Help me get in the pool today?

Get to it! What obstacles are you facing in getting that swim in today?

southbaysonia wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

Get to it! What obstacles are you facing in getting that swim in today?

Walking the short 3 minutes to get there exposes me and all my fatness. I'm embarrassed. Ashamed. Fear judgement of people who might see me.

Thanks,

S

But you're not going to achieve results that will help you with that feeling unless you make some life changes. And based on your story, the pool seems like an necessary tool to help you with those changes.

Don't think about everyone else. They don't matter. Just think about the pool and how it makes you feel.

If you continue having this level of insecurity and it keeps you from doing an activity you enjoy and need, I would really recommend finding a counselor or therapist. They can potentially help you overcome some of your uneasiness, and/or teach you focusing techniques that aid you in ignoring the pressure you feel from your environment.

I injured my foot and have to give up running for some undetermined amount of time. That was really my primary cardio, and since completing a triathlon was on my to-do list at some point, I thought it would be an excellent time to get serious about swimming. I have always considered myself a strong swimmer, as I have always liked the water, I scuba dive, and have never drowned.

I joined a rec center and showed up when it opened at 5am. There were a few dedicated lanes for people swimming laps, and I picked one and just started swimming. After just one lap it became really apparent that I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. I had no idea about form or breathing techniques, I just spun my arms and kicked my feet until I reached the other end. After a few laps, I was nearly exhausted. And I’m a guy who ran 20-25 miles a week, completed marathons and long obstacle races, and thought I had great cardio. It absolutely did not translate! Meanwhile, the people in the other lanes, some of whom were much older and heavier than me, were knocking out countless laps without breaking a sweat! I’ve been at it for over a month, and although I have improved, I have a long way to go before I would call myself a “swimmer”. I was in the pool at 5am this morning, churning around, wheezing, and unintentionally drinking a little pool water.

So enough about me – my point is, if you are a swimmer, you should be proud of yourself! I (and anyone else who swims) have respect for what you do, and I wouldn’t worry at all about your physical appearance, no one cares about that.

Anytime I'm faced with something I'm not motivated to do, I ask myself, will I regret this? There has never been a single time that I regretted working out--not once! But there have been plenty of times that I regretted skipping it. Keep your eye on the prize, remember who you are doing this for and meditate on your success, not on what anyone else thinks! Don't let the negative feelings win. Best of luck!