swimming for fitness

[HoppityFrogs]

I've started swimming to get fit, does anybody else swim for fit? Can we encourage each other?

Im 54 Hissy and didnt have a period since feb, so thought i was well on the way to being officially menopausal, then about 3 weeks ago i had a light one

Lesson today was backstroke but only 36 lengths. I am a menace doing backstroke drills. I just cant keep in a straight line,so they put me in a lane by myself . I must do twice the distance zigzagging across the pool.
I did stay in and did another 28 to take me to a mile.

I tend to veer to my left with backstroke, and make contact with the lane marker (don't know its real name) about every eight stroke or so; have to push mysslf off it.
In other news, I'm 53 and I think my last af was three years ago. I had a couple of years of irregularity before that, including a break of 6 months when I thought that must be that. Sage tablets helped with the night sweats, and I remember having to go back to always carrying 'protection' which was a pain, esp for holidays.
Teeny you give me much hope; crawl was the first stroke I learned when I was 7, but I've been away from swimming and exercise for so long I feel like a beginner again. Will press on!

Im better if i keep my eye on the tilrs on the ceiling,but we did 8 lengths one arm, which i really couldnt keep straight.

Thanks all!

Veering is usually down to a more dominant side.. my teacher wants me to work out which leg I use to climb the stairs first, and change it :)

8 lengths? One arm? Damn! Hard work!

I need a lesson like that!!

Weirdly, I'm left-handed but that's also my dodgy shoulder. In spite of that being the sode I work on more in the gym, the right side seems to be stronger. I also have a slight scoliotic curve so maybe that has an effect. Prob need the one-armed lesson as well!

Hmm shotgun and bruffin it certainly sounds like I could be heading -at last - into the menopause then!

Bloody hope so, newish and utterly fabulous boyf would have a heart attack if I were pg! As indeed would I!

He's my biggest swim fan! Wants (actually WANTS) to hear me talk about it and is interested in the metres I swim.

The curve sounds relevant shotgun

I'm hyper mobile, having worked that out, have transformed my back stroke by not over stretching and arching my back

I'm not sure how much room you have to be able to off set your curve, but it might help if you can?

Not sure what you mean by that Hissy. Do you mesn offset it in the pool somehow? Sorry am being a bit thick!

Yeah, even out the effect of the curve somehow? To create a line that is smoother or straighter

Even the smallest movement makes a massive difference

Well I tried using more strength in the weaker arm which helped but it did twinge a bit afterwards and during. I'm not giving in though!

Take it slow and steady, try to work with the water and listen to what your body is telling you, you have to push it a little, but not to hurt it.

Strength will come thruogh gently building on what you can, when you can

1K done.
Bit chaotic in the fast lane.
Breakdown in communication resulted in me and chap having head on collision.

Shall I splash out on better goggles? What are those ones you rave about?

I cannot get warm in my Garden Office now. I might have to make a small fire.

Mine are Aquasphere Eagles - don't know it they're the ones raved about but they're the best I've ever had. I no longer have to empty them out every other length! You can get prescription lenses in them too (à propos of nothing in particular)! Head-on collision sounds awful, I'm sure I'd be seriously rattled after that.
600m for me this morning - slow and steady seems to be the way to go.

Shotgun, the sheer JOY I get from being able to do a proper front crawl makes up for all the gasping and struggling!

My goggles don't leak, but they do fog, so I Googled and I now put a spot of baby shampoo on the inside, rub it with a bit of kitchen roll and it works perfectly. No fog. Probably won't work if water gets in and washes it off though.

Mine are aquasphere goggles too

They're fab!!

Aqausphere - those are the ones!
Any particular model you recommend? 22 different ones in Wiggle!
They have women specific ones but the only difference I can see is that they are pink (FFS).

Hmmm, seems to be either Kaiman or Kayenne

I think swimming is the best exercise to stay fit.

Mine are the Aquasphere Eagle. The field of vision is quite wide (don't know how it compares to the Kayenne or Kaiman though). Will be even better when I get around to putting prescription lenses though!
I noticed recently the strap's got looser and the buckle thing doesn't seem to want to click into place. But the seal around the eyes is so good that I don't need to tighten the strap.

i know a couple of people who have these type of aquasphere and love them I normally wear the zoggs phantom, but will try the aquasphere vista next.

They look good actually - close to a scuba/snorkelling goggle. I actually swam in the pool on holiday last year with DS's snorkelling mask as I'd forgotten mygoggles. Felt a bit of a fool but they were fantastic!

They dont leave rings round your eyes

I lent my ds the white Kaimans when I got my clear ones. I say lent because fog free goggles are so precious... 😂

I got my clear ones because I got a nose clip and it looked like I had too much equipment on my face.

Back in the pool last night with the girls from my swim lesson, a nice 500m or so then they went home, I stayed on and ended up on 1525m

The last 25m was to collect my water bottle :)

Happy days! Back in tomorrow hopefully, should get another 1000 done, hopefully more

It's the metres after the first 500m that I just can't get enough of.

At least now I have a reason to keep slogging away

Thanks. I wonder whether I can ask my dotty Aunt to get me goggles instead of a tea pot for Xmas?

In a few years I will be able to go to general swim, ladies swim and over 50s! I will OWN the bloody pool!