Into the blue
You know how people have a thing? Your thing might be cars, or horses, or drugs. Well, I have a new thing...
...and my new thing is (hoo boy, wait for it - this is pretty exciting)... swimming.
Exciting huh? (cough)
I wasn't really enjoying the whole gym experience as I kept feeling intensely guilty if I couldn't make it in for a work-out. Friends, that's no way to live your life. When I first joined the gym, you all told me I should do something I enjoy otherwise I'll lose motivation and not end up exercising at all.
Boy, you guys are wise.
The problem is (aside from my being incredibly lazy) I went from doing zero exercise to signing up for a reasonably full-on gym schedule. Since joining the gym I've discovered that when you're as much a stranger to physical health as I am, it's best to ease into these things.
I quite enjoyed the routine of heading to the gym and the feeling I got after working out, I just wasn't that into the actual work-out itself or, as mentioned, the crippling guilt I suffered whenever life threw something at me that prevented me from going to the gym.
I've thought about it and I believe I know what I have to do. I need to do a few physical activities a week that are not as daunting as a full-on weights work-out, just to get into the rhythm of regular exercise.
So, like I said, swimming is my new thing. It seems silly to waste a perfectly good gym membership, but fortunately it includes access to a small lane pool.
I bought goggles that don't quite fit right, a swimsuit that's a bit small, and the first time I went for a swim I forgot to fully dry myself before leaving the pool area and I dripped all over the gym locker room floor - which is a big hazardous no-no. What a noob.
You might have gathered from all this that I'm no expert in the pool - far from it. I do a couple of laps of freestyle before stopping for a good old pant at the end of the pool. Then I'll do a bit of breaststroke and also that thing where you lay on your back and kick while your arms do a little cuppy sort of motion at your side - is there a name for this? I like that one as I don't have to hold my breath at any point while I'm doing it.
I should probably be throwing some backstroke in there, but you have to share lanes and I'm not all that keen on unintentionally smacking either the pool edge or another innocent pool user with my flailing arms.
Several times I have been tricked into thinking that employing a kickboard would help me catch my breath while still enabling me to continue making my way up and down the pool, but you know what? Propelling yourself forward on a kickboard is actually quite hard work.
Depsite my complete lack of ability and fitness, I have to say I'm enjoying the swimming and pretty soon I'll be combining that with a weekly adult dance class (please don't judge me) and I'll mix those up with brisk walks along the waterfront and stints on the cardio equipment at the gym.
Perhaps once I am used to this exercising lark, I might even get back into the gym work-out thing or even start going for the occasional run.... Watch this space.
Seeing as you guys are such smart little fellas, do you have any advice for me in regards to my new views on exercise? Also, what are your plans for physical health in 2010?
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I've joined the gym, and luckily (thankfully) my man has joined with me! I get huge FOMO and when I was at the gym alone, I used to just want to get out of there ASAP! Doing it with a partner is making all the difference! Plus they have exercises classes, squash, sauna, etc so I am going to try all of them.
Yay dance class is wicked fun!! Also agree on kickboard - I got hassles from my swimming buddies about using one, challenged them to try and now we all do our "ab-murder" stint - 10 laps with a kickboard, working up to 20, 30, etc.! Owww... but feels good afterwards, sort of. :)
Your plan sounds like the ideal in keeping yourself interested in exercise:) Also, why would we judge you about adult dance classes? All the cool kids do them;p
ps. I think the back, cuppy hand stroke is called sculling - that's what I seem to remember from primary school aquapass anyway:)
Stick to it. Don't sit there and say "Oh, I just don't have the time to do it..' Uh yeah, you do, you're just being lazy! You can do it. I believe in you.
I plan on having more s*x. Best. Workout. Ever!
Hey, swimming is my new (old) thing as well! I used to be a proper swimmer back when I was under the age of 15 when I stupidly gave it up because I couldn’t be bothered any more. I recently got back into swimming – it’d been something I was doing in a sort of half hearted way (once or twice a month) last year but now I’m going 2-3 times a week and loving it! I am slowly getting my confidence back up and now I’m doing tumbleturns again but they are somewhat lacking in technical prowess so I’m pretty sure I look like a gumby. I also don’t do much backstroke, the pool here has lines on the ceiling but they aren’t lined up with the pool so I keep watching them and crashing into the lane markers. And like you I find kickboard really hard work, I swear I nearly drown (on the other hand I am pretty awesome with a pull buoy, or at least I used to be). Good news is that breaststroke is pretty much the only exercise that tones up the inside of your thighs so keep that one up :-)
Otherwise I’ve joined the gym too (the pool membership is part of that), it was my reward for losing 20kg, and I’m doing a light weights work out 2-3 times a week and then run 1-2 times a week so somehow in the past year I seem to have become a bit more active – it sort of snuck up on me. I agree with you though, you have to do what’s fun for you and something you can actually keep doing, it’s no good pretending you’re going to go to the gym 5 times a week if you hate it or saying you’ll run 3 times a week with bad knees etc. If the swimming is keeping you interested then I say go with it!
@xLeahx #2
Thats exactly my problem when at the Gym, I get major FOMO & just want to get out of there in case im missing something real good (what I dont know!?)
I have an evening free this year that I didn't last and am also looking for a new "thing". I don't think that it would be swimming though. I'm to fond of it and freak out a little if I can't touch the bottom.
And the local scrabble club is on a friday night which, unfortunately, is not the evening that has become free.
I believe the "lay on your back and kick while your arms do a little cuppy sort of motion at your side" is called sculling.
Your new plan sounds good.
I am thinking about doing one of the Tri-Woman events. Its 300m swim, 10k bike ride and 3k run. Trouble is I've never ridden a bike as an adult and I'm a bit freaked out cos I'm not sure if I actually can! How embarassing!!
I have my horse nearby now so I have been riding a bit more lately, which is actually surprisingly good exercise.
I started running!!!, using one of the nike+ bands that tells you how far you have run, how fast and how many calories you have lost...you should try that Jane! It really helps motivate you as you can see how well your doing. look them up anyway. I've run 37km in the last 10 days and I plan to keep it up and fit my butt in my jeans again... I swear I only got bigger after surgery and months off work and soccer...not all the insane amounts of food I eat :(
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I'm thinking about joining the local Taekwon-do club in an attempt to get back into physical exercise i haven't done in a long time (this goal is in line with giving up smoking). It doesn't cost too much, just a bit worried about the fact all classes for adults are mixed with all skill levels so i'd probably feel like a huge nooby when i start.