Over the past few months, I have lost my edges. Partly, I'm skating at a rink with colder ice, because I work there and it's free. But it kept getting worse. I have been skidding on power pulls, skidding on crossovers, turns and my puny jumps, which feel less and less secure. It took me a while to figure out why.
I am 5'4" and have small bones. According to
Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. I should weigh 114 - 127. But no, I'm not the only person here who has struggled unsuccessfully to achieve "ideal" weight. For years I stagnated at 145 (buck naked, in the morning after using the bathroom, before eating or drinking anything - so a little under-estimated by life insurance company standards).
Then I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Following recommendations, I've moved to a low carb, low fat, high protean, high fiber diet, which tends to reduce weight. Following recommendations, I've also tried to lose more, and have increased the amount of exercise. Finally: noticeable weight loss. I'm down to about 127.2 - about 12% less, not huge, but in the right direction - and still dropping. Like most males, the weight loss is mostly about and above the tummy, and the skating and running may be increasing the muscle weight in my legs. So I have an altered weight distribution, including a lower center of gravity.
That sounds wonderful. I should be almost lighter than air, able to jump and fly like Peter Pan, or the nearest equivalent for a relatively non-athletic guy in his late 50's.
Alas
it isn't so. I think altered lower center of gravity may be as hard to adapt to for a guy losing weight as for a tween or teen girl who is rapidly getting taller and putting on upper body mass as she matures. For starters, it's been understood (at least in the hockey community) for a long time that lighter weight people need sharper edges than heavier people. I already keep my edges sharp. I think I need to bend my knees more, and deepen many of my edges, though that is probably over-simplified. It sounds simple, but it's a major change from what I have grown used to.
I'm still trying to figure out exactly what I have to do to overcome this new "disability", caused by what I thought should be a great thing.
Have any of you had similar experiences? How have you adapted?