I am quite overweight and doing hot yoga

Hi Ilyzium

Thanks for posting. I enjoyed reading about your recent wins. You sound confident that you are on schedule for realizing your goals.

Ranting and raving? Huhhh 😉 not at all. I LOVE reading about how you are going and what motivates you. And I know thousands of others come here also to be enthused by others’ stories. So keep it up!

Now for something that bothered me a little about your post. Learning self-discipline is part of your own personal yoga-journey. You are only 2 weeks young here so please consider the following when you are in class.

Your teachers are facilitators and not supposed to be bullies. I am sure that none of them would like to know that you are feeling pushed into NOT drinking water when you feel you REALLY need it.

There are provisos however. Drinking water at the ‘wrong’ times is often the classic technique for students to avoid confronting their own issues (it can mean a myriad of things). If you feel thirsty and you are honestly, truly, rooly (LOL) in need of water then drink it.

Here’s what to do when you feel that thirst sensation. Observe it. Notice whether you are using this intense sensation to flag real thirst, or whether your mind is using it as a decoy to stop you experiencing something that you could work through by say, continuing your pose, or continuing to stand and look at yourself in the mirror. If you work out that you really ARE thirsty, then NOTHING and NO ONE should EVER stop you from taking a drink.

The other proviso is that you TRY to take an opportune moment to take the drink. This means you wait until between poses (which is better than between sets). You are an adult. And yoga is not about law enforcement!

I can tell you having practiced for 2 weeks, that you have probably reached the point where you body is now physiologically acclimatized to the heat and the conditions, so you may actually find from now that you find it much easier to get through the class.

Please keep mindful of supplementing your electrolyte levels and hydrate well. It won’t hurt to take some powder or pill supplement. But remember you are in conditions that are potentially risky. If you need a drink, take it. Learn how to recognize a need and a desire to move out of your focused state and work out what is going to best support your practice by listening to you.

Generally what your teacher offers you regarding drinking or ANYTHING are recommendations. It is their job to make it compelling enough without forcing your will, to do what will support your wellbeing in the best way and with caring and compassion.

Thanks for listening to my rant :cheese:

Namaste
Gabrielle 🙂

I’m also a belly shifter. I maneuver (manually) my belly to get deeper into poses. I’m usually the chubbiest girl in class, but that doesn’t stop me because my teacher isn’t exactly skinny either and it makes me feel good that she isn’t. She reminds me that yoga isn’t necessarily about losing pounds, though it does help you, that’s not usually the main goal.

This thread has been inspiring to me as well and is keeping me motivated!

I’m tracking my diet and writing about my yoga & workout experiences on my blog:

http://thatgirlisinsane.blogspot.com/

🙂

Here’s a quick request – if you’d like to help us develop more resources for helping you with Weight Loss and Hot Yoga – we’d love your input!

It’s a verrrry quick one-page survey … go do it now and we’ll bring you back to the forum on completion!

Give your input here

Thank you!

Robert

all of these stories have left my heart open. I have to say I can relate to what you talk about emotionally and I am so grateful for this journey. I can’t wait to see where it takes me both mentally and physically. I have been practicing steady since last may and I can’t begin to tell you where Its taken me. life changing in so many ways

I can see it’s been a couple of months since anyone posted on this thread, but want to say THANKS SO MUCH to all of you who did. I’ve read it from start to finish, and it is precisely what I needed at this moment.

My first Bikram class is just 10 hours away, and I am SO excited. I can envision already how my commitment to 30 classes in 30 days will shift my life. I have a powerful relationship to commitment, and when something is in my calendar, it is no longer negotiable…tonight I’ve put 6:30am M-F and 8a Sat/Sun classes in my calendar, put my mat/towel in my yoga bag by the door, set out my clothes for the morning and set my alarm for 5:45am…in my mind, I have already begun to act aligned with my commitment.

I was a ballet dancer from age 3-17, and my body has wonderful cellular memory of the feeling of balance, muscle control and awareness…I’ve been missing that for years, and so look forward to embracing it as the woman I am today.

Shortly after my 41st birthday 8 years ago, my thyroid shut down completely and I gained 60lbs in 6 months (mostly in the middle.) Since then, I have lost and regained 20-30lbs at a time, until Oct 2008 when I discovered that food allergies had been part of the problem. Now that I’ve lost about 20lbs and regulated my thyroid by eliminating foods I’m allergic to, I am excited to take powerful proactive steps to create my healthiest, most fit body during the year I turn 50! 🙂

I am a little heat phobic, and one of my commitments is to observe and be calm with any feelings that come up around that and not resist them. This is my time to keep my word to myself, create my being and learn whatever comes up to learn in the process.

I would love to hear from some of you about where you are now, a few months later.

My best to you all!

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Gabrielle! Finished my first class 6:30a today. I am astonished how little the heat stopped me; I really thought it would be the biggest hurdle….come to find out that would be my knees! 🙂

Didn’t know which was the front of the room and which was the back, so I set up where I thought was the “back” as the very nice woman at the desk suggested, only to find out that my spot was within arm’s reach of the instructor! The look on her face and mild suprise in her voice told me this wasn’t where I was supposed to be, but she was very gracious and the room was full. There was nothing to do but press on!

My body did things this morning that if you’d told me yesterday I would do, I would not have believed it! I have a very, very, VEEERRRRYYY long way to go, but my body summoned its cellular memory of balance and flexibility in response to the postures, and I was able to do a whole lot more than I had anticipated, with a healthy measure of strenuous effort. It is the best workout I’ve had in a very long time.

At the end of the class when the instructor acknowledged me for completing the class and everyone in the room applauded, it felt like I’d won some kind of award. The gentle acceptance and welcoming attitude I received from that room full of strangers was extraordinary. I have never been in a place where ego and judgment and negative scrutiny are completely absent, and it is wonderful.

A word about the way it feels after class….my legs were shaky under me and my face was scarlet from exertion and heat and the last thing I wanted to do was put on long pants/shirt (so I didn’t!) The feeling when I left that place, walked into the mild, sunny morning, dropped the top and drove home….the sense of accomplishment, the calm inside…well, I could get used to starting my days this way!

Bonus: After I showered and dressed, my body was craving a smoothie in the worst way….strawberries, blueberries, coconut milk….delicious and light…so I made one and now sitting down to clear my inbox and work.

I have committed to be at 30 morning classes in 30 days, and I am so happy I did! Not going is not an option. Can’t wait to see/feel what it’s like at the end of the month!

Just doing Bikram!

I really didn’t adust my eating habits. Maybe had second thoughts about grabbing a quick cookie in the afternoon, but that’s about it.

I’ve slacked off on my Bikram lately and have been mixing it up with some Pilates, Hot Yoga and a Physique 57 type class. I mainly do my Bikram series at home now. I’m lucky enough to have a room dedicated to yoga and I can get the room heated up to about 95 in the winter and run a humidifier. Summer time I can get it hot like a Bikram studio! It’s on a 3rd floor with skylights and gets pretty toasty.

Good luck with your practice!

Barb

Hi everyone!
I’m a Bikram convert! I’ve only been to 3 sessions so far and I’m hooked! I feel like I’ve deflated and my cravings have massively decreased! I think I’ve lost about 1.5 kgs already!! I’m already making better food choices. All this in just 3 sessions!!

I’d like to draw people’s attention to ‘weight loss’. I recently attended a seminar where they were talking about the power of words. The used weight loss as an example. When we ‘lose’ things, we either consciously or subconsciously want to ‘find’ them again. I don’t know about you, but this makes sense to me! I’ve always wanted to LOSE weight so of course I’ve FOUND weight! So, they recommended that you RELEASE weight like you release stress and tension, which makes it a lot easier to do! So, from now on I’m RELEASING weight and doing my hot yoga!

Hope this helps/makes sense!
Ali

Hi Lisetica.

congrats on posting something which must be very frustrating and I’m sure we all go through at some stage! My suggestion is to try to focus on everything you’ve gained from regular bikram, rather on the things that you expect. Maybe write out a list of every little positive change you’ve made/felt in the last four months? I find that seeing it written down is when I realise how much I’ve achieved!! Even post it on here so everyone can give congratulate you and keep your motivation up!!

Good luck!
Ali

Hi Ilyzium and Lisetica,

Sorry it’s taken me so long to respond.

Ilyzium – I do have cardio equipment at home, a treadmill and recumbent bike, but I rarely use them. I live near the beach and prefer to walk outside. I don’t enjoy doing cardio, but sometimes you just have to do it.

Lisetica – I hope I didn’t give you the impression that weight loss is easy for me, because it’s not. Have always had some meat on my bones. I’ve never been accused of being too skinny and I definitely enjoy food way too much to ever be really thin. Especially ice cream!!! I could definitely afford to lose an additional 20lbs right now. I’m 50 yrs. old and just don’t obsess about my weight as much anymore. Probably will never see single digit numbers again on any of my clothing and I can live with that! LOL I do my yoga (BIkram and Vinyasa flow), pilates and 2x a week walking and whatever happens, will just happen. I feel healthy and don’t take any meds.

It has taken me a while to get to this place mentally. I still have my “fat” days and feel like I look terrible. Sometimes I’ll see a picture of myself taken 10/15 years ago and think, “Wow, I looked good in that picture!” Meanwhile, when the photo was taken, I felt I looked fat! I’ve learned to stop being too critical of myself.

Good luck in your journey.

Barb

Sorry people but going to have a bit of a rant here…..
You know what I really really really REALLY hate??? I that my belly, my boobs, my big thighs get in the way of me doing lots of the poses properly!!! :o( I can’t even get my forehead on my knee with my knee MASSIVELY bent! Anyone else having these problems and what do you do to combat the bulge?

Hi All,
I am a newbie to all this, 12 days and 9 sessions, and am loving it. After reading this thread I am a bit more relaxed about my weight, I too have never been thin, I had lost 3 kg (no idea what that is in pounds!)only to put it on again with the yoga, I do find I am constantly hungry on yoga days , I work at home so too easy to eat when ever I want, just waiting for my appetite to ‘settle’ down as other have described. And I am trying not to look at the scales as I do feel my clothes are feeling loser and more comfortable.
Getting the whole eating drinking, replenishing thing right is tricky, but this forum has helped enormously, thank you!

Suzy 🙂

Hi Lisetica,
Your post could just as well have been written by me, because I feel like I am in exactly the same place as you. I am 47 years old, and have always been thin until I hit my mid-30s. I started putting on weight after quitting smoking. Running, weight training, yoga, swimming…all of these things helped to keep it from getting out of control totally, but my weight has been creeping up a few pounds a year for the last 10 years. I started doing bikram in July, and try to go 3-4 times a week, but I am not seeing any weight loss, or even any change in how my clothes fit. I eat healthy: whole grains, fresh fruits/vegs, lean meat for the most part, but do have a glass of wine several times a week which isn’t the best, I know. The one thing I have noticed is that I am getting stronger. I am able to do the poses with more control, my form is getting better, and I am able to hold the more difficult ones longer. My hope is that increased strength will translate to a better muscle vs. fat ratio in my body. Most of my weight is centered right around my middle, so I feel like I have love handles and a “doughy” stomach, which makes some of the poses harder to do because the “inner tube” gets in the way. I am hoping that continued practice will calm down my appetite and boost my metabolism. I am working on drinking more water and less wine and diet soda, which I know is also pretty bad. I just wanted to chime in and let you know that you are not alone, and to hang in there. I am pulling for you.