Messages

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SUP General / Re: First lesson did not go well. Struggling and disheartened. Bigger person

« on: August 29, 2019, 11:44:02 AM »

Nalu-sup: Thank you for the kind words and advice. I did use the paddle vertically to stand up, this time round and it worked for me.

Supthecreek: You look amazing! Please can you be my 'thinspiration'?!
One of the reasons I'm wanting to keep going is to get fit and lose weight. You look absolutely awesome!
Your 35yo student sounds like me! I'm trying to use the lessons as something to push myself out if my comfort zone and a reason to eat healthy!

Lucabrasi: Yes, on the 10'6 x 32", I got very wet. Spent more time drinking water than I had hoped. Haha!
I'm limited to what the centre has, unfortunately. There only seems to be the small community of paddleboarders and instructors that work around or from the centre, in my area.

Area 10: Thank you for the kind words. I would tell the adult riding a bike that they were doing well and to keep going and I respected them for trying. Perhaps I do need to take my own advice after all, oops!

Admin: I checked my position on solid ground and yes, I did sort of 'roll' forward subconsciously when shifting weight into my right foot.
I'm hopefully going to practice your method of the paddle straight across in front of me, during my one to one on Tues. Fingers crossed!

JimK: Thank you. I'm hoping to rent the 35" inflatable again, as said above but that's the best I have access to.

Ospreysup: Thank you for the advice and the video recommendations. I'm definitely going to watch them when I get a chance.

SanoSlatch: Thanks. I loved the way you described balancing. It did make me laugh. I'm feeling happier that the replies are pretty much telling me it's all practice. It's making me feel like it may be doable, after all.
Glad to hear your friend is kicking cancer in the butt!

SlatchJim: I'm 15 stone. Maybe one day I can buy myself a decent board i feel comfortable on, if I stick at it. It's frustrating that the size choice to rent round here is limited.
Best wishes to your brother in his recovery.

I have to pop out but I'll reply to everyone else once I'm home.
Thanks again to everyone for the encouragement.
 

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SUP General / Re: First lesson did not go well. Struggling and disheartened. Bigger person

« on: August 29, 2019, 11:19:25 AM »

Hi everyone, I'm back!

I'll try and reply to everyone's replies. Be forewarned, this will probably be super long.

Thought I'd give a brief update on the situation.

I went out on Monday with my experienced friend. She hired a board from her friend who instructs and has his own business, selling equipment.
We had a 9'6 Jobe windsurfing board which I believe was 35" or 36" wide and I felt so much happier.
We went out to a little bay/small beach. I mostly stayed in water that was only *just* too deep for me to put my feet down but I fell off a few times and didn't panic so much and all in all, had a nice time. I managed to stand up and paddle for maybe 5 minutes at a time, before losing my nerve and kneeling again.

I had my second lesson on Wednesday night, back on one of the centre's boards. I took their most stable one which was 11'6 (I think!) by 32" (that's the widest they have) and I totally panicked again. We started off in the small pool again for about 10 minutes, before moving out onto the river.
I stood up for all of about 1 minute and my legs were shaking like jelly!
I've come to the conclusion that it's being in a large group and also the fear of falling off in very deep water. 😳 Think I clearly have some social anxiety going on!

Totally typical of my logic: terrified in an enclosed, safe class environment but completely fine in shallower water in the sea(!), with a friend. 😆 I make no sense.

I've booked a private one to one session before the third week of class. I'm hoping once I get over the fear of standing up and staying up, I won't be so worried about it in a large group lesson come week 3.


Windwarrior: Thank you. I've taken on a lot of advice from yourself and others. I admit I did 97% of the last session on my knees!

Dusk Patrol: I'm definitely planning on this being the way forward for a while. I'd like to rent the wide board again - I just hope I can get over the issue in big groups. All the follow-up/social club paddles (after the end of the 4 week course) will be on a Wed evening in a group, with a trained instructor at the front and back. Realistically that's the only way I'm going to get out safely, longterm.

Ststesting:
 I was repeating your mantra of reteaching my brain when I went out on the sea - it helped me try to stop over correcting.

Bulky: Thanks for the encouragement. Impressed at your goddaughter. Wow!
Well done for pushing through, having had people laugh at you (that's awful - shame on them!). Bet if you could see the same people now, you'd have the last laugh.

Thank you, Bean. I had a brief smile through the panic, last lesson. 😆

JEG: That's my plan for the one to one. I'm going to put on my brave pants and just try to concentrate on getting up and down repeatedly, while it's just me and the instructor so hopefully I won't freak about falling so much.

Wetstuff: I'm about 15 stone😳 UK dress size 16.
Thank you, you are completely right. I've realised it's totally a mental thing with me and getting over the worry.

Quickbeam:
Thank you, it did make sense and I've remembered as a technique to try as my confidence hopefully gets better.

PonoBill: Thank you for sharing both your own story and the lady's.  It's really helped and given me some inspiration.

Dwight: Tried the biggest one they had last week 11'2 x 32" - still felt unstable but felt a lot more comfortable on the 35" (maybe 36") one my friend rented Monday. Sadly that's not available for use during the lessons. The biggest one they have is the 11'2, I was on.

805Standup: Thank you. I think I ultimately have to get used to a 32" wide board if I want to continue paddling through the organised groups/from the white water centre. I'm hoping I can stick with it! We will see.

Ichabod: As mentioned above, sadly I'm stuck at 32" if I want to continue doing it safely, setting off from the centre. I'm hoping to get out more with my friend, on a casual "playing around/practicing" basis, in which case we can rent the 35" again. Totally agree with you though, my confidence was miles higher on the wider board.
I should also mention, I'm limited to inflatable only, from
a local resource POV. No one has hardboards to use or hire.

3

SUP General / Re: First lesson did not go well. Struggling and disheartened. Bigger person

« on: August 25, 2019, 04:12:01 AM »

Hi guys.

Just wanted to say thank you for all of the replies. The support and friendliness is much appreciated.

I've had a hectic few days so haven't been online much but I'll read through everything fully over the next day and reply properly.

Didn't want anyone to think I'd gone quiet and didn't appreciate people taking the time to reply - just been super busy.

4

SUP General / First lesson did not go well. Struggling and disheartened. Bigger person

« on: August 22, 2019, 11:33:26 AM »

Hi everyone. I'm new here.

Without giving a long sob story, I've been through a complete and utter rubbish couple of years, put on weight due to some of that and have not felt great in general.

Thought it was about time to stop feeling sorry for myself, lose some weight, get a better level of fitness again and challenge myself socially and do new things and try to get back to the person I once was! Positive attitude and all that.

A friend of mine started paddleboarding last summer and I've thought it looked fun for a long time but being self-conscious and worrying about making a fool of myself put me off.

I finally bit the bullet and signed up for a four week course.

I had my first lesson yesterday and it did not go well. I knew I'd be a bit rubbish but I exceeded my already low expectations and was without a doubt, the worst in a class of 15 others.

I'm a size 16(UK) so knew I'd probably be one of the bigger people but was assured they cater for all sizes.
I have completely reinforced the 'fat lass struggling in the corner' stereotype. I was embarrassingly bad.
I had zero balance (found it difficult to so much as move slightly on the board i.e. changing leg position, leaning back to tighten leash, going from kneeling to sitting).

I had read that it was a fairly easy sport to get to grips with the basics and that bigger people can do it fine so went in thinking I'd be ok.

I'm starting to worry I'll never stand up without falling in or even be able to move.
I was on a large blue and yellow O'shea board (hope I've got the name right) which was 10'6 x 32 and as soon as I slightly shifted my weight, even into one bent leg, to try and bend the other to stand up, the whole thing was tipping to one side.

Is it just a case of practicing? I feel so low and disheartened and kinda hate myself for how it went.

Anyone else either overweight or a bigger or muscled/heavier person that has mastered it eventually?

Went into it so positive and now feel like it's never going to happen.
I'm ashamed to show my face for next week's lesson!

Sorry for the length of this. I'm not looking for sympathy, just an answer as to whether it's doable for someone like me or whether I should put it down to experience and move on?

Thanks.