OK, so most of my correcting is done and the entire class got an extension on that final paper. Whew! A bit of breathing room!
My new friend, The Physiotherapist, not only barred me from running, but from all lower body exercises. No running. No biking. No elliptical. No leg presses. No… nothing! (Except the exercises he prescribed for me, which I’ve been doing diligently, twice a day… though probably not doing them right, but whatever… been trying…)
He said, “You can go in the pool. That’s it!” And looked at me sternly in a way that said, “And if you do anything else, I’m gonna know… and you’ll know that I know… and that won’t be good.”
So, after a few days of being grumpy about it, and working through some fairly stressful confidence issues related to stuffing my lumpy body into a bathing suit, and being seen in public in one… tonight I headed over to the fitness centre for the open swimming time.
Ooooohhhh dear!
It was bad…
No.
Correction: It was sad… really and truly pitiable.
a. tells me that her heart rate shoots up when she swims. I am assuming that this is because she actually knows how to swim. Well… so do I… sort of.
Don’t get me wrong… I like the water. Love it, actually… Spent many of my growing up years in Halifax, living quite close to the harbour and have always found water peaceful and tranquil.
In fact, I could probably survive for days in it, if I had to.
But that doesn’t mean that I swim well.
I can do it… but it ain’t pretty. My heart rate didn't get anywhere close to today's target zone. Oh well! I did what I could....
I got out there for an hour today – yup, a solid hour – in the pool… and just sucked it up.
Literally.
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10 comments:
When you can't run, you swim ... or at least that's what the books say. But the books also mention something about 'running' in the pool. Haven't figured that one out myself ... but it might be something to look into ..
I'm proud of you! Doing something that we know going in may not meet - let alone exceed our expectations - is hard to do at best, but you did it! Next time you may have a flash of genius that will say "maybe if I do it THIS way..." and who knows, maybe swimming isn't what's going to do it for you - none the less, you're not giving up! Your spirit is stong, and THAT is wonderful.
my osteo is really big on swimming... however, I'm not that crazy about it... :))) walking for me...
but, that's something for you to do, while you are healing... :))) glad it's there for you...
just keep swimming, just keep swimming...
as for the fruitcake, one of those is supposed to make 25-30 servings, and Ted is the only other one in the house who might be tempted to have a bite... I like, and I like to make it, but do I really want to eat that much fruitcake on my own?
uh, no... :))) plus, it's one thing I can bake that won't go off in a short amount of time.... good for posting.
I like that saying of 'better to give than receive'... :)))
ps... yeah, I know I'm an uber-whiner about the cold... my real bugaboo is the ice and frost... that's what I REALLY don't like...
you can the girl out of California, but you will find yourself hard-pressed to take the California out of the girl....
Re: The Osteo And The Swimming Pool
Yes, every time we see her, we hear, "You must SWIM". But we NEVER do. Once, I was in great discomfort when I saw her, and she said, "You must SWIM!" Now- this was while the family was away, traveling, so I had no excuse, nothing 'better to do', so i said, truthfully, "Yes, I will try, I will try very hard to swim"
So, I went to a nice department store, and bought some very attractive trunks, and I checked the local pool schedule. All preliminaries complete!
The strangest thing happened then... my great discomfort went away. All it took was buying the trunks... I was very grateful to the osteo for her good advice.
Every body is fluid in water.
I used to swim. In fact, I lost more weight swimming than in any other type of exercise I tried. I used to do it for 1 hour, 3 times a week. However, I do not fit the usual swimmer profile. This is because I cannot abide having my face in the water. It terrifies me. Ergo, I do sidestroke. I swam in the "old people" lane, because the front-crawlers are so fast. But I liked it, because it was working for me on the weight front, and because I never felt sweaty and disgusting afterwards, and because I got some nice shoulder muscles from it. I also did alternate with backstroke, but not the kind where I bring my arms up in windmill style, I just swizzle them by my sides. That way, no water goes in my face. Ugh. So, if I could swim in the ultra-slow lane, doing only sidestroke or back-swizzle stroke, and still face the day, then I know you can do it too! I don't do it now because there are no local pools big enough to have a designated slow lane, and I just get in other people's way otherwise. I also did "aquarobics," which was fun, and a change of pace. Another option to try, if you like.
One caveat, with your planned haircut thing, I advise wearing a swim cap, and put conditioner on your hair before you put the cap on. This will keep it in much better condition, because the chlorine is really hard on it, and that might not be so good for the hair donation thing. Just another idea!
You are my hero. honestly. At this point I would have regressed to couch potato territory. You hang in there! and I'll happily join you in the water but not in lane swimming (the only stroke I do is called "frantic dog-paddle to the side of the pool"). I tried deep water running a decade ago and really liked it. That might be fun.
A. and Z. - Yes, will try deep water running soon. Will update (if I survive...)
OH - Yes, maybe a new bathing suit is in order. But then again... that could be even more traumatic... so... maybe not...
CM - Thanks for the hair tips. I was worried about the chlorine. It's T -6 months before donation time, so I need to get through the winter without it all breaking off!
I can't swim. I tried, but I have a rare thing called "Leaden Bone Disorder" whereupon I sink. I'd sink in syrup, I think. But, no matter, swimming, I hear, is an excellent form of exercise and a late friend of mine, named Stan, also thought it a great form of therapy because he could scream underwater as loud as he wanted to. Used to take the edge off the end of his day, he told me.
I miss Stan, by the way.
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