe it, by the looks of me & me in my clothes.

So should I *cut* calories or try to stay around maintenance? I appreciate that Pilates and PT can do something, but it's probably not the stimulus required to build muscle in the quantity/kind required to do much around that 30%.