02-19-21, 06:34 AM | |
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Maryland, USA
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Hi!
I did complete the whole 31 day challenge in January - I can't speak to weight loss because I didn't try to lose weight - and I really don't need to - I did put on some weight as a result of the pandemic, but I had also lost weight due to stress in 2019/2020 so while I'm a bit heavier, it is not entirely a bad thing. I think what helped the most and what enabled me to be consistent w/ finishing the challenge (and I have terrible rotation ADD - once I start a plan I automatically start to miss something I'm not doing, so I generally don't last more than a week with most formal rotations) was the positive messaging in the workouts, as Negin mentions. And, the workouts are short and easy to fit in to my life. I did add on some other things mainly b/c w/ working from home I'm not getting ANY activity in - so sometimes I would do something in the afternoons as a break from sitting or I would add on some yoga or Pilates. I had to be careful not to over do anything b/c that is a trap I can fall into and then, end up getting injured. For good or bad, in spite of or because of being a life long exerciser, my body just can't perform the way it used to - it is what it is -and just have to work with what I have - so, more or less, doing super intense and high impact stuff is just out of the question for me. I also love to workout and it is one of the best parts of my day, honestly, so I can understand that - and I think this is something that Pahla has also mentioned. I will probably not say this correctly, but in either one of her podcasts or one of her running/walking videos she mentions how she loves running and doing marathons, ultra-marathons, etc. She mentions how the pounds started to creep up on her and how she had to make a decision as to what was most important to her - running at that level or losing weight. I think at one point, she chose the running and then later decided to focus on the weight loss. So she talked about how she had to be ok with the extra weight in order to train for one of her ultra marathons. She says that now she has cut back her running and mainly does the moderate type exercise that she demonstrates on her channel. So...I think it really comes down to what is most important to you - if you enjoy your workouts and are not getting beat up or injured from them you can decide to be ok with the extra pounds and continue on with what you are doing. Or, if you are very unhappy about the extra pounds, you can also decide to give this approach of moderation a try and see what happens. Like so many things in life we often can't have it both ways - but what you focus on is really up to you - so it is within your power to make the decision. Prior to doing the 31 day challenge, I worked out w/ Pahla quite a bit in 2020 - not exclusively, but fairly often. I think if I were to get other things in my life to line up - like being consistent w/ calories, drinking my water, etc. I would get more visible results - but I'm really not 100% committed yet, to be honest. Maybe once I try to fit into my pre-pandemic pants, I'll feel differently, LOL! This month, so far, I haven't done any workouts w/ Pahla and I do miss her messages and the consistency of a routine to follow - so I may go back to her soon - just felt like spending time w/ some other instructors for a change of pace! Donna |
02-19-21, 08:07 AM | |
VF Supporter
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Texas
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Negin's done a good job of summarizing the essence of Pahla's thinking. I discovered her last summer when I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and the doctor told me to exercise, change my diet and lose weight. The exercising part was easy - I already did that - like many of us here on VF, I LOVED to exercise. I did change my diet as recommended by my doctor - to a low carb approach. I hope it's okay to say that.
What Pahla was saying about food and exercise made sense to me, because I had noticed that harder workouts - like I used to do - wiped me out for longer periods of time and I had a more difficult time being consistent working out. I started with her 2020 Weight Loss series and did it twice during the summer. I did other workouts during some Pahla breaks - mainly Cathe - and noticed that my weight loss tended to stall when I did Cathe's stuff, or even Jessica Smith's stuff. So I would go back to Pahla, and the weight would start to drop off again. I did her 2021 Weight Loss Challenge in January and lost some more weight. I'll be the first to say that Pahla's workouts did not cause me to lose weight - that was all about my diet and how many calories I ate - but Pahla's workouts and messaging enabled me to do what I did, which was lose 28 pounds to date. I will be 65 this year, and I never thought I could lose that kind of weight at my age. Yes, it was the diet and calories, but Pahla's messaging and workouts were truly a key component of that weight loss. I'm now well under the goal I set for myself last summer. For those willing to give Pahla's method a try, I would suggest you start with her January 2021 challenge workouts - I thought that challenge was more fun and had more variety than her January 2020 challenge workouts did. Read her ebook: https://pahlabfitness.com/weight-loss-over-50/ and give her a try. Like Donna and Negin, when I was actively trying to lose weight, I found that listening to her monthly YouTube Q & As, or weekly Facebook Q & As, very helpful. Yes, she talks a lot! I get that - I'm a person who is worn out by being around other people and noise - but I've come to appreciate Pahla's chatter. It's a little bit like Charlene Prickett's chatter during her It Figures shows - it's almost all related to health and fitness. When I don't do her workouts, I start to miss seeing her. As for moderation in workouts, you will feel like her workouts aren't enough. That's the idea! I did add on gentle walks, mostly with the dogs, and short daily pilates workouts and found that those did not push me out of the land of moderation. Moderation is different for everyone. In short, I can't say enough good things about Pahla. I found her at the right time and ended up having more success than I ever dreamed possible. Carol |
02-19-21, 09:09 AM | |
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Maryland, USA
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Wow, Carol, that is awesome.
And yes, sadly, it is the food/diet etc. that drives weight loss. Pahla says this too - exercise is for fun and other health benefits, but weight loss is driven by things other than exercise - calories, water, hydration, moderation, rest and mindset. Donna |
02-19-21, 08:30 PM | |
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: S. Illinois
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I've checked out her channel and her workouts seem good, but...I'm sorry...No music?! I love working out to music. I find it more motivating. Even innocuous dull, repetitive music is better than no music at all. In my opinion.
I admit I have not tried to do a full workout because of the lack of music. Maybe I should try actually doing a workout before ignoring her all together. Donna
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Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world. *unknown* |
02-19-21, 10:05 PM | ||
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Illinois
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Quote:
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Sue "I'm just one workout away from a good mood." ~ Valerie Waters |
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02-20-21, 08:48 AM | ||
VF Supporter
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Texas
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Quote:
Carol |
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02-20-21, 08:53 AM | ||
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Maryland, USA
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Quote:
Donna |
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02-20-21, 09:54 AM | |
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: S. Illinois
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Adding my own music? How would I sync it to her exact beat? I need to be on beat to the music in cardio workouts or it just seems...wrong. And I'm not a talented techie, nor do I want to spend time trying to figure that out when there are plenty of other workouts I enjoy that DO already have music.
I might give her a try sometime. Her chatter doesn't bother me. Being a vidiot, I'm used to that sort of thing. Donna
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Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world. *unknown* |
Tags |
diabetes, pahla bowers, rotation, rotations, success stories, successful weight loss, system, systems, weight loss |
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