Dear Billy Blanks
Dear Fitness Instructors,
Most of my doctors have told me to exercise more. They don’t seem to understand that with fibromyalgia, walking down the stairs is exercise, I just don’t have the energy to "waste" it. Granted, exercise is good for you, but I already have to cut out certain parts of my day, such as a social life, because I don’t have the strength for it. People argue that if you exercise you feel better, however I just feel like death. However, I have been feeling good enough to exercise since the weather changed, which means that I need to find a routine that works for me. The gym is out, because it’s outside the house & I don’t want to go overboard.
So, I needed some good exercise videos. I love tae bo, because I get to kick things, but it’s just too much of a workout for me. I’ve watched several tapes & have developed the following rules for anyone who would be my fitness instructor.
1. Please don’t mention what muscle group I am exercising. If that’s all you have to talk about, it’s a pretty sure bet that the workout is not fun.
2. I may be tired but I can still count. Don’t tell me, "Just one more", & they have us do eleven more reps.
3. Don’t keep telling me I look beautiful & I’m doing a great job. You can’t see me & I’m probably messing it up. Just once I’d like an instructor to look into the TV & say "What the crap are you doing? That’s all wrong".
May 17th, 2007 at 8:37 am
It pays to be honest to your fitness instructor.
May 23rd, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Honesty is ALWAYS the best policy. We just need to learn how to be tactful in doing so.
July 3rd, 2007 at 4:21 pm
Dearest Fibromyalgia Princess,
I felt compelled to respond to your message. Your message popped up on my Google alerts for Billy’s name. He is my husband, and ironically, I have Fibromyalgia also. I was diagnosed in and about 1995, I had no idea what it was. All that I knew was that something was terribly wrong with me. I went from being a vibrant, physically, very active and fit person, to being so tired and sore all of the time, that I knew something was wrong with me.
Even though my husband has created Tae Bo, and yes, he will yell at you to keep going, etc. I don’t think you could find anybody who is more compassionate to dealing with this illness than him. We just celebrated our 33rd anniversary, 34 years together, and he has seen me go from being a very active person, to struggling each day, to get through my day. He has spent many sleepless nights, trying to help me be comfortable enough to sleep. He has agonized over seeing me be in such pain. He pleads with me to tell him what he can do to help me. I tell him that I, don’t even know what to do, and when I’m feeling like that it’s when I rely solely on God to give me the comfort I need.
I know that my husband has a purpose in life, and that is to help and encourage people. See, he is a servant of people. That’s who he is and what he loves to do. Of course he doesn’t know when someone pops in his dvd, what they personally have going on in their life or in their physical bodies. But, I know for a fact that Billy does his best to really touch the hearts of people, to help them the best way that he knows how. I also know that if you were able to talk to him and be around him as a person you would know the compassion and empathy that he has for those of us dealing with this illness. If you would care to ever talk to him personally please E-mail me and I will arrange it.
I hope this finds you having a wonderful pain free day.
God bless,
Gayle H. Blanks
( Fibromyalgia Queen ) Ha-Ha
November 30th, 2009 at 2:40 am
Billy Blanks kicks ass, my girlfriend uses his workouts to stay fit and get in shape fast.
November 2nd, 2011 at 9:35 am
You can start off slowly and build up your energy capacity as you go along. Keep it up and don’t give up