The Lane of Daily Swimming

[jesse_the_k]

I hinted back on the 3rd, that I'd begun two self-improvement programs. The jinx is off one of them. I think it's one reason I've been feeling much less depressed and cranky and I've had fewer headaches, and I want to share and boast.

I've loved to swim all my life. My parents dipped my roly-poly 2-year-old self in the ocean off Maine and I giggled. For the past 16 years I've splashed regularly from 25 – 60 minutes once to thrice a week.

On 26 Dec 2013, I suddenly decided that I could swim daily, and so I began. I mix up my strokes to minimize RSI; my current 20-minute practice includes four minutes warm-up in the deep end, six minutes crawl, six minutes backstroke, and four minutes cool-down with situps and such.

To start I was totally exhausted after that routine. Oh-so-slowly I've reconditioned myself—a marvelous capacity I thought I'd never regain. Now I feel like I could actually do more at the end of 20 minutes.

In the past fifty days, I've swum thirty nine times. (The pool was closed five days, so I'm averaging 86% of the time). I'm proud of myself, and looking forward to tomorrow's swim.

(Yes, it's chlorinated. I've given up soap and shampoo; I apply Aveeno lotion after I rinse off; and MyGuy generously buzzed off most of my hair.)

Comments

[boxofdelights]

Congratulations! I am impressed.

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks. Me too :,)

[isis]

Yay you!

[jesse_the_k]

*blushes* dives in the deep end

[rainbow]

♥ huzzah for you!

[jesse_the_k]

thanks!

[raanve]

This is awesome! Also, impressive. (I cannot swim. I only dogpaddle.)

[jesse_the_k]

PONY! Thanks.

[j00j]

Huzzah!!

[jesse_the_k]

thanks so much.

[susanreads]

Yay! Progress! (I haven't swum for years and never managed more than a length of anything. I'm definitely impressed!)

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks. Before I was able to swim laps, I was able to run/stretch/jumping jack/yoga moves in the water. That's a lot of fun, too.

[toft]

Good for you! That's fantastic! Body delight is so lovely.

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks!

"Body delight" is a lovely phrase, in counterpoint to "body horror"?

[sonia]

Yay you! Yay for regaining capacity you thought was lost forever.

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks.

I was kinda stunned. A long time ago I settled on not chasing a cure. As I'm learning, not chasing can bring me closer to what I want.

[rhivolution]

That's fab, I hope that things continue to work out--I wish I had more access to a pool.

[jesse_the_k]

I wish you did too. I think it's the perfect exercise for the winter (as long as one can get there).

[bibliofile]

ooh, good job! 86% is excellent, especially over weeks. Reconditioning is also good, yes?

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks.

Reconditioning is amazing. I've thought myself incapable of it. But looking back to various surgeries, I guess I can regain strength and tone, if I take it slowly and steadily.

[zizi_west]

The swimming sounds like a wonderful experience & Aveeno is worth the higher price. Shea butter also works like a charm for me.