Where do I start? I took skating lessons before, when I was like 8 or 9, and I quit about the age of 10. I'm now 18, and I really really want to skate again. Only problem is, in that time, I have gained some weight, and now I am a hundred pounds over my healthy weight. My goal is to start my ice skating when I am thin though to not hurt myself, but I really want to skate now. Is there anyway to skate now? Or should I wait?

Also, should I start out with beginning lessons again when I start? Group or Private? Ice Skating is my dream...I really want to fulfill it.


Thanks.

Skate now! If you're going to lose weight, you'll need to take exercise, and skating is a really fun way to get it!

If I were you, I'd go down to the rink and just have a skate round, get your feet under you again, so to speak. And find out, while you are there, what is on offer in the way of group lessons, private lessons, etc. You might want to take a "casual" lesson with one of the teachers, no commitment either side, just to see where you would slot in in the group lessons.

And good luck!

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Mrs Redboots
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I love my computer because my friends live in it!
Ice dancers have lovely big curves!

I agree! I read or heard somewhere that basic skating (just going around the rink) burns a crazy number of calories--I want to say 300 calories an hour? And I don't know about you, but it's about the only form of exercise that doesn't bore me into a stupor.

ITA. If you wait to lose weight, you may never get started. Skating can be the key to your weight loss. It was for me, and I asked the very same question and received the same answer. Do it!

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I really really want to skate, but my family keeps saying to wait until I am skinnier, blah blah blah. I have a pair of ice skates my Dad gave me for my birthday, and I have yet to use them. I really want to do this...It's totally my dream! I will go and try skating at this current weight one time, and see how it works. If all goes well, I will continue. I am really focused on losing the weight right now, so I am trying to eat better and excercise more. Anyone have any suggestions on the best excercises to get in shape for skating?

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What makes you think you wont get hurt when you are thin? believe me there's nothing worse than landing on a boney rear end.

Stop thinking about it, get out there, trust me you won't regret it and yes the weight will just drop off.

Good luck and let us know how you get on.

If you think you can't skate while you're heavier than you'd like, you're very, very wrong. I'm about 30 pounds more than I ought to be, but it wouldn't stop me. And I recall watching one woman compete a number of years ago--I'm certain that her doctor would have put her at about 100-150 pounds over an 'ideal' weight....and she was competing and kicking butt...she was doing lutzes, while little old me, back when I was at a proper weight, couldn't get past the salchow. So, yes, weight apparently has only a little bit to do with whether one can 'skate' or not.

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You Go Girl!!!

Start skating now. If you don't feel up to doing jumps and spins yet, no big deal. It's a great time to work on your stroking and basic skills.

I know a bunch of adult skaters who have used skating as a way to lose weight and get in shape. You don't have to have a perfect body to be a really good skater.

I would try to find a good and patient coach, or look for group classes that are for adults ... that will get you a good support group right away.

Best of luck!

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"Gravity is a harsh mistress." -- The Tick

I began skating at 14 after the 94 Games. I was a heavy teenager, about 30 pounds overweight. I lost those 30 pounds.

Ice skating is fantastic exercise. I quit for awhile but picked it up again as an adult. Now that I've been skating regularly, I have finally begun to lose weight again, this time I need to lose alot less though. But really, I spent the past two years trying to lose 10 pounds and was totally stuck even though I walked three miles most days. Now that I've been skating three days a week, skating hard, I've finally gotten below that "plateau" I was never able to touch.

Ice skating is high impact, high calorie burning exercise.

Buy some comfy clothes, don't be self conscious and just start again. You are doing something good for yourself!

Wow! Thanks for the outpouring of responses! Now I am definantly going to go out and skate! Thanks so much for the encouragement. I Hope that I will lose the weight along the road, and make it to being a great skater!

Thank you!

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How far along in skating did you get when you were a kid Lydia?

I think you will find that you can get back to where you were relatively quickly.

I was close to doing jumps, but I was afraid to do them, and plus I was frustrated, so I quit. I wish I hadn't...but now I am back doing what I dream of!

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I think, as with anything, start at a very casual and relaxed pace. I find that skating in one recreational skate session is a fantastic fat burning exercise. Naturally, don't skate hard when you're just getting back into it. Your body will eventually get stronger after a number of rec sessions. So when you're feeling strong, skate a little harder with more powerful stroking. If one watches the diet and skates regularly, fitness will go up and weight can be lost.

As others have said, skate now! Don't wait till you are slimmer. You will get slimmer in the process of skating! It's great exercise and you won't even think of it as a workout because you'll be having so much fun.

Nicki

The only negative thing I'll say is that you SHOULD wait until you are thinner (maybe when you are only 50 pounds above your healthy weight instead of 100) to start jumping. You will absolutely destroy your hip joint and knees if you try to jump with that much extra weight on you, even singles done correctly. But you can learn all moves in the field, upright spins, etc, which will help you a great deal in taking some of the weight off. You could also do off ice workouts to coincide with the skating and make the weight come off faster. I don't think you need to wait until starting to skate...but make sure you don't jump until some of the weight's come off, and most importantly, make sure that you have GOOD skates to support your ankles. Those synthetic skates with the plastic heels and blades attached aren't going to do the job for someone carrying 100 extra pounds. Look into a GOOD sturdy pair of skates. I'd reccommend the Riedell Silver or Gold Stars, probably Silver Stars, with MK Pro or John Wilson Coronation Ace blades. I think that despite you being a beginner, it is crucial that you get adequate ankle support because otherwise you could injure yourself. Any other mid entry level skate from other brands should be fine- though stay away from Klingbeil and Grafs because they are much lighter skates and will probably break down too easily. SP Teris and Harlicks are good brands to check out as well as Riedell. I don't like Jacksons, but I'm sure they'd be fine too. Just please make sure your equipment is adequate for you- and good luck with everything!!!

Also..since you asked, the best way to get in shape for skating is CARDIO. Running on an elliptical machine is great and very low impact. I run for 45 mins a day, but you can always start at less. I wouldn't do any weight training until the weight's come off because building muscle on ton of fat will really only make the fat harder to take off. I'd focus on cardio, cardio, cardio. A lot of people mistakenly think skating is a cardio workout, but at the lower levels (anything below doubles, and for some people even past that..) it isn't because you stop too often and the speed and demand of excercises isn't enough to get your body to the anaerobic levels of fat burning. So you actually need to do cardio separately. Hope that helps!

^ I strongly disagree with you on the weight training. Muscle helps BURN fat - doesn't make it harder to come off. Weight training under the guidance of a trainer (at least until you know what you're doing) is greatly beneficial not only to skating but also fat loss.

I'm overweight myself, trying to drop about 30 pounds (I've lost 10 so far) and even if I was 100 pounds overweight I wouldn't let it stop me from doing something I love. Like everyone says just get out there and DO it.

Once again, WOW! Thank you so much for all the advice! I am definantly going to go on and skate, and I am going to do a ton of good excercise, including cardio, as was advised. I will check out the equipment mentioned as well. Thank you all so much for the advice, and taking the time to talk to a girl who has only dreamed until now.

Thanks!

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Start now, but schedule a lesson for your first time on the ice. Also, go to a sporting goods store and get yourself a pair of soft knee pads. They are sold for bicycling and volleyball (some of those are too thick), and cost about $5.

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Hi,

I'd echo what everyone has said. It can be hard when surrounded by the thin and beautiful not to feel inadequate, but skating is for everyone, and if you have even residual skills, you'll be fine.

I am in my late 30s and 'curvacious' - 5 ft 8 and about 160 lbs. I have to take steroids and interferon because I have MS and these don't help at all - since I was diagnosed my weight has increased by about 20 lbs. I hover between a UK size 14 and 16. I had never perceived it as an issue in skating until yesterday when my teacher (who I like a lot) began a sentence with the words "don't take this the wrong way . . .". Uh oh, I thought, she thinks I'm hopeless . . . She continued "do you think things would be a bit easier when your MS flares up if you were a bit slimmer?".

Now I know it was probably born of concern and a comment from someone more used to be surrounded by slimmer, younger models, but I was quite hurt. Silly really, but I can't stop thinking about it and wondering whether I look ridiculous skating . . .

So, this thread is timely and reminds me that I love to skate, I am fit and strong - end of!

Sooky x

Ok, honesty time!

I am 56, 5' 9" and over 200 pounds (about 30 pounds "over-weight") and I HATE exercise but that didn't stop me from returning to figure skating after a 36 year absence! I wish I could say I have lost a lot of weight in the month I have been skating but I haven't - I HAVE improved my conditioning a lot and I am just starting to get some of the old skills back. I still hate "exercise" and have a heck of a time sticking to my "off-ice program" but NOTHING is going to keep me off my skates! I was well up in the advanced jumps when I was 19 and I know I will never do tripples again but that's not going to stop me from going as far as I can!

Get out there and SKATE!

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Dianne
(A.O.S.S.? Got it BAD! )

Aehem, ofcourse she won't feel up to jumps or spins yet... she's a beginner! Gotta learn how to walk before you can learn how to run.

@LydiaW,

tke those skates you've got, go out to public skate and just start skating. See how it feels and while you're there find out what classes they offer. AT the same time though don't let the fact that you can skate overweight deter you from your goal to lose the extra weight you're carrying. You're way too young to be that much overweight!
Eat healthy and in moderation making sure that you burn more calories than you're putting in... exercise every day for atleast 45 minutes! At such a high weight make sure to pick a cardio workout that isn't to tough on your joints, swimming is a good one... make sure you're at aerobic level though otherwise you're ending up wasting your time.
Realize that it will take time to take off this much weight, be patient, take it day by day and don't lose sight of your goal!!! And I think that's where skating comes in the most!

Good luck and you go girl!!!

@StardustSkies,

though I do not agree with your explanation of why she should hold off on heavy wight training for now I too would advice against it. Cardio should be her first priority in order to lose the extra weight... that doesn't mean though that seh shouldn't do ay toning exercises, quite on the contrary as these are very important in the weight losing process as it is needed to support the joints as well as toning the "overstuffed" body and underdeveloped muscles.

I just wanted to second that. Weight training is an excellent way to lose weight, and the extra muscle also raises your base metabolic rate. You may get a bit bulkier at first, but women don't pack on the muscle. This site is full of reliable information for women weight trainers. Cardio is good, too, and I loves me the elliptical machine.

Anyhow, no jumping yet for the reasons stardust said; but you wouldn't wait until you were in shape to start a program of walking, would you? Same thing here: you can do moves and stroking and go for it.

I find that brisk pace walking is a fantastic way to lose weight. Of course....you have to watch the diet...as I mentioned before in a previous post. And you have to do a fair bit of it...like walk briskly for say half an hour to 40 mins a day.

But....on the other hand....just skating with moderate power strokes is also extremely good....and way more fun than just walking around. The more regularly you do it, the better it will be for losing weight and getting fit.