Hello

[Amalie]

Hi

I know NF says don't blame your genetics, but, well, I blame my genetics

My weight is fine. I lost 40lbs about eight years ago, and I've kept it off. I don't have enough muscle, though, and that's where things get problematic.

I have Ehlers Danlos Syndrome Hypermobility type (EDS generically, or HEDS for specific type). EDS is a genetic collagen defect, which causes problems everywhere.

When your ligaments and tendons can't hold your joints together, your muscle does- so having enough muscle is incredibly important. But a constant stream of injuries makes building that muscle difficult, and at this point I have enough permanent injuries that even if I didn't have EDS it might be difficult.

Six and a half months of physical therapy have me at the best physical state I've been in years, and we've transitioned me into reformer pilates classes.

My current schedule is pilates reformer class twice a week if I take the easier class, once a week if I take the more difficult one, and one day of something else (usually swimming, but I'm thinking about adding bodyweight exercises as another option). I also do at least an hour of physical therapy exercises a day, but that doesn't really count.

My goals are to try to build muscle, and to attempt to lower my resting heart rate.

Motivation is to keep my body from falling apart for as long as possible.

[Chris2Brooks]

Hi Amalie,

 

Welcome to the Rebellion. Wow I can't imagine going through what you are going through, but your optimism and drive is very inspirational. Good on you for you making the decision that you can be a better version of yourself. You've got your motivation and your goals and we are here to root you on. 

 

Pilates is great, I recently started doing Pilates and I can feel the difference it's making. Definitely recommend everyone to give Pilates a try once in their life.

 

Keep posting your progress and allow us to root for you.

 

And if you need any assistance or help, feel free to ask. The Rebellion is extremely helpful.

[Amalie]

Chris2Brooks,

Thanks for the welcome

You deal with what you have to, and more people than not survive rather than give up.

Pilates is amazing. I do reformer pilates for people with injuries or health problems, so my classes are scaled back, but the normal classes can give anyone a good workout.

One of my favorite things about pilates is its focus on symmetry. And that since I started, all of a sudden my abs are kicking in when they didn't before. Sometimes it's enough to prevent a fall, and in general it's stabilizing and gives more power to whatever I'm moving.

I'm looking forward to joining the next challenge.

I'll ask somewhere about body weight training. I need to modify whatever program I use, so help doing that would be awesome (for example, the beginner NF bodyweight program uses jumping jacks. I don't know what their purpose is, so I don't know what I can substitute).