Swimmin!

[mrlich]

Just a quick note to pat myself on the back. I arrived in town (NH) this past Monday to do some training for work. Because I'm going to the same location for work every day this week, I decided to just stay at the same hotel for the whole period.

The hotel has a pool.

Well, most of the hotels I stay at do. I make it a point, but now I'm getting sidetracked.

I've been meaning to start a swimming regiment to get myself into some kind of shape. Driving all day every day - much like sitting in a cubical every day - isn't doing my body any good.

After a chit chat with xtingu, who was good enough to call me on my bullshit, I finally got my butt in gear.

Oh, and I should be clear up front - this is NOT an Olympic size pool. Quite the contrary. I paced it out, and I'm guestimating that it's in the ballpark of 40 feet long. Still, this has been the breakdown so far:

Monday Night: 70 laps.
Tuesday Morning: 50 laps
Tuesday Night: 30 laps (ran out of time)
Wednesday Morning: screwed up - didn't have time to swim
Wednesday Night (just now): 100 laps

It's only been three days, but I'm pretty proud of those numbers. That said, I'm intentionally NOT figuring out the calories burned etc because I'm afraid I will be discouraged. Instead, my goal is to just keep increasing those numbers over time.

First though, I have to keep it up enough to make it my regular routine.

It's all about making it part of the routine.

Comments

[xtingu]

I am so proud of you! Yaaaaaaay!

Here's the pep talk I gave Matt, which I actually heard from a thing Michelle Obama said:

We're all so good at putting everyone else and other "need to dos" first. Be at work at 8! Be at rehearsal! Pick up this thing! Yep, we do them all like good little soldiers.

But when it comes time for making time for exercise, we can't find the time. Why is that? Its got to be part of the routine. Make it a habit. If you're waiting for the right time to start (I have to wait for work to settle down, etc.), well, you just missed a day.


TL;DR: Results, not excuses. Just do it.

====================

also: LJ has answered my prayers. When you mention someone by username in a post, it emails that person saying they were mentioned.... just like Facebook does. I really think this will help get people back here. It's great to see you posting. :)

[mrlich.livejournal.com]

Yeah - I think that I noticed the ping-when-mentioned thing from you mentioning me? Maybe? Not sure - but saw it recently. LOVE IT.

Also - think you'll appreciate the next post. Good ol' customer service rant. :)

[ms-violet.livejournal.com]

FWIW: I tell myself, "time for physical therapy."

pool exercise routine

[(Anonymous)]

Swimming is one of the best exercises...good for the entire body! So glad you are doing this. While the direct result is a healthier body, it just makes you feel so damned good that it affects EVERYTHING!! Maybe it will inspire your mother to be better at a good exercise routine!!

Re: pool exercise routine

[mrlich.livejournal.com]

That would rock!

Re: pool exercise routine

[mrlich.livejournal.com]

Seems like a very good premise to me.

[ms-violet.livejournal.com]

This is so, so, so good.
I'm finding that it's easier for me to meet goals if I set them smaller than I think I can achieve. i.e., hello, weight machine. you look like I can handle about 40 lbs of what you can dish out, so I will set your weight on 30 and do 15 reps.
hey, I did 15. that feels good. let's do 5 more. hey, I just did 20.

as opposed to struggling to do 15 reps with 40 lbs. and getting frustrated.

Go git 'em, tiger!

[mrlich.livejournal.com]

Yup. Sounds like we're in a very similar place. I need to get myself into the habit of doing something consistently first and THEN increase the effort - not come out of the gate trying to break records. I've done it that way in the past and I burn out too quickly.

Your earworm for your next swim

[ms-violet.livejournal.com]

http://youtu.be/wTrJMWak5es?t=8s
No need to thank me.

Re: Your earworm for your next swim

[mrlich.livejournal.com]

:P

[lawbabeak.livejournal.com]

Yay! Pool exercise is really, really good for cardio and doesn't stress out your joints or bounce your innards around.

Good for you! It's not easy to get one's keister into a bathing suit, into public, to flail around in a pool.

[mrlich.livejournal.com]

These are some of the reasons that I elected to try to do swimming over working out in the weight room(s) of the different hotels. As a big guy, the concern for my joints wasn't lost on me.

That, and the fact that I've always loved going swimming. :)

[shellefly.livejournal.com]

"just keep swimming, just keep swimming ..." -Dory from 'Finding Nemo'

Exercise - it is all about making it part of the routine. The non-optional routine. After a while, you get to the good part, the part where it's not just part of the routine, it is something you like and want to do and miss if you don't do it.

But it all starts with doing it - not with being an expert or burning the most possible calories or whatever, it all starts with getting off your ass and continuing to get off your ass.

Manannan Mac Lir would be happy to know you're on his turf.
Love you.