I really want to go swimming tomorrow - but I'm scared

[needakickstart]

I weigh 144kg - 22 stone 9.

I'm shockingly unfit - I can just about walk 10-15 slow speed around a supermarket but even that's a struggle and I'm leaning on the trolley for support. I'm 31 and I feel like I'm 75. Tried to go for a gentle walk with my aunt and uncle over Christmas and I couldn't talk for being out of breath.

There is a reason - horrendous trauma - but as my cousin (bluntly) put it this weekend, 'you're doing yourself no favours constantly being poor me, poor me.'

My sister has recently been given a huge sum of money, and she wants to use this money to go to Disneyland Paris (she has autism/intellectual disability) ... neither of us have ever been on a real holiday - never been abroad - and I so desperately want to take her, but at my current weight I wouldn't be able to do a damn thing ... so I have the incentive to do something...

My GP has suggested I try swimming. I'm at university, their wellbeing service has offered for me to go swimming for free, for an hour at a women's only session.

I feel stupid - I'm neurodiverse and struggle with new things. I've been shown around the pool but their changing room system is a bit fancy, I can't quite remember how it was explained to me before.

I'm also acutely aware of how fat and unfit I am and I'm scared I'll collapse in the changing rooms if I try to swim even one length. The instructor I spoke to at the gym (in September) told me I can go in, and just get used to being in the water, floating, don't have to swim but just to move. It's not very deep water or anything.

I get palpitations sometimes when I exert myself, GP and cardiology have thoroughly investigated (cousin has a condition that could be inherited) and both said gentle swimming is fine and probably be of huge benefit to me.

I have a swimming costume etc, I really want to go, but how the hell am I going to make myself actually do it?

Thats fantastic OP. Well done.

Well done!!

Congratulations!

Ask about classes - lots of places do pool-based exercise classes aimed at people with weight or mobility problems which can be hugely beneficial. I have been going for a couple of years and it’s been really helpful.

This is such a lovely post to read! Glad you managed it OP. I'm a regular swimmer and find it such a great activity for my physical and mental health. At my pool, there are people of all different body sizes and swimming abilities - some swim lengths and some walk up and down in the water. Nobody judges anyone else. Keep it up, OP and keep that Disney trip in mind if you ever need motivation!

Just read your update and so pleased for you that you took the excellent advice here.

Brilliant op! Well done, such an amazing achievement. You should be very proud of yourself, the first step is always the hardest.
When do you plan to go again?

Well done! Keep up the good work

Don’t forget op, there will be others who have read your first post and also felt anxious about going swimming too.

They will hopefully feel less apprehensive now you’ve shared your update, so not only have you accomplished something for yourself but you will have inspired others.

Well done. I'm a little bit smaller than you and I do not have the confidence. If I did I would avoid family time cos kids have no filter and might say something that would upset me. You go girl.

I've swum for years.

First time I went I struggled to do ten lengths, and I got out at the end feeling like an ungainly porpoise (stressing OUT of the water, not in).

I built up for a while. 10 until that felt comfortable, 20 etc. And for many years, I got up to 64 lengths (the equivalent of a mile in a 25m pool), definitely once and sometimes twice a week.

Then last summer I broke my spine. It was a riding accident, so I've lost that activity (to my sorrow) and my once taut upper legs lost tone pretty much immediately. As I continued to recover I started swimming again the same way 10 lengths (painful). Long break, 10 more (not so painful). Built up to 40 then made the mistake of switching to crawl (excruciating). I'm now working on 40, crawl only.

When I get back up to 64 I will gradually start alternating with crawl.

It takes time, but as a form of exercise it really does repay the effort. I find it's great for my wellbeing as well.

You can do this. No one's watching you, and if they are, they won't care.

Ah sorry - missed your update. It's brilliant that you went! Keep building up step by step.

I am so chuffed to see this update! Well done you!

@needakickstart hope
you enjoy todays swim!

Well done OP!

I have a close family member in a similar situation to you. Just wanted to say that whenever I see someone trying to get their fitness back I always do an internal “good on you 💪”.

OP, my hairdresser was as big as you. She is a size 14 now. You CAN do it, although swimming will not be nearly enough. They say it's 80% diet and 20% exercise.

Happy to share what my hairdresser did to lose the weight if you're interested.

She just wanted to go swimming. Which she succeeded at doing.

Set yourself a plan - item 1 is "get the changing rooms explained again"

Forget swimming (yet), at your weight you will get huge benefit from walking and moving in the water.

Get changing rooms explained
Pack a bag with a towel, water bottle, undies, I take shampoo, but better to start by showering at home. Put swimsuit under clothes.
1st visit - get in water.... do nothing else, get out again and dress.
2nd visit - get in water.... go waist deep and walk accross the pool.
after a few visits work up to going shoulder deep and walk across the pool.

Only you can gauge how fit you are, so you need to keep an eye on your breathlessness and just try to get slightly out of breath each time.

We’ll done @needakickstart you just need to keep going which is the next hurdle! But nice you start to get that endorphin kick from exerting your body a bit more than you’re used to you’ll get hooked. Then one day you’ll be walking around the supermarket and realise that you have been out of breathe once and that you don’t ache anywhere, it’ll happen slowly so you won’t notice on a a day to day basis, but then the realisation will drop. Just keep that goal in mind!

So glad you went, please keep going. It's all for you, it'll be so good for you and a year from now you'll be amazed and so glad you went for it.

You've got this, it's yours.

Well done! You've got past the biggest hurdle, just keep going 🙂

Well done OP, super proud of you for being open and honest and being willing to make change. The first time will always be the hardest but I have no doubt if you push your fears down and do it once your confidence will soon grown. Good luck x

There are all sorts of bodies at the pool, honestly you’ll be fine. Go during the week when it’s not full of tweens.

Do it OP! It’s going to feel amazing being in the water.
I couldn’t swim properly when I was pregnant because I had heartburn all the way through. But in the third trimester just being in the water felt amazing because all the weight of my belly was supported by the water.
Going to the pool and moving (water walking is great) will be good for and help you to lose weight. BUT it was always immediately feel good to take the weight off your joints and you will have more freedom of movement than currently you do out of the water.
Nobody is going to bat an eyelid at a fat unfit lady in a swimming pool. Swimming does not have a size limit.

Ooo just noticed the update. Fantastic news :) Make it a routine and go every week or more.

So so delighted/proud of myself - today was harder to get going as I woke up a bit miserable/headache/anxious - BUT thought, nope I need to do this - and did it . Headache gone, feel energised and I’m noticing I’m no longer short of breath when walking short distances - whereas previously I’d have been out of puff very quickly !! Absolutely delighted and thoroughly enjoyed myself . I can probably fit in a second swim on a Wednesday afternoon .