Posts Tagged ‘The Fat Chick’

Yes, The Fat Chick and I are still going strong. Friday was the end of week 6, I worked out 160 minutes (60 of that was tai chi), and worked out 5 days.

Something weird is happening, because it’s becoming automatic…and fun! Yes, I said FUN!

I’m even contemplating working out again today (Sunday afternoon) because my body feels tight and uncomfortable!

I think the pod people have taken over my body. Seriously…

Honestly, I saw no point in exercising regularly if I wasn’t going to lose weight. Why bother, right?

But this time I’m exercising because:

• all people–no matter what size–benefit from at least 150 minutes of exercise a week. That’s 30 minutes 5 days a week.
• exercise is valuable for other things than just weight loss: range of motion, ease of arthritis pains, basic mobility, and a bunch of other things I can’t remember right now
• my doctor told me she didn’t care what I weighed if I could easily walk a mile or two without dying (although she thinks losing 45 pounds wouldn’t be a “bad idea”–I’ll take that!)

If you’re considering an exercise program and are starting from scratch where I did–consider The Fat Chick. I don’t know of any other local class that considers it ok to exercise for around 15 minutes the first week. The back to basics class I took was an hour long! An hour is exhausting and painful when you are starting to exercise.

Plus, she makes it fun. She humorous at times. Soothing at others. Plus, watching a non-leotard-clad class leader is inspiring. Especially when you know she ran a marathon as a larger woman! On yeah! Bring it on!

I’ve got six weeks to go until the end of the DVD. Monday starts week 7.

Wow, I’m excited…

Do you exercise regularly? Why? Why not?

This is not a compensated review. I bought the DVD and book on my own.

Have you heard about The Fat Chick? She has an exercise program for new exercisers so they ease into an exercise routine.

Repeatedly, I have started exercising, only to hurt myself along the way. I get discouraged. I stop exercising. My entire body seizes up.

Because of inflammatory arthritis that comes with having The Syndrome (aka Sjogren’s Syndrome) that has more lupus and rheumatoid symptoms than the dryness that comes from Sjogren’s, I am encouraged to move. Moving keeps the joints lubricated, making every day life a lot easier.

Last fall I attempted a back to basics class at the park district and failed. I ended up with sore knees and ankles, which defeats the whole idea of regular exercise. You can’t exercise regularly if you can barely walk.

So I was excited to hear about The Fat Chick and her DVD. Honestly, I don’t know where I heard about her, but I think it was over at Ragen Chastain’s Dances With Fat. These two remarkable women–Regan and Jeanette DePatie (aka The Fat Chick) have joined forces and started the wonderful forum for fat people who are fit (or trying to be) at FitFatties. Check it out if you want inspiration and help!

I ordered my DVD and reluctantly pushed it into the DVD player. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much. I was pleasantly surprised! Actually, I was humiliated to only work out for less than 15 minutes the first time. Seriously…15 minutes?!

I decided to trust The Fat Chick and follow her DVD to the letter. I also got her ebook so I could learn even more. That’s how I am when I start something new–I want to learn everything!

The amazing thing: I don’t hurt when I am done working out. There are some muscle pains that come from doing something new, but that’s normal. I am not experiencing any of the pain that makes it hard to walk up the stairs. I feel looser and more limber.

I am also doing tai chi at the park district and love it. For years I have heard that this is a nice low impact, soothing way to gain strength and flexibility. It helps that the other people in the class are hilarious and make the hour fly by.

Today I started week 4 of The Fat Chick’s DVD. Each week’s section of the DVD features a talk from The Fat Chick, a lesson on any new moves, and the week’s routine. There aren’t leotard-wearing models doing the moves–they look like regular women.

Up to now I’ve been doing The Fat Chick’s work out three times a week, plus an hour of tai chi. But I think I’ll add another Fat Chick session to my week. Because I feel like I want more.

Since I am competitive by nature, I like moving into a new week. I feel a sense of accomplishment.

This DVD isn’t just for fat people, by the way. Anyone new to exercise should give this a try. It’s a nice change of pace to start an exercise program without ending up hurt or in pain.

Right now my goal is to get through the DVD. Then we’ll see where I go after that!

Oh, and every time I work out I tweet #goldstar. Seriously, we don’t get enough gold stars in life, so join in when you need one for anything!