bean-pole babes

[Miranda]

Well, the short of it is... I am not feeling like one here lately. *sigh*

Since my Fall century crash, p.t. recovery, holidays, etc. I'm up about 8-10#s-ish from my in-season riding weight. So, gotta work on that coming off. BUT, here's a kicker...

I teach Spinning at my gym. I've picked up more classes since winter. I just seem to never be re-covered enough to get my "me time" ride in. And starving straight out just sux. Plus, my body needs fuel to ride-teach.

I truly love teaching. But, I'm just at this plateau between in-put & out-put. However, for the first time ever... I feel this pressure to be thinner--for professional reasons. (There are some really skinny teacher girls at the gym, and a lot of watching what you do as an instructor... has it's own weird cult.)

I do not like that feeling at all. I can't imagine how Hollywood celebs must feel. It's like the feeling is sabotaging me mentally to get the weight off.

It's hard to even describe it. But, it's like part of me goes on "break" when I'm done with my teaching. I find myself eating some junk I should not be. Besides I feel like my body needs food to perform.

I know we have a lot of variety on this board. And supportive peeps for sure. How am I gonna get this crazy block out of my head!

[Veronica]

You are what you are. You need to learn to be happy with yourself. I think for some of us it's an on going battle. You can't go through life comparing yourself to others. All you can do is be the best YOU possible.

I will never be a twig. But my last body fat testing came in at 18.9%. That gives me 119 pounds of lean body mass. There are lots of chicks who weigh less than that... so what. I've achieved some things I never dreamed possible. I'm going to make the best of what I've got and have fun doing it. You should do the same.

Veronica

[shootingstar]

The whole class can't be like that..bean pole cultish, insecure, etc. Or is it?

Ah, heck Miranda I learned long ago I can't be/don't want to be blonde beautiful, never want to dye my black hair blonde (but some Asian women do, for Pete's sake) ... so there are ALL types of things that could easily pull down a person. ..besides "wrong" weight/size. Many things that person cannot genetically change.

Of course, this has nothing to do with your cycling competence..which is the whole point.

If you're working out the class well and some students look /comment on how it's benefitting them..then that's the best compliment to a teacher.

Have you asked any of these students if it's helping them?

[XMcShiftersonX]

I'm sorry you're struggling with this. I used to be really skinny because I was under a lot of stress and felt nauseous all the time and ended up losing a lot of weight unintentionally. But over the last couple of years, that has subsided and I've been riding a lot more. I've gained about 10 pounds, but I'm actually happier with how I look now, because riding has made me way more muscular. I may look at myself and think I'm thicker, but it feels right, because I know if I was as thin as I was before, I would never be able to do the things on my bike that I do now. I'm proud of my body because of how it powers my bike. I don't know if that perspective helps at all. I think the most important thing is that you're healthy, and that you're able to do the things you need to physically. Also, if you're recovering from an accident, know that your body will fluctuate throughout your life because of different circumstances, and it's okay. I think most of us are probably harder on ourselves than is necessary, and we are good enough, even if we don't feel it. Probably my other bit of advice would be to not take for granted what you have now, because it can easily be taken away from you, and things could be a lot worse. But I'm sure you realized this after your accident.

-Jessica

[NbyNW]

When I learn that a fitness instructor has their own experience with injury and everything that comes with getting back to where you were before the injury, I tend to read that as a kind of "street cred." Those are the instructors I want to take classes from -- the ones who know firsthand about the pain, and how it affects your entire being, not just the injured body part, and how it can be a very long, slow process. But that's just me, and I tend to take classes that are smaller so that I can communicate with the instructor about adjustments I can make to what we're doing if an issue with my injuries pops up. Which is probably why I don't take spin classes.

I don't know what the dynamics of a spin class are like, but IMHO if all instructors were expected to have a certain physique, I would imagine that could be intimidating to some people in the class. Do you get to know your students at all? Do they get to know you? Do you have time to hear about their fitness goals and tailor the workout to those goals? Or do people just get in, spin, and leave?

I guess what I'm getting at is that you might be able to find some creative way for this struggle to help you grow as an instructor and to inspire your students not to quit on their own goals and struggles.

Good luck!

[lph]

I don't what it's like to be an instructor and have your body "critiqued" directly or indirectly. But my take on it is this: for every instructor that is not a bean pole, you have a whole lot of people taking or watching the class who feel at home and take heart that you do not have to be uber-skinny to be fit, or to wear work-out gear in public. This is what people look like. This is normal variation. As is grey hair at 40 for that matter, or A-cup boobs on many women, all of which we forget if everybody tries to hide it or change it.

You're the best possible role model if you can inspire people, work on getting fit and getting them fit, and show your love of teaching without being the skinniest one there. You can even crack jokes about it, if that suits your personality.

[WindingRoad]

Well, the short of it is... I am not feeling like one here lately. *sigh*

Since my Fall century crash, p.t. recovery, holidays, etc. I'm up about 8-10#s-ish from my in-season riding weight. So, gotta work on that coming off. BUT, here's a kicker...

I teach Spinning at my gym. I've picked up more classes since winter. I just seem to never be re-covered enough to get my "me time" ride in. And starving straight out just sux. Plus, my body needs fuel to ride-teach.

I truly love teaching. But, I'm just at this plateau between in-put & out-put. However, for the first time ever... I feel this pressure to be thinner--for professional reasons. (There are some really skinny teacher girls at the gym, and a lot of watching what you do as an instructor... has it's own weird cult.)

I do not like that feeling at all. I can't imagine how Hollywood celebs must feel. It's like the feeling is sabotaging me mentally to get the weight off.

It's hard to even describe it. But, it's like part of me goes on "break" when I'm done with my teaching. I find myself eating some junk I should not be. Besides I feel like my body needs food to perform.

I know we have a lot of variety on this board. And supportive peeps for sure. How am I gonna get this crazy block out of my head!

Miranda,

I've been doing a lot of spinning recently too with the bad weather and all. One of the instructors I used to take on a regular basis has been more than a bit concerning to look at lately. About a year ago she was slender but healthy looking; she was toned and actually had some muscles. This year, wow. She looks like her thighs are as big around as my calves, her arms look like spaghetti and her face is sunken in all over. I also notice now she is wearing long sleeves and long tights in her classes. I see her teaching when I come in to go to the later class and I always wave. She seems like a very nice person but obviously the body image stereotype has influenced her. You don't EVER want to look like that so if you have gained a little weight since your injury it's OK. As long as you are healthy, that is what you want to focus on. And anyways we are on the brink of cycling season, chances are once you start getting out on your real bike again those extra couple pounds will disappear and you'll forget all about them.

It's difficult to ignore the media and the stereotypical images the gyms portray. As I went in to my gym the other day I notice a girl on an advertisement poster: she's tall, super skinny, 'wearing makeup', skimpy clothes (sport bra and short shorts) and of course blonde and tan (no offense to those who are, just making a point). I'm thinking to myself, 'She looks like a model off of the Frederick's catalogue except she's in workout gear, WTF?' 'Am I here to workout or cat around? Again, WTF?' Yeah, THAT's not intimidating at all! I don't think you should let this stuff bother you, we all see it and it's ridiculous. It's EASY to get sucked in to that thinking, it can unconsciously eat at you and make you very unhappy. You don't want to be unhappy so realize that for 99% of us women, that stereotype isn't reality and we are happy.

[tulip]

Everyone here is giving you good advice about body image, so I won't repeat it.

If it were me, I would not work there. Spinning is very popular and good spin instructors are in high demand. Look elsewhere.

[marni]

As I went in to my gym the other day I notice a girl on an advertisement poster: she's tall, super skinny, 'wearing makeup', skimpy clothes (sport bra and short shorts) and of course blonde and tan (no offense to those who are, just making a point). I'm thinking to myself, 'She looks like a model off of the Frederick's catalogue except she's in workout gear, WTF?' 'Am I here to workout or cat around? Again, WTF?'

I agree with the "cat around" gym clothes. Some of the "babes" who wear highly exposed areas of flesh, really shouldn't be exposing their jiggles quite that much. Then there is the highly made up skinny tight jeans, sequins and lots of chains chinese looking "madam " who brings in three or four young ladies, all in skanky too small, too tight, too bright workout clothes and sits and supervises them while they work out. And don't get me started on the studs, wanna be studs and think they are studs. Then there are the older ladies in hair curlers sitting and politely pedaling on the stationary bikes and shouting amen as they watch "pastor billy bo " praise Jesus! Amen sister, amen.

You'd think after five years of working out, I might have at least have some slightly fashionable or color coordinated workout clothes except that I prefer comfort to fashion and so my cotton jersey tights are a couple of years old and I just buy white workout shirts. it doesn't stop me from looking at and admiring some of the more conventionally dressed women in nice outfits, I just can't worry about constantly spending that much money for something I am going to sweat out to dripping on a daily basis. guess I just don't know or care where to shop.

[PamNY]

I agree with the "cat around" gym clothes. Some of the "babes" who wear highly exposed areas of flesh, really shouldn't be exposing their jiggles quite that much. Then there is the highly made up skinny tight jeans, sequins and lots of chains chinese looking "madam " who brings in three or four young ladies, all in skanky too small, too tight, too bright workout clothes and sits and supervises them while they work out. And don't get me started on the studs, wanna be studs and think they are studs. Then there are the older ladies in hair curlers sitting and politely pedaling on the stationary bikes and shouting amen as they watch "pastor billy bo " praise Jesus! Amen sister, amen.

Your gym sounds like so much fun. That would totally get me to sign up.

[tangentgirl]

Shop at TE, Marni!

[marni]

te is great but way out of my workout clothes budgeT. Biking gear I will spend money on but as for training clothes, let's hear it for Target and Sports Authority. marni