helenium Member

Used to have bright red lines on my thighs and hips. Now they've faded to white, if I can see them at all, which is nearly impossible except in the brightest of lights. Have also heard the same thing happening to a couple of friends of mine IRL who lost a bit of weight. My best guess (from a limited sample!) is that after…

Bouncing up and down in a shoulder mount, brass monkey mount (though I haven't repeated the success!). Having a massively increased stamina now that the cooler weather has arrived :)

Glad to hear it's good! Be CAREFUL with the forearms. If you're feeling ANY pain then stop and let it rest - that is, don't do any split grip stuff (and NEVER do spins in split grip, it just wrecks your bottom wrist when you can just flip your wrist over). That is usually a really weak muscle before you start (it's not…

I'd say make sure you eat enough, sleep enough and maybe make a midweek break in your regime by moving something to Saturday.

Thank you! I've been trying that but not entirely sure whether it's really helping. It probably is because I feel the stretch there, I just don't seem to be making any progress with the angle I can make.

Handstands! I am SO SCARED of handstands. When I was 6 a gym teacher supposedly 'helped me' do a handstand by holding onto my legs when I was up but she didn't realise she had lifted me clean off the ground and I was hanging by my ankles and petrified. I can't do a handstand yet, but I'm getting used to taking all the…

Hope I'm not late! New weight 131.8 lbs.

My abs are hiding during the winter :)

Bit late, as I've been away for a while having interviews. I couldn't weigh in on Friday, but have my most recent weight (also the same weight on Wednesday). 133.0 lbs

Yeah I use 40 mm because my hands aren't that big, but 45 mm is best in case you end up doing competitions one day.

Quick heads-up that I won't be able to weigh next Friday as I'm having interviews and staying overnight somewhere else for a few nights. But I'll give you my Wednesday weight if that's acceptable!

For my 2013 goals, I want my split grip aysha back, and comfortably without requiring grip aid. If I'm lucky I'll get the handspring but my attitude to pole at the moment is so incredibly pessimistic that I'm not sure I'll get that far. (See?)

While you're learning the caterpillar climb, try sliding one leg, then the other, as a simpler variation. Should be easier but build up strength for both at once. Also recommended - my pole teacher introduced me to super invert before caterpillar climb to get the pain threshold built up in the elbow grip, and to build…

Any clothes apart from leather and PVC and the like will not provide extra grip. But if you're showing off moves like the gemini or scorpio etc., once you'd really comfortable in the move you'll be fine without the side grip. Eventually! You'll take it more in the knee-pit as your hamstring gets stronger and more…

133.8 lbs as of this morning. Gonna be interesting losing 1 lb/week - I'll be happy with half that, but aim high! Gotta get this fluff off my stomach so I can see my abs again :)

1. Helen 2. Oxford, UK 3. 191 lbs (Jan 2011) 4. 133.8 lbs 5. 126 lbs (this is almost perfect, 7 lbs!) 6. Pole dancing as an art form and avoiding buses. 7. I'm a biochemist determined to further the frontiers of medical science - just finishing my Masters now!

There are no nitrogen (a type of atom) in fat reserves, which are composed purely of oxygen/hydrogen/carbon. However, nitrogen is needed to make protein, which is the useful component of muscle. In fact, the body has no way of storing nitrogen and this is why it's passed out into the urine. So you need to get nitrogen…

a) this is done in mice. This does not mean it is equivalent in humans, we have very different physiology in some respects. b) in what quantity were the mice fed methyl-glyoxal? Because if it's the equivalent amount to 1000 sausages, as is often the case when people research isolated chemicals, the results aren't really…

I kept cramping on a particular move in pole. Did it ~ 15 times and I cramped 100% of the time. My pole teacher had heard from a reputable source that tonic water can provide a quick term solution to cramping due to the taurine. I was not convinced, but we went out and bought tonic water and I drank it. I must have done…

I'd tend to keep the 20-30% reduction in with the calorie burn. Not because that's how many calories you've burned, but you'd probably want to spend that on protein to build the muscle from the workout. I would hate to work my butt off on the pole for 4 hours and then not get EVERY LAST GRAM OF MUSCLE I DESERVE. :)

I brought sexy back, but I disliked the video too much so I took it down I'm afraid! Not enough pointed toes, and it wasn't sexy enough. Have you watched the full 9-hour playlist?

Me: Our instructor reminded us if we ever do decide to pole dance naked, avoid the sit-based moves because... well, ALL skin grips. Friend: OW. Boyfriend: Who in their right mind would ever pole dance naked!? Friend: ... strippers? Boyfriend: Oh... oh yeah. Good point. My boyfriend forgot that strippers exist. Hahahaha.

You didn't say you needed those abs, right? *steals* You look incredible. I do mean "incredible" as in "unbelievable" - you've SHRUNK and gained weight. Hard to believe!

I honestly don't think my grip is secure enough! I just imagine as soon as I lose my thigh grip I'm going to slide onto my head! Aerial invert is fun :) Keep working on your aerial invert itself, hopefully it'll correct your technique for inverting off the ground as well... :)

I'm 5'4.5"!

I'm in this by the way - forgot to post. Not long to go now, my fat loss stalled a bit though (abs are probably strong enough already!) P.S. my pole teacher gave an amazing new abs routine which HURTS LIKE HELL... must be good :D I'm ill so can't do it right now...

Thank you everyone :D I really appreciate the comments!

Just trying to fix the last two pics...

Congratulations, you. Getting to the stage of doing one full pushup rather than a knee pushup is a milestone! Most women go through life never managing to do a full pushup so feel proud.

I've been pole dancing for 8 or 9 months now. The fitness gains are unbelievable. I really never thought I'd be able to lift myself upside down... now I'm doing that and more! For me, it really complements purer cardio exercises like running. Pole is a good balance between cardio and strength. P.S. a) make sure you have a…