Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Wednesday Workout Update

Thank you for the supportive comments on Monday's post.  It sounds like a lot of us are going through the same issues - not fun, but it's good to know I'm not alone in this.  And to answer a few questions that were brought up in the comments, no, I still can't run.  According to the latest orthopedist I went to, I'm not even supposed to WALK for exercise.  I swim for nearly an hour and a half 5 days a week and I wonder - am I really supposed to be doing more?  I thought swimming was the all-around workout!  Believe me, I'm tired afterward.  Not sure I could step on the elliptical - ah, who am I kidding, I detest the elliptical.  I wouldn't do it anyway.  I have been riding my bike, but pretty much at a leisurely pace - after all, it's a three-speed cruiser, and it's not exactly set up for much more than that.  Plus, it's one-hundred-freakin-degrees here - any kind of outdoor exercise is pretty challenging at this point.

Anyway, onto the update.

So the swimming has been going fine, except for the aqua jogging part.  Honestly?  That just bores me.  And I found that I was beginning to dread it, so about mid-week last week I remembered that I was in charge of me, and I didn't have to do that if I didn't want to.  Sheer brilliance, I know! ;)  I stopped with the aqua jogging, added five extra laps each to my back and side strokes, and did the rest in extra kick boarding.  Then, I got the idea to do "sprints" with the kick board - I remembered that my lap counter, Baby J, has features like "split times" and I decided to see how fast I could kick up and down the pool.  Then I decided to try and beat that time.  Then I tried to beat that time.  Then I had to take a break, because frankly, that just about killed me.  OK, not really, but it was hard!  And fun.  Which is what keeps me coming back - I know me, and if I don't like a certain kind of exercise, I'm just not going to do it.  Hey - it worked in getting me to 256 pounds!  Well that and a tad bit of overeating.  But I digress.

Speaking of swimming, one essential item is a swimsuit.  And I had one - the gorgeous purple Speedo that I bought while I was in California last April.  I loved it, but to my dismay, the lycra in it disintegrated really quick - like, after 9 swims (I know this because I was keeping track of my pool workouts in my running journal - got to make it work for SOMETHING, after all).  I was so upset - this was an expensive swim suit.  And I took great care of it, rinsing it off in cold water after every swim, hanging it to dry - I know that chlorine will eventually destroy a swim suit, but this was ridiculous.  Long story short, I took a chance and called the store, NorCal Swim Shop, where I bought it.  Would you believe that the manager, Larry, remembered Barbara and me???  This was about 6 weeks after we had shopped there!  Y'all, I swear, we are not that obnoxious when we shop.  We must have made quite the impression, though!  Anyway, he was able to find the record of my purchase (because of course I had thrown my copy away) and locate another suit for me - all I had to do was drop mine in the mail and a few days later, a brand new one arrived in my mailbox!  Now that is service, and I really appreciate it - just wish I could shop there in person more often.  Although they do have online sales, it's more fun to make a lasting impression in person.

By the way?  While I was dealing with the untimely demise of my purple suit, I bought three other suits (found some super-cheap deals at Sam's Club, of all places, and swimoutlet.com) so now I have a better rotation - I just hope they all don't wear down at the same time! 
This is as much of a swimsuit fashion show as I'm willing to show here!

28 comments:

  1. oooh no!
    we are so alike---and yet not.
    I love the aqua jogging as, for me, it is rhythmic and meditative.

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  2. I was able to find some aqua jogging workouts with intervals if you would like to see it. I Have no idea since I haven't tried it yet if it will relieve the boredom but eh it's worth a shot. And I won't be showing a bathing suit either. blah.

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  3. Doing sprints in the water spattered throughout your workout will be an awesome addition to your workout. Also, does your pool have those noodle thingies? There are some awesome resistance exercises with the noodle that will kick your butt!

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  4. There's a really skinny girl in my MT class. Well I shouldn't say girl, she's a woman. 39 years old, single, never had kids, works out a lot. Yesterday I noticed she had changed her FB profile pic but I couldn't tell what it was so I clicked to make it bigger. It was her. In a itsy bitsy, teeny weeny, red polka dot bikini. I hate her now.

    Thank you for sparing me from hating you for showing off in your bathing suits ;-)

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  5. Glad they sent you a new suit :) Happy swimming :)

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  6. Wow that's amazing about the swimsuit--both the wearing out and the guy replacing it! I'm pretty cavalier with my suit, like never wash it out, dry it in the sun, etc.

    I think I would be just like you with the aqua jogging. I never did it much because I didn't have the shoes. Now I've bought the shoes but I haven't gone back to the pool lately.

    I like the swimming for the same reasons Miz likes the aqua jogging. Repetitive, rhythmic, meditative.

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  7. The lycra and nylon swim suits break down too fast. The polyester ones tend to run a little bit smaller and tighter than the lycra so try them on but I have several speedo " endurance" suits that have lasted daily use for well over a year and one of them two years now... TYR fit my woman hips/butt better so I use those... but for wear and tear polyester suits are the way to go.

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  8. Love those colors. When I was a kid I only picked out colors in black, blue and purple. My momm said my closet looks like a big bruise. LOL

    LOVE good service. It's such a rare thing these days.

    Stay cool. The Texas summer has arrived with full force.

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  9. Roxie's comment made me laugh.

    I just bought a suit that must have some kind of NASA material. It holds all my jiggly bits in place. Though it is a bear to get on, it's worth it after. Had to have the front sewn up. Trust me, nobody wants to see that!

    Just keep swimming...thanks for all your support!

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  10. Nylon & Lycra suits will fall apart almost immediately (I'm a swim team, mom so we've been through our share of suits!!) I found some great 100% polyester ones at "Swimsuitsforall.com" and they have great prices and fast shipping. Have fun!!
    P.S. Have you looked into getting back into strength training (weight lifting)? I recently read the book "The New Rules of Lifting for Women" and it's completely changed the way I look at my workouts!

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  11. I totally agree with you on the aqua jogging - the whole time I am doing it, I was like, I wish I could listen to my iPod!

    Wow, great customer service, you unfortunately see that less and less these days. :(

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  12. That is awesome customer service! :) Wow!

    I hate the elliptical, too. Despise it actually. If I go on it, which probably happens once every three months, it's like for 15 minutes.

    What does your orthopedist say about swimming? I wonder if the resistance of the water affects your ankle? I'm guessing not, but only curious! I would suggest maybe adding in the exercise bike, perhaps, if you like that? It might make you feel more "active" in the way that running does? Or some time on the rowing machine, if that's ankle-approved? Sorry to keep throwing ideas at you!

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  13. I'm a firm believer that if you don't like doing something you shouldn't so I think you did the right thing skipping the aquajogging. If you don't like it, you probably quit it anyway in a while. That's why I gave up strength training, just not for me even though I know the importance of it.

    We have the same taste in swimming suits, mine looks like yours. Just got one right now since I plan to swim just once a week.

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  14. THat's great customer service from Norcal except how would you like to be the person who has to open your scuzzy used suit? Blech.

    Aqua-jogging. That sounds expensive.
    You could try aqua-napping.

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  15. Check out TJMaxx if you have one. They have tons of swim wear (and workout wear) at great prices. That way you can burn through even more suits! Funny how they just don't last with the chlorine. Kinda makes you wonder what it really does to one's skin. If I swim too much in chlorine (more than a couple times a week), my hands and feet crack and split, even if I soap shower after swim.

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  16. The new suits are cute. And how cool that they took care of that lemon for you! I LOVE LOVE LOVE the elliptical. I can read while I'm on it and it burns so many calories. I saw that my gym now offers aqua zumba! I'm really interested in that one.

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  17. Nice to have a rotation. How cool he remembered you!

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  18. I never tire of all your gear Shelley :) I spent a little extra last time and got the high tech long lasting speedo and so far I have to say it's held up better than any. I think it depends on the pool mostly!

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  19. Very Very glad the swimsuit man made good (9 wears is terrible!!) and so fun that you left a lasting impression!!! Have a great day Shelley!

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  20. I love that you kept the parts you like about exercise (beating your own record ... a lot like running) and phased out what you didn't. Great resourcefulness!

    Wonderful customer service story.

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  21. Shelly,

    I sense from you comments that swimming is getting a little boring. It reads like you are not sure that it is helping with you desired weight loss. I found an article on interval swimming workouts that might help you with your swimming workouts and losing weight.

    Here is the article link - http://www.livestrong.com/article/134415-fat-burning-swim-workouts

    Do not give up. Keep yourself motivated and continue your focus on losing weight. As you know losing weight is a life time journey. It is not short sprint.

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  22. I love the swimoutlet. Great cheap suits. The chlorine really does a number on lycra, but so does salt water. Costco ahs good workout swim suits sometimes too and I love hunting at our local Ross store. I go thru lots of suitsfor paddling practice and they need to stay on, protect and not scafe. Keep on trucking.

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  23. WOW! Now that is what you call great customer service. Love the swimsuits and cant wait to see your pics on Monday.

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  24. Of course you have a fabulous collection of swimsuits. OF COURSE you do; I would expect no less!

    Do you do any freestyle laps? You know, just regular swimming arm arm kick? I'm not very good at them, but I find them really soothing, and holy cow my shoulders and arms started looking so good when I was swimming regularly. Just a thought to mix it up!

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  25. Just read your blog after a long hiatus. Endurance swimsuits are the way to go. My daughter swims for a local team and that's all that we buy.

    I don't know what it is about swimming, but it doesn't seem to burn fat like running does. Maybe it's the body temperature thing or something.

    Just keep swimming and you'll avoid falling off the wagon and then having to get in shape all over again!

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