Dear O!Pals - I bought my tapes in November and chatted a bit with you about getting started. Then I got a cold that went to a sinus infection and bronchitis (I'm a new public school teacher so I catch everything!). So I couldn't do the breathing without either blowing my head off or coughing my brains out! Anyway, I started O! this Christmas vacation and have done it everyday for 5 days. But my problem: My neck muscles are getting really tight and sore, particularly the sides and the back. Could this be I'm not breathing right or I'm breathing too hard? HELP!

Julie

Hi Julie, Welcome to D2L

I remember when I first started in October that my neck muscles were also getting really tight and sore. I think, that what I was doing was just tensing up my neck muscles trying to get everything right with my breathing. I would suggest relaxing and try not breathing so hard at first. I know that I can take in a lot more air now than I used to. It becomes easier and easier to do the breathing correctly. I would also suggest watching the intro video several times. I still occasionally watch it to check up on my form. The exciting thing for me is that Oxycising has really worked

We would love to have you post everyday. I know you will get lots of encouragement from everyone.

Just finished L2 for today. Tomorrow is measuring day

Sharon

Thanks for your idea! I think I will take it a little easier. I tend to try to to thing 110%, so I'm probably overdoing it. When I see her neck muscles flex, I'm trying to do that. But probably too much.

By the way, what does D2L stand for? Thanks for your info - I'm anxious for some encouragement with this!

Julie

What you need to do is relax your shoulders & neck & use your "gut" more. How do I know? I was having some real tension in the neck area til I remembered Jill saying relax & your shoulders don't breath. Sometimes it's trying to do the 3 sniffs too hard that does it.

Hi Kelly, I hope you have lots of fun over NYD. I'm sure your friend will be amazed at what you have accomplished this year.

Shelby I hope you start to feel better soon. Yes, I received an e-mail today. It's the second one I have received since joining in Oct. I'm thinking that with Julie's daughter's wedding and then with the holidays, that may be why we haven't received others. Boy is that a mixed up sentence

Julie D2L stands for Determined to loose. I had to ask when I first started. KOB is keep on breathing and DYW is drink your water. ( I just learned the meaning of that one)

Sharon

Hi Julie! You got good advice from Sharon and Shelby. Hope it's getting easier for you now.

Come join us in the daily thread! We have fun checking in with each other there and reporting our workouts.

Hi Gals~

Yesterday and today I did level 2. Not with much gusto due to my lower back problems but I did do it! Yeah for Me!

Shelby, I hope you feel better soon.
Susanna, how did the jeep cake turn out? I bet it looks so cute! Congratulations on your 31 years of marriage. That's a long time!

I'm going to go grab a late lunch. Have a great day ladies~

Until next time...
Susie

Julianna, you said "When I see her neck muscles flex, I'm trying to do that." IMHO, the neck 'flexing' isn't a conscious part of the workout. It is a by product of the "sniffing while smiling". It's not something to try to do; it naturally happens when the excersize is done correctly. I've felt neck strain too. It's usually when I've been thinking how nice my neck is going to look shortly...but not shortly enough! My neck feels much better when I remind myself I'm perfectly acceptable as I am, reassure myself that my worth doesn't come from my looks, and refocus on feeding my oxygen starved cells!

very nicely said.....hope you post with us some more!

Thanks, Kelly.

I forgot to add that it also helps me to imagine the two ends of an air-hose going from my nose to my diaphram. When all else fails I imagine Mr. Ed's nostrils. I'm not sure if he ever really flared his nostrils, but the image of a horses nostrils flaring is so humourous that it rarely fails to distract me from focusing on my chin.

I set myself up to receive e-mails of the posts now so hopefully that will lead to many encouraging exchanges about the greatest 'excersize program' in the world.

Hi! Thanks for your input! I hope you feel welcome anytime!

Susanna

Thanks, Susanna!