o/t rollerblading anyone?

 I was thinking  of trying out rollerblading as both kind of an exercise for me and also a good way to spend time with my kids. I used to rollerskate... as a kid back in the 80s but havent done it since then.   Is rollerblading more difficult than rollerskating?  After losing alot of weight is your balance way off andmake it more difficult?  Do they make butt pads? LOL !!! ( I only ask because I have lost my cushiony butt and now it squishes like a pancake and it hurts to fall on my butt. ( I did this on  accident when trying to scoot my dryer...) I do plan on getting knee pads, elbow pads and a helmet too.. but Iexpect to fall more often on my butt. lol.
   My kids have special needs and they cant balance to ride a bike without training wheels but they can rollerblade so Ithought it would be fun.  They cant swim so when I go with them it is to lifegaurd and not exercise.. but I thought this may be a good thing to try.
   Its amazing Im feeling so brave and willing to try out something new!

Im shopping for rollerblades on the internet and trying to figure out which ones to get. Does anyone reccomend any certain brand or is there some I should avoid?  Thanks!!

Ami

I was a very good rollerskater growing up.  Rolling blading is much harder for me.  I can't seem to get the balance thing.  I believe it's because of weak muscles.  You have to balance more forward on the balls of your feet.  It is good exercise!!

I have elbow and knee pads and gloves as well as a helmet.  Because of my size, it was difficult to find decent knee pads. I'm looking forward to rollerblading when I'm smaller!!

Hugs,
Ratkity

Right. So 10 years ago I was about the weight I am now and decided that I would rollerblade for exercise as well. I was a roller skater. I mean, I took lessons, used to do roller dance and was working on trying freeform which basically is doing jumps and stuff. I am good on skates, so naturally I thought that I would get rollerblading and have no problem learning how to blade. Without having any idea I went to a sports store and purchased a $150 pair of blades. I was very shakey on them in the store, but I figured it was just because I didn't know how to use them. Home I went with the skates, wrist guards, elbow and knee pads. I put on all the pads then went outside and sat on the steps and put my blade. With the help of a friend I stood up and OMG  I had a tough time keeping myself over my skates and keeping my ankles straight up. I felt like I was learning to walk. I found that I was scared to death of falling and as poorly as I was doing falling was certain. I managed to make it over to the parking lot for my lesson. After 30 minutes I was no better than where I was when I first put on my blades. My sister said that I could get some practice by going to the park where they had a path that had no ruts or curbs so I agreed  to go with her. It was a challenge to keep up with my sister and a challenge to simply stay upright. At one point the path was going down a mild hill and I was gaining speed and feeling somewhat out of control. With roller skating you stop by either doing a T stop or using your toe stop. Rollerblading on the other hand has a stopper on the heel which doesn't really stop you quickly, but rather drags and slows you down. I tried to use that stupid stopper thing and keep from running into the little kids who were rollerblading circles around me. I ended up going so fast that I just rolled myself into the grass and crashed on purpose. At that point I was done, but my sister decided she would push me the rest of the way back to the car. I nearly ran over a sewer grate in the parking lot as my sister was really going full tilt speed wise. I couldn't make a deep enough edge to get away from grate, but thankfully I didn't roll over it because I surely would have broken my ankle or leg! That was the last time I ever put on those rollerblades.

Is it a good workout? Yup. For me I just couldn't get how to push off or control anything. There was simply too much roller skating in me to get roller blades.

Your own experience might be different. I have a pair of roller blades I'll sell you for $80!

I have done both. When I rollar skate I keep my hands out to balance myself. when I rollar blade I wear a sweat shirt that has the center pocket and keep my hands in that. for some reason If my hands r  in the pockets I balance better then if they were out. Hope that makes sense..

dumb question....what is "o/t"?

off topic?

sorry for being dense....

Yup, it mean Off Topic.