If I swim 20 lengths of an Olympic-sized pool 4 times a week

[wallyfeatures]

• how long before I am absolutely gorgeous?!?

I am 5'3' and in the last year, due to a job change, have piled on a stone and several inches. I look like a blob and none of my clothes fit. I hate diets, but want to up my activity levels. Swimming is a good one as if I buy a monthly card, I'm so tight, that I feel motivated to get every last penny's worth from it. So, will it make a difference to my weight and figure?

Wow impressed at all the miles. I've nearly caught up with myself and should be 8 miles at the end of the week (started a bit late and aiming at 2 miles a week for the 11 weeks I had).

My daughter has a lesson on a sunday morning and i nipped in and did 25 lengths in the other side of the poole in 15-20mins. I wouldnt normally bother but knew I needed to catch up! This challeneg is doing me good. I def went into the day feeling more alert. I might consider doing 20-30mikn swims in the future. Ita just the faff of it isnt it? Once Im i n the pool I love it.

(Nb my lengths are 25m ones so smaller than yours!! Well done !)

Well done AdventuringThroughLife that's impressive! I also feel much better once actually in the pool and cracking on.

20 lengths this morning so 564 lengths left. I skipped Thursday and Friday last week as I was working early doors. I only have one early start this week and so, fingers crossed, should be able to fit in the 4 days swimming I've been aiming for. AND, I finally feel AOK. Yippee!!!

Next week is a holiday week for me, so guess I'd best try my best to get this week completed successfully.

Good swimming everyone!

I'm so excited. I saw that if you raised £25 for the challenge you get a medal. I know that's very sad of me. I'm at 19 miles. I think if I manage to get to 22 this week I might start swimming back from France. I do smell of chlorine despite the special shower gel.

What I would also recommend for any swimmer at any level is improving core strength, which will give you more stability in every stroke, and help with rotation.
So do planks and russian twists, and squats for the bum muscles :-)

Wait, what? You get a medal? I have never had a medal before roundturnandtwohalfhitches
I asked my husband if I smelt of chlorine in bed last night. He said I didn't but he was feeling lucky and probably didn't want to jeopardise his chances . I can smell it on my forearms. I have a thorough scrub every time but that chlorine smell still lingers.

Ihaventgottimeforthis off to google Russian twists. They sound dangerous!

20 lengths done this morning. The pool was much busier than yesterday when there was just me and one other lady in there. I have a theory that as it was flu jabs on Saturday, some of the oldies were feeling it yesterday morning.

544 lengths to go!

524 lengths to go.

Tomorrow's early start for work has been cancelled, so it looks like I could make it a 5 swim week.

I'm finished. 22 miles done and a bit extra just in case. I'm surprised how pleased I was with myself last night. I think it has been a great motivator to stay in the pool a little bit longer on the days when I could happily have given up at 30 mins. I'm going to swim back now. This threads been great because no one in real life seems to give a fuck about me and my swimming. Are you any smaller wallyfeatures. I think I've plateaued a bit despite being pretty good with food. Which is annoying.

Brilliant well done roundturn
Are you anywhere near some outdoor swimming locations?
Have you considered cold water swimming as your next challenge?
One day you might end up swimming the Channel for real!

Congratulations roundturnandtwohalfhitches, or should that be Félicitations! How are the croissants over there? Did you manage to resits celebrating with some? Seriously, very well done. I am trailing in your wake!

I don't think I'm much smaller, but I definitely feel more toned. And I have more energy so it is all positive. Just wish I could get rid of the smell! Also my scalp is being very itchy, so much so that Mr wallyfeatures checked me for nits, just in case.

I'm trying to be sensible with my food, but last night was a work's night out and tapas was provided. I think they gave each person 4 different types of cheese, about 60 grams of each. I must have left half my plate and I am a glutton who hates wasting food! Still, I was back on it at the pool today and mixed it up with breast stroke, backstroke and front crawl. The splashy strokes being put into play whenever anybody looked like they were approaching MY lane

Wonder how everybody else is getting on? Do you think we are alone in this channel?

Oh, hello Ihaventgottimeforthis , I didn't see you there. Touch of fog on the water this morning

Meant to say 504 lengths to go

wally it's this storm whipping up a bit of chop!
I'm off for some body-surfing.

ps if the weight doesn't want to go, then it's great for insulation in the sea in winter ;-)

Mind how you go Ihaventgottimeforthis and don't get into any fights with Beluga whales

Cos it might actually be me!

I'm in Scotland. I'm not sure I'm brave enough for outdoor swimming at the moment. I grew up in the West of Ireland beside the sea and we used to swim in the sea there all the time. Though that was a long long time ago.

roundturn gradual acclimatisation is the key.

Even a few minutes in the sea will bring lots of benefits, or so I understand!

474 lengths to go.

Yay. That's not far. I need to send my donation in. I started swimming back but have had a bad week with a horrible sore ear. I've taken to wearing a very unfetching swimming hat which helps a bit. I think my ear and my hair is happier though.

Sorry to hear about your sore ear, roundhalf. It is, unfortunately the season of sniffs and coughs is upon us! I hope it is better now.

Another 14 lengths knocked off today bring the number down to 460. I had hoped to be farther ahead but last week it took me until Thursday to find where I had put my card whilst I was away on holiday and today the pool was full to bursting (I blame the clocks changing!).