[Hobart007]

Hi all,

Per Fran's advice a while back on these forums, I've been losing weight (60 lbs in the last 10 weeks w/ doctor supervision and no drugs/surgery) to improve my game. Something I did not foresee is that my game has actually gotten way worse as I try to adjust to not having to work around myself.

I know that I need to put in a lot of table time to adjust to things but my questions are as follows:

1. Is there anything particular I can do to speed my acclimitization?
2. I am planning to lose another 80 lbs or so. Will working to get used to a quickly changing situation be an exercise in futility until I am where I want to be?

Thanks in advance!

[pmata814]

Congratulations! What a great 'problem' to have. I hope to have ur same problem this summer.

I'm sorry I can't give any advice, as I'm just a beginner. But I am very much overweight and wanted to congratulate you.

Sent from my BlackBerry 9780 using Tapatalk

[Tony_in_MD]

Good for you. Concentrate on your weight loss and heath first. Pool will still be there.

I think your pool game will come back up after you get your body stablized at your new fighting weight.

Keep it up!

[FranCrimi]

Originally Posted by Hobart007

Hi all,

Per Fran's advice a while back on these forums, I've been losing weight (60 lbs in the last 10 weeks w/ doctor supervision and no drugs/surgery) to improve my game. Something I did not foresee is that my game has actually gotten way worse as I try to adjust to not having to work around myself.

I know that I need to put in a lot of table time to adjust to things but my questions are as follows:

1. Is there anything particular I can do to speed my acclimitization?
2. I am planning to lose another 80 lbs or so. Will working to get used to a quickly changing situation be an exercise in futility until I am where I want to be?

Thanks in advance!

First, congratulations! That's fantastic news! I'm glad you're under doctor's care but isn't losing an average of 6lbs per week a bit much? I've always heard that 2lbs per week is more than enough. Maybe you lost most of it early and now it's leveling off, and could it be that you're losing less per week?

I'm wondering if you may be feeling a little weak, which would definitely affect your game. Are you taking vitamins?

But don't worry. Just enjoy the new you. Your pool game will all catch up and before you know it, you'll be playing better than before and longer sessions, too.

How to expedite it? I would say to stay strong. Gym workouts --- build some muscle mass, take vitamins.

[michael4]

Originally Posted by Hobart007

I've been losing weight (60 lbs in the last 10 weeks)

1. Is there anything particular I can do to speed my acclimitization?
2. I am planning to lose another 80 lbs or so. Will working to get used to a quickly changing situation be an exercise in futility until I am where I want to be?

Wow, way to go on the weight loss!!!

again, not an instructor, but I would think "quitting" till you reach your ideal weight would only prolong your re-adjustment time.
Best of luck!

[bral]

Hobart,

I'm in a similar boat, having lost about 25% of my weight in the last year. All I can say is that your brain will eventually compensate after enough play. Stay positive!

[Sloppy Pockets]

Wow!

The real question is, "How did you do it?"

I am severely overweight myself. I feel that the biggest thing holding back my progress is how long I can spend at the table. At 60 years old, 5'6" and 275 pounds, my lower back gives out after about an hour. I still have several hours of desire left at that point, but I'd just undo what I've learned and wouldn't even be able to practice the next day.

Keep up the good work... and watch lots of those skinny Pinoys on YouTube for inspiration if you have any doubts. I'm sure your game will come back even better than before in due time.

[JasBy]

Not an instructor but.....

Had the same problems when I lost some weight a few years ago.

First off, congrats on the weight loss.
My problem stemmed from the fact that before my weight loss, I rested the cue against the side of my body, and that was straight when I was 'rounder' After I lost the weight, it was throwing my stroke off, and I was missing a lot. I would recommend either filming yourself or working with a partner to sight down your line of aim and see if perhaps you are off on the aim due to the same problem.
The good news is...once you get used to not resting the cue on your body, further weight loss shouldn't affect you unless you change your stance.

[Neil]

..............

[bbb]

Originally Posted by Neil

This may or may not apply to you. Hard to say not seeing you shoot before and after.

What I have noticed with a lot of very overweight people, is that they use their body as a third point of contact on the cue. Doing that, they usually tend to have a pretty straight stroke because it only goes one way. They can instantly tell if they have a little too much or not enough pressure where their body touches the cue, and adjust accordingly.

When you lose that body mass, your body no longer has that third point of reference, and your stroke feels a little lost. All you have to do is train yourself to have a straight stroke with only two points of body reference (your hands) like the rest of us do. Just a matter of developing a straight stroke.

And, congratulations on the weight loss!

^^^ that makes alot of sence
to the op
kudos to you

keep up the good work
ps took me one year to lose 60 lbs
60 lbs in 10 wks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rrick33]

It's possible that when you were heavier, the placement of your upper arm and concequently, the angle of you pendulum was slightly angled out from your body due to its size. Now that you have become thinner, you have shifted the angle of your pendulum closer to your frame and this has affected the accuracy of your stroke.

I would focus on your stroke fundamentals as they may have changed slightly given your weight loss.

[Hobart007]

Originally Posted by FranCrimi

First, congratulations! That's fantastic news! I'm glad you're under doctor's care but isn't losing an average of 6lbs per week a bit much? I've always heard that 2lbs per week is more than enough. Maybe you lost most of it early and now it's leveling off, and could it be that you're losing less per week?

I'm wondering if you may be feeling a little weak, which would definitely affect your game. Are you taking vitamins?

But don't worry. Just enjoy the new you. Your pool game will all catch up and before you know it, you'll be playing better than before and longer sessions, too.

How to expedite it? I would say to stay strong. Gym workouts --- build some muscle mass, take vitamins.

Thank you Fran, and everyone else for the support. I am still averaging 6.7 lbs per week and am taking vitamins and exercising a minimum of 1 hour per day, every day. I've actually added muscle mass.


Neil:
I was not using my body previously as a contact point but my stance was way different. I am starting all over from scratch w/ preshot routine (lining up on the shotline and coming down for the shot) as well as stance and stroke. I am working on developing a straight stroke again and realize it will take time though it is frustrating to miss things that used to be automatic.

Rick:
You are correct. The angle has changed and that is definitely part of the issue.

Thanks again everyone for the feedback, I will keep at it!

[thommy]

Keep up the good work