One year of nearly daily home mat pilates and results

[Anonymous]

OP as followup to above. In case you're worried about clicking on weird link. Go to Amazon search Suzy Karadsheh Mediterranean Dish. She also has a youtube.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the cookbook recommendation - it looks great! I ordered it & will have it delivered today. Now I have exciting dinner plans.

[Anonymous]

I love this--thank you so much for sharing!! Also, thanks for the recommendations!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Happy to help. It's hard as we get older juggling everything. Human nature we want quick results. But I realize that doing a daily practice, there may not be much difference from say week 3 to week 6. But the changes are subtle and compound over weeks and months. I also sometimes feel that pilates is like physical therapy. I think of exercise as a slow sculpture with small changes that grow upon themselves. Also meant to say that bc my core is stronger, my lower back pain that I'd get periodically from sitting too much is significantly improved to gone! I'd say that result took 3 to 4 months for me to suddenly realize. I just think of all the improvements to my wellness and flexibility strength underneath that is not very visual but is just as important. Also when I first started doing lots of lunges I was always a little wobbly. But after a few months I realized that I don't wobble anymore. This stability translates to better strength and maybe one day it will reduce my risk of a bad fall once I'm a really old lady. My only regret is that I didn't start 20 years ago. But that's OK bc I was busy chasing my children around then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Happy to help. It's hard as we get older juggling everything. Human nature we want quick results. But I realize that doing a daily practice, there may not be much difference from say week 3 to week 6. But the changes are subtle and compound over weeks and months. I also sometimes feel that pilates is like physical therapy. I think of exercise as a slow sculpture with small changes that grow upon themselves. Also meant to say that bc my core is stronger, my lower back pain that I'd get periodically from sitting too much is significantly improved to gone! I'd say that result took 3 to 4 months for me to suddenly realize. I just think of all the improvements to my wellness and flexibility strength underneath that is not very visual but is just as important. Also when I first started doing lots of lunges I was always a little wobbly. But after a few months I realized that I don't wobble anymore. This stability translates to better strength and maybe one day it will reduce my risk of a bad fall once I'm a really old lady. My only regret is that I didn't start 20 years ago. But that's OK bc I was busy chasing my children around then.

I totally get the pilates as PT. I did PT before and some of the moves were the same. I did reformer pilates but also had incredible results. My core is so strong now.

[Anonymous]

Inspiring!!! Thanks for sharing

[Anonymous]

You sound orthorexic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So you’re naturally thin, eat completely healthy and have for decades, walk 30 mins a day and have for decades, added 30 mins of exercise a day, and are even healthier?

yes, pretty simple huh? No need to make a big deal of it anyone can do this

Barring medical reasons, anyone can do it if they are willing to put time and consistent effort in, wirh lots of patience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I wouldn't say I'm naturally thin bc in college I quickly gained the standard freshman 15 lbs and was more apple shaped as a young college student.. thanks mainly to the standard college diet of pizza, soda, drinks, junk food. But at the age of 22 upon graduation the weight slowly melted off over a period of a year or so. Like a lot of people starting out I was "poor" after college for a while and didn't eat out much or drink much bc of cost. I always brought a boring lunch to work. I started cooking at home a lot. Not bc I so much wanted to but bc I couldn't afford so much takeout. But I started to feel much healthier as i had cut down on salt sugars and added fats. So by the time I was 24 say, I was a lot healthier in terms of diet, and then years and healthy journey just continued from there. It's a misnomer to think that those who are slender are there bc it is natural. Of course with a couple pregnancies I gained the standard weight and lost that over a period of three months or so.

I Still do bring home lunch when I went into office. I do drink coffee with half and half but I never order those fancy coffee drinks with flavourings and sugars. I don't drink alcohol. I used to drink a little wine on weekends with dh but stopped completely in my mid 40s bc itngave me a headache and affected my sleep. I do like dessert esp at a nice restaurant but eat it only maybe 3 or so times a year. I can't day no to creme Brulee if I'm at Clyde's. Although it is so rich I usually split it with dh, but not always.

I'd recommend Move with Nicole on YouTube. She has multiple Playlists. I started with the beginner Playlist and went from there. Some of her videos are 35 plus minutes but I always stop at 30. Most of her videos are 30 min or less. At first when I started mat pilates I was very uncoordinated and it was very difficult. I've slowly gotten better with form. Although the wonderful thing about pilates is that it is always challenging. Nicole has different levels of pilates.

I’m happy you’re happy! But….

—You’ve been the same weight since around 22…you mention the freshman 15 but not more college weight gain but either way, it was gone w/in a year of college graduation and you’ve maintained it for decades.

—You lost your baby weight within 3 months of giving birth - each time.

— Eating desserts - which you love - but you limit to maybe 3 times a year and even then split it

— ”never” get a sugary coffee drink out, etc.

—You lead an incredibly disciplined life (see bolded parts above). I’m not sure many will replicate your results and don’t think people should.

There is much more depravation than moderation.

[Anonymous]

This is helpful to read, thanks, OP!

[Anonymous]

That's great. I have had a similar experience with barre classes. I think the key is finding a form of exercise that you enjoy enough to stick with. Transformations are possible at any age, but it takes time, effort, and discipline to make them happen.

[Anonymous]

Pilates really is incredible for so many things, especially core. I did reformer pilates years ago and now just floor here and there, and the gains have not gone away: my stomach looks defined and great despite not being particularly thin. I will say it's important for people to learn proper form first with some classes with a qualified instructor, because there are a lot of subtle position changes that can affect how effective the exercises are.

[Anonymous]

I agree 100% with lessons to assist with form!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I wouldn't say I'm naturally thin bc in college I quickly gained the standard freshman 15 lbs and was more apple shaped as a young college student.. thanks mainly to the standard college diet of pizza, soda, drinks, junk food. But at the age of 22 upon graduation the weight slowly melted off over a period of a year or so. Like a lot of people starting out I was "poor" after college for a while and didn't eat out much or drink much bc of cost. I always brought a boring lunch to work. I started cooking at home a lot. Not bc I so much wanted to but bc I couldn't afford so much takeout. But I started to feel much healthier as i had cut down on salt sugars and added fats. So by the time I was 24 say, I was a lot healthier in terms of diet, and then years and healthy journey just continued from there. It's a misnomer to think that those who are slender are there bc it is natural. Of course with a couple pregnancies I gained the standard weight and lost that over a period of three months or so.

I Still do bring home lunch when I went into office. I do drink coffee with half and half but I never order those fancy coffee drinks with flavourings and sugars. I don't drink alcohol. I used to drink a little wine on weekends with dh but stopped completely in my mid 40s bc itngave me a headache and affected my sleep. I do like dessert esp at a nice restaurant but eat it only maybe 3 or so times a year. I can't day no to creme Brulee if I'm at Clyde's. Although it is so rich I usually split it with dh, but not always.

I'd recommend Move with Nicole on YouTube. She has multiple Playlists. I started with the beginner Playlist and went from there. Some of her videos are 35 plus minutes but I always stop at 30. Most of her videos are 30 min or less. At first when I started mat pilates I was very uncoordinated and it was very difficult. I've slowly gotten better with form. Although the wonderful thing about pilates is that it is always challenging. Nicole has different levels of pilates.

I’m happy you’re happy! But….

—You’ve been the same weight since around 22…you mention the freshman 15 but not more college weight gain but either way, it was gone w/in a year of college graduation and you’ve maintained it for decades.

—You lost your baby weight within 3 months of giving birth - each time.

— Eating desserts - which you love - but you limit to maybe 3 times a year and even then split it

— ”never” get a sugary coffee drink out, etc.

—You lead an incredibly disciplined life (see bolded parts above). I’m not sure many will replicate your results and don’t think people should.

There is much more depravation than moderation.

I don’t know… I do everything OP does except that I drink alcohol sometimes but apart from that my story is very very similar (the freshman 15, the very good routine and discipline since then, the stable weight including post pregnancy, minimal sugar, no processed food etc..) and I find her experience very motivating. I don’t deprive myself but moderation definitely defines my habits. I doubt I am the only unicorn relating to OP.

Her results and how great she feels (the PT/ posture effect included) reminded me of the times I got very into Pilates but for external reasons couldn’t stick to it for as long and regularly as she did. I am 44 and I will start again tomorrow! Thank you OP for the motivation.

[Anonymous]

Thanks OP for the encouragement and great summary of your experience. Can I ask when you fit your session into your day - and if you have any tips on what worked/didn't? I've been trying on and off for a couple years to add home workouts but haven't found a way to be consistent...