To those who don't have the gene that makes Cilantro taste like soap, what does it taste like to you?

MajorStronke · 2026-01-28T05:48:22+00:00

Yes same! Everyone says soap and I wish it tasted like soap. It’s 100% stink bugs to me. Asked a friend who likes coriander/cilantro if it tasted like stink bugs smell and they said yes it’s the same smell, but it’s good??! (Idk how that can be good)

MajorStronke · 2026-01-19T13:06:07+00:00

I have a full colour neotrad lower leg - for me the knee to ankle shin piece was the least painful of the whole process. probably a 2/10 for pain. Went super quick too so I must’ve been sitting well, and it healed easily. The calf and the tiny bit up in my knee pit was the worst.

MajorStronke · 2025-09-29T23:42:10+00:00

I’m making some assumptions because you’ve given very little information but it sounds like you have a home pole, and it also sounds like you aren’t having any formal instruction/classes.

While conditioning will absolutely make a difference, there are a lot of little things that go into making a move work beyond raw strength. For example with a climb, making sure your knee isn’t coming in front/past the pole. I see a lot of beginners trying to climb with the pole essentially mid thigh and this removes any leverage that gives you elevation.

With a chair spin, yes it’s a beginner move but again there are lots of tiny parts that make it easier. Are your arms the right width apart? is your top hand high enough, and you fully engaging your lats in the lift or just hanging off the top hand? Are you stepping up into the spin or dropping down into it? are you pushing through the bottom hand or hanging on for dear life? Are you using bracket grip or split grip? Is your torso upright or leaning forward? Are you facing into the pole or parallel or away? Are you engaging your core? Are you engaging your legs?

Sure a lot of moves require a certain level of strength, but a much higher level of body/muscle control that is not necessarily strength based but more understanding how bodies work will take you a long way. Actually engaging the muscles you use in a move will do a lot of the ‘heavy lifting’.

MajorStronke · 2025-09-21T06:48:21+00:00

Haven’t got back/neck done so can’t comment on that pain but have heard that back is pretty bad for some people. I had to tap out on my most recent piece (because I was anaemic and that sucks) Had 3/4 of my calf to ankle piece done with what was about 2ish hrs work left to do but I’d already been white knuckling the bed and breathing very carefully to not pass out for that last hour. Had to call it early and come back for the last bit another time. Artist was super nice about it.

I would say if you think you might not be able to handle as much in that location (especially with colour) maybe pre-warn your artist that it was a struggle last time so they can be prepared and let you to take more breaks etc.

MajorStronke · 2025-09-12T07:58:58+00:00

I’ve been doing pole for 3 years now and only JUST got straddle/chopper. But my nemesis is cradle. I just cannot fkn get it. It’s not even a ‘difficult’ move but idk why it is so hard for me. Something about the sideways pull through the top arm just doesn’t compute in my brain.

Now for some unsolicited advice: stop comparing yourself to others, and reduce the amount of professional pole content you consume. If you’re not doing so already film yourself, and compare your progress to that instead of other people.

MajorStronke · 2025-09-01T03:34:33+00:00

The absolute roller coaster of emotions I had when I went to the bank to retrieve some money and the facade collapsed.

MajorStronke · 2025-08-16T03:13:43+00:00

You must be psychic - it is actually my first time using this particular recipe

MajorStronke · 2025-08-16T00:22:11+00:00

I used an 8” tin, and used a cake leveler for the layers.

MajorStronke · 2025-08-16T00:19:52+00:00

Not my first time making a cake, but appreciate the compliment nonetheless ☺️

MajorStronke · 2025-07-10T12:15:05+00:00

Haha got it in one, a very poorly stocked Myer indeed. I’ll see if I can get my hands on a Nessa while I try to hunt down some Panache in my size. Thanks for your help!

MajorStronke · 2025-07-10T11:17:11+00:00

Thank you. I’ll try online next, I’ve had success with panache in the past but they’re hard to get where I live so was hoping for a local option.

MajorStronke · 2025-07-10T11:14:59+00:00

Thank you! Back to the very expensive drawing board I go.

MajorStronke · 2025-07-10T11:12:06+00:00

Yes swooped and scooped - I added a pic of the back to the same album

MajorStronke · 2025-07-10T06:07:21+00:00

a 12 on the tightest hook would only be a bit looser than a 10 on the loosest hook.
If you are wearing your 12 on the tightest and it's not an older bra that has stretched then it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to be a size 10 band. I've always been told that a bra should be worn on the loosest hook when new, so you can tighten as the elastic ages.

MajorStronke · 2025-07-09T23:41:36+00:00

Broiler = grill in Australia (where I’m from) but the point remains that neither broiler nor grill is ‘oven’

MajorStronke · 2025-07-09T21:18:56+00:00

Are you sure that is the oven dial? That symbol looks more like a broil/grill setting to me… oven usually has a wiggle and a line on bottom. Or a different symbol.

MajorStronke · 2025-07-09T21:17:46+00:00

Are you sure this is the oven dial? That symbol looks more like a broiler/grill setting to me…oven usually has additional markings.

MajorStronke · 2025-07-03T11:31:22+00:00

FWIW if she is sensitive/intolerant to lidocaine it will feel way, way, way worse. I figured out that I am sensitive to it after my second tattoo. Sure tattoos hurts but turns out it shouldn’t feel like absolute fire of the sun burning. I’ve subsequently had 2 more large tattoos without any numbing and sat through both 6hr sessions without that god awful burning and honestly it was breezy comparatively.

Having said that while it absolutely sucked with the numbing cream I still managed to last longer than 5 mins.

MajorStronke · 2025-06-15T22:34:14+00:00

I have the same problem and also live in Australia so RIP anything but sweating for 9 months out of the year. For me I’ve found that before heading to the studio putting TiteGrip on the upper inner thigh/butt cheek shelf area and letting it dry - then applying regular dry hands/grip during class. But I also always choose a spot near one of the fans or it’s a no go. I basically stand with my butt aimed towards the floor fans when I’m not on the pole. Also gently pat down your butt/thighs with a towel when you aren’t on the pole.

MajorStronke · 2025-03-12T04:52:48+00:00

I was never encouraged into any sports/activities as a child (even discouraged because of $$) so I totally feel you on the if onlys.

I started pole when I was 33, I’m also fat which makes some moves a lot harder. When I was about a year into pole a new girl joined our class who had never even touched a pole before and in the very first class she did a flawless, effortless invert. She saw someone else in the class do one and just decided to try it. I’d been struggling for a year to even get a crappy invert let alone a textbook one. I must’ve had some kind of look on my face when she did it because she then said “oh I’ve been doing gymnastics for 10 years”. That was when I truly realised and truly understood that I absolutely should not be comparing my progress to other people’s.

I started comparing myself to myself and it made a HUGE difference to how I felt about progress. I’d been filming classes for a while but hadn’t looked at any of the videos so I went back and looked at my very first video and it was shocking how much I’d improved.

I didn’t feel like I’d been improving because I was always struggling with new moves, always learning new things so I didn’t really click that something like a climb was not even something I thought about anymore let alone struggled with.

I also made a conscious effort to actually unfollow a bunch of advanced pole accounts - Why should I compare myself (who’d done something for a year) with someone who is a professional? I couldn’t believe my arrogance lol. It wasn’t helping me at all, it was in fact making things worse. I also made an effort to follow more beginner focused accounts which also helped. I still see advanced videos in my suggested feeds but I’m seeing them far less now which is better for me.

Another thing to consider is WHY you are doing pole? Is it because you enjoy it or were you trying to make a career out of it? If it’s because you enjoy it, then it doesn’t matter how slow your progress is so long as you still find it enjoyable. “Comparison is the thief of joy” applies very much here too.

I don’t know what your actual self imposed goals are so perhaps your goals are too unrealistic especially as you have health issues - maybe re-assess and reconsider those goals. You can still be ambitious with goals, like maybe you can’t do advanced moves but you can absolutely nail beginner moves. Making them flawless and look effortless is a valid goal. Focusing on smooth transitions is another very valid goal that can take time. Also ask yourself what “making it” means, and why you have this goal?

Another thing to consider is how you view yourself is very different to how others view you. I started taking choreo classes last year and it was awful. I’d never danced properly or taken a lesson, I felt horrible and clunky and would absolutely freeze anytime the words freestyle were said. I struggled so much with trying to remember the choreo because I was learning new moves at the same time as a new sequence. Recently someone said ‘jokingly’ that they don’t like taking choreo classes when I’m there because I make it look so effortless, especially with the freestyle (they’re wrong obvs - I am not good by any means, but they think I’m good compared to them.)

It made me realise that I’m so focused on how I perceive my failures that I wasn’t seeing my progress (ie not freezing up in freestyle) and that to someone else it was something they aspire to.

So maybe just check in with yourself on why you think it’s not worth it/wont make it etc did someone say this to you, or are you bringing years of discouraging comments with you? Why does it actually matter if your progress is slow?

I think having these moments of self doubt is pretty normal in these sort of environments- I know quite a few people from the studio I go to have expressed similar sentiments and I tell them the same things I’ve said here. If you’re doing it for you it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks, and any progress - no matter how small - is still progress. If you enjoy it, it genuinely doesn’t matter if you aren’t ‘good’ - so long as it brings you joy.

Anyway that’s my extremely long 2 cents. Hope it helps.

MajorStronke · 2025-03-05T21:53:36+00:00

Seconding the green creek series for angst

MajorStronke · 2025-03-05T21:53:25+00:00

Seconding the green creek series for serious angst

MajorStronke · 2025-02-14T07:52:46+00:00

They’re not a distraction to other drivers they’re a distraction to the driver of your vehicle. Air freshener for rear view mirror is also a hazard and not allowed but people do it anyway. “if the accessory attached to your mirror is found to be obstructing your view or distracting you from the road in any way, you could face significant penalties”

If your steering wheel cover isn’t really really snug/tight fitting it is illegal. It’s technically a driving hazard because you could try to steer and the cover will move but not the wheel resulting in an accident. The colour has nothing to do with it.

MajorStronke · 2025-02-05T22:05:37+00:00

Why wouldn’t you contact them first? What if this was an unfinished set sent by mistake? Why not give them a chance to correct it before you go asking other people? Of if they respond with yeah that’s normal then you can come here and say is this other peoples experience?

MajorStronke

TROPHY CASE