Perspective Plus discussion

Raise you hand if you hated gym class.

O.K.,that's just about everyone.

I got A's in gym. When I was in elementary school, we had one teacher for 3rd-8th grades for gym. (She had a degree in phys.ed.) She was not the drill-sargent type,thankfully, and we did not have a full gym (that was built after I left) so we had to make due with a small playground and church basement/school lunch room for indoor gym. I got credit for dressing for gym and making an effort, so I got A's.

In high school, I got A's for the same reasons. I tried and I was dressed in my gym clothes. I still resented gym, and still do really dislike most exercise. I will walk upon occasion, usually with the boyfriend, but mostly I swim as most of you know. I did try things in the past, but they all left me tired, sore, and cranky. I always felt behind everyone else,and that led to feelings of "There's something wrong with me." There wasn't then nor is there now.

I was being forced to do things my personal body had trouble with. When you exceed a certain size, EVERYTHING MOVES! I have said many times when I have lost my balance that the fat went one way and I went the other. People think I'm being funny. It's true. Fat has a mind of it's own and it will list to one side or keep trembling well after you have ceased moving. To quote Homer Simpson "Whoo-hoo! Look at that blubber fly!"

The guidelines for exercise say 30 minutes x times a day/week. Did you know that those numbers are only for leisure time and do not count any movement you get at work or other times? If you are a construction worker, your job does not count under the guide lines even though it is very much like exercise. I agree with the notion that it does not have to be all at once. I think breaking it up in smaller doses is just fine. You're still getting movement that maybe you weren't before.

I mean really. If you are going from no movement to sudden "come on girls! Lift those legs!", and you are gasping for breath after 1, maybe you are trying too hard too fast. I have read a few articles over the years that has seemed to shock the exercise industry, but to anyone with a half a functioning brain cell it should be obvious, that larger people have trouble with traditional exercise. They spent a good deal of money on these "studies" that I could have told them for free.

One trainer decided to come up with exercises for larger clients because he *gasp!* listened to them and realized that when they step down, there is more force and that fat jiggles! So one person listened, but how many exercise classes do you see geared to larger people? I don't at my Y or see one at any other Y in the area, nor do I see them offered by any local or chain gym/workout centers.

I found my own exercise in the pool. Others run, do aerobics or walk on a treadmill, but no one has offered me a class of my own, with other bigger people all going at the same pace. If we could be with others who are like us, would we exercise more? Since humans have a herd mentality, I think so. By having classes geared for us, and equipment geared to hold our weight, I think more larger people would exercise more if we didn't have to be embarrassed about it because out thinner counterparts weren't out running us.

I think it's high time that we get equal time and effort put into classes designed for us, for those of us who want to be healthy and don't have a place to start....maybe we should create our own version of Curves, only you have to weigh over x lbs. to be there, no mirrors, no negativity, and equipment that works no matter how big you are,and of course, plenty of support.

Be healthy, be well, be you.

I understand where you are coming from Kim and have struggled with this too. I recently became handicapped to top it off. I have terrible arthritis in both knees and am awaiting the Doc's permission to get knee replacements. Her reasons for not making the appointment now? I am too young and she would like to see me loose some weight. Now, lets think about this, I can't do anything weight bearing it is too painful and against Doctor's orders. I can walk about 30 meters before I give into pain and have to sit down. I can stand about 5 minutes tops. This being said I do attend gentle stretch (hydrotherapy) in the warm water pool at our local city rec centre twice a week. I could use a recumbent bike but when calling around to local gyms they either do not have a recumbent bike as part of their equipment or they want to charge me full price gym membership so I can utilize their bike for 15 min 3 times per week. Ok, I have controlled food intake and my weight is up and down because of it. Other than that I am at a loss as to how I am supposed to lose this weight. Next year I'll be 50 so I have the age thing under control. A gym that catered to big bold and beautiful women would be ideal since I would think when purchasing equipment they would have our limitations in mind.

My cousin went through this many years ago. She was well under 40, but due to an accident, she had knee problems and needed replacement surgery. The doctor was reluctant to do it because she would most likely have to go through it again in her 60's. So? She needed new knees now, and she was a teacher at the time, with many years ahead of her...due to the knees, early retirement. She did finally get new ones, but it was too little too late.

As for the rec center, if they don't have a recumbent bike, look into an arthritis aqua exercise class or an aqua Tai Chi. (I will swear by the Tai Chi. It did wonders for me until it got cancelled. I am trying to lobby them to bring it back, and I am offering to teach it for free if they will.) Since they are geared for joint pain and such, they are more about stretching and the like. Otherwise, check into your local YMCA or YWCA. They offer scholarships for membership and I have one. I pay around $15 dollars a month, and as long as I go 4 times a month, I keep my scholarship. It may be a solution to the bike issue for you. I know mine has 2.


As for the gym thing, I was thinking like "Curves" but open to everyone, but there would be a minimum weight requirement. The idea being that if we are all truly large (and not just *think* you are, then working out would be more comfortable. "Curves" runs on the idea of "NO men, NO mirrors, NO shame". My idea runs on "NO Tears, NO Shame, NO fears." All equipment would hold up to a 1,000 lbs. so that it would work correctly no matter how big you are. (Treadmills at my Y still slow down when I'm on them since most average ones are geared to work for 250lbs. or less.) All trainers would be fit and healthy larger people who understand what it means when your body jiggles with every step.

Nutritionists who specialize in larger people would be available to those who wish to see one, but it would not be for being on a diet, but how to incorporate healthy changes in your diet. A diet should be what you eat, not what you are on. I would leave the mirrors up though. I would love to have 2 or 3 pools, one for laps, one for therapy, and one for aqua based exercise classes.

We could have fluctuating memberships that would allow you to pay for what you use, and we would look at teaming up with local hospitals for health screenings and the like. Maybe even do charity events.....

Last night as I was trying to slow my brain down so I could get to sleep, the idea of what the pool means to me now started weaving it's way into my thoughts. One of my friends and I were out this weekend to celebrate our birthdays 9we're 2 days and 8 years apart. She's older, hee-hee) and I asked her "Did you ever think you'd see excited about exercise?" I can ask her hard questions like that. We've known each other for over 2o years. She said, "No, not really. Being healthy by eating well, yes, exercise no."

Frankly I amaze myself at how much I love to swim and how much I look forward to going swimming each week. I find it instantly relaxing to just step into the water and how much better I feel just thinking about swimming. Narzain will most likely say I "glow" or something like that when I go swimming. As I was thinking last night, it dawned on me why the pool is so good. It doesn't judge, it's always the right size, I fit into it with no problem, it always works the way it's supposed too, and I can go at any pace and have it be beneficial.

When I had to do 3 days a week under the "Go Fit!", land exercises were hard. The seats on the machines are too small, the treadmills slow down, the bike seats are too small and the the stair and elliptical machines are too hard on my knees, so I was not feeling too good about using those things. Yet, once I was on my own to go as many or as few days as I saw fit, I found that I really looked forward to those pool days. I still do. Water is supportive, challenging, forgiving and just there.

I used to feel that exercise was a terrible thing, and it can be when you are a larger person, but it is not the sadistic torture I once thought it was.

How amazing that I can feel that way in just 4 years. I am still amazed at what I have done and what I am doing now. I am still me, but with rare pride, self esteem and self worth. I still like my idea of a work out place dedicated to full bodied people... hmmm, still a good idea. Extra wide seats on bikes and machines. Wider benches in the changing rooms...