Don't let your weight hold you back!

cyn_love
cyn_love Posts: 97 Member
edited February 11 in Motivation and Support
I've been waiting my whole life to be thinner to be able to fully enjoy life and try new things. I'm tired of waiting! I faced my fears and tried out an aerial silks class - and I'm so glad I did! After just a couple classes, I can already see progress in what I'm able to do. I feel stronger and proud. So go try out whatever you've been putting off - life is too short and you might surprise yourself with what you CAN do!
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Replies

  • totameafox
    totameafox Posts: 1,276 Member
    That is awesome!
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 36,172 Member
    That's so wonderful: Go, you! That looks very fun.

    I couldn't agree more with your point here, and would add age in addition to weight to that "don't let it hold you back" list.

    When I was obese and age 47, I started learning to row - those long skinny boats like in the Olympics, only mine is lots slower. Even though I had been one of those "chosen last in gym class" kids, I fell in love with it and slowly improved. The quality of life increase from getting stronger and fitter was huge, let alone the fun I was having learning and doing it.

    You're absolutely right: Like you, I surprised myself with what I could do, and I'm betting others can do that too. Any of us may have true physical limitations we need to accommodate, but there's no reason to let fear, weight, or age be barriers to trying things we may be able to do. No point in missing out on the fun . . . or the other benefits.

  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,913 Member
    That is so freakin cool!!!
  • Corina1143
    Corina1143 Posts: 4,621 Member
    That looks so fun!!!
  • cyn_love
    cyn_love Posts: 97 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    That's so wonderful: Go, you! That looks very fun.

    I couldn't agree more with your point here, and would add age in addition to weight to that "don't let it hold you back" list.

    When I was obese and age 47, I started learning to row - those long skinny boats like in the Olympics, only mine is lots slower. Even though I had been one of those "chosen last in gym class" kids, I fell in love with it and slowly improved. The quality of life increase from getting stronger and fitter was huge, let alone the fun I was having learning and doing it.

    You're absolutely right: Like you, I surprised myself with what I could do, and I'm betting others can do that too. Any of us may have true physical limitations we need to accommodate, but there's no reason to let fear, weight, or age be barriers to trying things we may be able to do. No point in missing out on the fun . . . or the other benefits.

    Yes, exactly! That sounds awesome, too! Kayaking is something else I’d love to try, but I’m not sure how to get started. Right now, I’m just excited to explore this new hobby!

  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 36,172 Member
    edited February 13
    cyn_love wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    That's so wonderful: Go, you! That looks very fun.

    I couldn't agree more with your point here, and would add age in addition to weight to that "don't let it hold you back" list.

    When I was obese and age 47, I started learning to row - those long skinny boats like in the Olympics, only mine is lots slower. Even though I had been one of those "chosen last in gym class" kids, I fell in love with it and slowly improved. The quality of life increase from getting stronger and fitter was huge, let alone the fun I was having learning and doing it.

    You're absolutely right: Like you, I surprised myself with what I could do, and I'm betting others can do that too. Any of us may have true physical limitations we need to accommodate, but there's no reason to let fear, weight, or age be barriers to trying things we may be able to do. No point in missing out on the fun . . . or the other benefits.

    Yes, exactly! That sounds awesome, too! Kayaking is something else I’d love to try, but I’m not sure how to get started. Right now, I’m just excited to explore this new hobby!
    If/when you decide to pursue kayaking, I have some possible suggestions for starting points.

    If you're in the US (or maybe even if you aren't), check out the links from the American Canoe Association, ACA (which also covers kayaking): They have an instructor finder, and a club finder, for example, that cover many countries, though the info's probably more complete for the US. This is their site: https://americancanoe.org/

    I don't know what there is where you are, but when I started kayaking, I was able to find a organizations that had affordable "learn to kayak" events, and a club that offered pool sessions, both of which had options to use their kayaks for a small extra fee so I didn't need to buy my own to participate. I even went to a whole weekend event the club had, with all kinds of classes, at a YMCA camp. Part of their event publicity included links to organizations from which I could separately rent the necessary equipment for the weekend.

    There are also a couple of kayak businesses around here that have occasional events where people can test drive many different models of kayaks, and they'll give very, very basic intro instruction. Their point, of course, is to sell kayaks, but it's not hard sell at all. Sometimes those are free, sometimes a very nominal fee (less than the cost of going to a movie).

    I canoe, kayak, and row . . . but mostly row, these days. This is me rowing, pre-weight-loss, in my racing single, to give you a feel for what it's like. I think I'm in my 50s in the photo?

    s9qd54e5i108.jpg
  • cyn_love
    cyn_love Posts: 97 Member
    edited February 14
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    cyn_love wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    That's so wonderful: Go, you! That looks very fun.

    I couldn't agree more with your point here, and would add age in addition to weight to that "don't let it hold you back" list.

    When I was obese and age 47, I started learning to row - those long skinny boats like in the Olympics, only mine is lots slower. Even though I had been one of those "chosen last in gym class" kids, I fell in love with it and slowly improved. The quality of life increase from getting stronger and fitter was huge, let alone the fun I was having learning and doing it.

    You're absolutely right: Like you, I surprised myself with what I could do, and I'm betting others can do that too. Any of us may have true physical limitations we need to accommodate, but there's no reason to let fear, weight, or age be barriers to trying things we may be able to do. No point in missing out on the fun . . . or the other benefits.

    Yes, exactly! That sounds awesome, too! Kayaking is something else I’d love to try, but I’m not sure how to get started. Right now, I’m just excited to explore this new hobby!
    If/when you decide to pursue kayaking, I have some possible suggestions for starting points.

    If you're in the US (or maybe even if you aren't), check out the links from the American Canoe Association, ACA (which also covers kayaking): They have an instructor finder, and a club finder, for example, that cover many countries, though the info's probably more complete for the US. This is their site: https://americancanoe.org/

    I don't know what there is where you are, but when I started kayaking, I was able to find a organizations that had affordable "learn to kayak" events, and a club that offered pool sessions, both of which had options to use their kayaks for a small extra fee so I didn't need to buy my own to participate. I even went to a whole weekend event the club had, with all kinds of classes, at a YMCA camp. Part of their event publicity included links to organizations from which I could separately rent the necessary equipment for the weekend.

    There are also a couple of kayak businesses around here that have occasional events where people can test drive many different models of kayaks, and they'll give very, very basic intro instruction. Their point, of course, is to sell kayaks, but it's not hard sell at all. Sometimes those are free, sometimes a very nominal fee (less than the cost of going to a movie).

    I canoe, kayak, and row . . . but mostly row, these days. This is me rowing, pre-weight-loss, in my racing single, to give you a feel for what it's like. I think I'm in my 50s in the photo?

    s9qd54e5i108.jpg

    Thank you so much for the advice! I'm sure we have similar seasonal programs around here somewhere. I'm really scared of flipping my boat and being stuck underwater - I had a traumatic canoe experience many years ago. But like I said - I'm tired of letting things hold me back!

  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 36,172 Member
    The first thing in my kayak pool class was learning how to "wet exit" a sea kayak - a kayak with a spray skirt all around the body attached to the kayak, water doesn't get in, so a person could hang upside down in water all day long if they wanted to . . . which they don't. :D Without the spray skirt, when the kayak flipped, a person will just fall right out.

    We also learned techniques for righting the boat with paddling companions' help, so we didn't need to exit into the water. If we did exit into the water, they taught us how to get back in alone, or with companions' help. They taught us how to get water out of the boat after getting back in.

    It was all covered, and even the very most fearful people in the class were able to do it, by the end of that first class. If you want to do it, you can do it. :):flowerforyou:

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