Well, it's finally happened. People told me it would, and I didn't believe them. After about a month of swimming laps regularly, I actually woke up yesterday (and today) looking forward to going swimming! Do you realize what a huge step that is for me, to not wake up dreading exercise?! That has never happened that I can recall. Maybe that means I've found a form of exercise with which I can live and sustain a pattern. I'm up to 12 laps, and could go 14 but was waiting for next week to start! The heart is willing, but the body isn't! LOL Even though 12 laps doesn't sound like much, when I think back to how 3½ laps kicked my butt a month or so ago, it's pretty good. And I'm swimming them faster. I can feel my strokes becoming more efficient and moving me faster through the water.
I've also discovered that swim caps are useless. Not only do I look like a failed Olympic-swimmer-wannabe in my navy blue swim cap w/ an American flag on each side, the stupid thing lets in water. I mentioned to the life guard at the end of a lap today "these swim caps are pointless." She asked in what way. I said they were not keeping my hair dry and letting water into my ears. She said they're designed merely to keep long hair out of your way and let you swim faster without drag from your hair in the water. I have a lot of needs, but speed ain't one of them. So I slicked off that swim cap, since my hair would get wet anyway, and swam without it. My hair is short enough to stay out of my face. And while I may have more drag, I figure it just adds to the workout.
Since I breath on my right side, my right ear is trying to get inflamed on me with swimmer's ear. So I had to get those swimmer's alcohol ear drops that displace and mix with the water in the ear canal, then evaporates. I really only need it in my right ear, but am using the drops in both so I feel "even." When my daughter was having so many ear problems, the ENT doctor told me to use a homemade mixture of alcohol and vinegar. It's what her father, also an ENT, gave her to use when she was on a swim team in high school. I figure a couple generations of ENT's can't be wrong, but have had trouble finding an empty squeeze bottle. So I just bought a couple already filled with alcohol. At least I won't smell like a salad.
2 comments:
Wow, Becky! You are doing so well. Just think back to a year ago and compare! The swimming will be tightening you up, too. I wish that I could have your determination! I must try to get in the pool more this Summer and buck up my ideas a bit. I used to be a good long-distance swimmer (for my school) but find it hard to do anything much these days. I am so proud of you and the family must think that you are fantastic! - A.
Good luck on your swimming exercises! Swimming and walking are the 2 exercises that I love to do on a regular basis (a few times a week).
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