I went to my first session a month ago and I managed twenty lengths. I've been going weekly since then, each time increasing the number of lengths I do by two and I'm now up to twenty eight lengths.
Water was something I feared when I was a young child, probably because I couldn't swim, I was a late learner being nine by the time I managed to get across the pool without my armbands. Once I could swim, however, I loved it and it didn't take me long to make my way up through the classes at my swimming lessons. I vowed that my own children would be able to swim at an early age so we started their swimming lessons when they were very young. They're both very good swimmers now, Daniel got to his Gold award and then wanted to stop but Eleanor went right up to her Honours award and went on to compete in galas.
Those first twenty lengths a month ago were a bit of a struggle but it's getting easier each time I go, even though I'm increasing the distance I swim.
Well done with keeping up with the swimming :-)
ReplyDeleteThe only time I get in a pool now is when we go on holiday, I hate all the faff of getting dried and dressed after swimming, and I hate getting my hair wet, my head looks like a birds nest if I leave it to dry naturally, lol.
My dad used to take us swimming every Sunday morning and he taught me to swim although i'm not a very good swimmer, I don't think I could manage to swim as many lengths as you do.
All my girls had swimming lessons too but only Joanne and Stevie went on to do well, unfortunately Stevie had to stop because of a perforated ear drum.
I hope you can keep it up, we should all do something which makes us feel good :-)
The thing which has put me off swimming in the past is getting dried and dressed afterwards, I just don't seem able to dry myself in the clammy atmosphere. I tie my hair up and leave it like that until I get home and then I jump straight in the shower. Eleanor used to have lots of problems with her ears when she used to swim, she was swimming anything upwards from three times a week and it played havoc, to the point where she was sent to see an ENT specialist who told her she had very narrow tubes in her ears which didn't help. She continued to swim but she always wore specially made ear plugs, though they didn't always help.
DeleteIt takes just one step or in your case a stroke, well done you.
ReplyDeleteGetting started was the main hurdle, I'm loving it now I've started going regularly and I can see it becoming a routine.
DeleteI try to go swimming once a week - I say, "try" because I don't always manage it. When I do go, I really enjoy it and keep telling myself I should do it more often. Now, if it was an outdoor pool, somewhere sunny, you'd never get me out of it! :oD
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that be lovely? I've always been eager to get in the pool when I've been on holiday abroad but it's many years since I've been swimming regularly at home. I'm enjoying it though and I know it's good exercise so I want to continue.
DeleteSwimming is such a good exercise. I learnt to swim at infant school it was compulsory back in the early 60's. I struggle now because I am a very buoyant person and my body tries to lift all the time, unless I'm on my back. 😁 Tx
ReplyDeleteWe had to go swimming with school too but we didn't go until we were about to leave infant school. I hated being in the beginner class and I think that's probably why I ended up learning to swim. My mum used to take me for lessons outside school and it was here that I learnt to swim. They still go swimming at the local school but it's only for kids who are under a certain capability. As my two were quite advanced, they let them go a couple of times, just to assess them for themselves I think, and then they couldn't go again.
DeleteSo good to read this Jo.
ReplyDeleteSwimming is wonderful, it is something I've always enjoyed.
All our children and now the grand-children are having swimming lessons. They also go for fun sessions with their parents ... it's great
All the best Jan
I think it's so important for children to learn to swim. My two signed up for so many extra curricular activities over the years but swimming was the only thing that I insisted on, luckily enough, they both enjoyed it anyway.
DeleteGood for you! I am well impressed. I am not a big fan of water but I took a few private swimming lessons to improve my swimming technique, which was very useful. I avoid the pool for exercise, much prefer walking. Our kids are all good swimmers, such an important life skill.
ReplyDeleteHaving a dog makes me walk but I wanted to do something a little more active. I'm definitely not one to go to a gym and I know I wouldn't exercise in the house but I enjoy swimming so I think it's the ideal solution. I just hope I can keep it up.
DeleteGood for you, literally, swimming is so good for you. I learned to swim when my sister took me out in the middle of pool and dropped me. I did the ugliest crawl you've ever seen, but I swam. didn't take lessons until I was in high school where it was mandatory. We had our daughter take lessons early.
DeleteI've heard of a few people learning to swim in this way, including my dad.
DeleteWow! Jo, that's amazing. I read that an easy swim burns around 500 calories an hour. Because water is nearly 800 times denser than air, each kick, push, and pull is like a mini resistance workout for your entire body. I wish I enjoyed swimming. Good job. P. x
ReplyDeleteI do know that I'm using muscles which haven't been used for a very long time, the aches and pains are testament to that. It's getting easier each time I go though.
DeleteIt's a while since I've been swimming. The local pool isn't the nicest and the private ones around here are quite expensive or require membership.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds as if you're doing really well. Swimming is hard work. I must make more effort soon and get Lily swimming more. Your post has encouraged me. Thank you Jo. X
That's the problem these days, councils aren't in a position to spend money on leisure centres so they end up in quite a state and requiring modernisation and as you say, private pools are expensive. We've got a scheme in Leeds where the council subsidise certain sessions to encourage people to get more exercise, which I think it a great idea.
DeleteGood for you!! That's something I used to love to do....I really should make more time and swim, too. Maybe you'll be my motivation.....and inspiration....Putting on a swimming suit - and going out in public....SIGH. Really a reality check for me. You know the saying, "The Old Grey Mare, she ain't what she used to be" :0)
ReplyDeletexxx
Ha ha, I literally run from the changing room into the pool. Really though, we're all different shapes and sizes and I don't think anyone's ever happy with how they look so we're all in the same boat.
DeleteWell done Jo. I started to swim, but had to give it up due to bad ears - that was 18 months ago and still not right! I do miss it.
ReplyDeleteThat's a shame. I must admit that I try to keep my head up out of the water so that my hair doesn't get too wet, so I don't think my ears do either.
DeleteHow wonderful! I love swimming as well, but I'm more of a leisurely swimmer than a lap doer. Last year I didn't get in the pool once but I'm hoping to change that this year.
ReplyDeleteI've never really swam lengths before but I'm enjoying it, and I like to push myself a little more each time I go. I'm sure I'll find the distance I'm comfortable with and stick with that soon.
DeleteWell done, it's a good form of exercise. I always enjoyed swimming but haven't been for a very long time. xx
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping that it's something I will continue with as I'm really enjoying it and I'm sure it's doing me good. Much better than spending time at a gym.
DeleteGood for you, Jo! I'm not entirely comfortable in water either, and I think some of it is because I never learned to swim properly as a child. I've made sure to start my children young in swimming lessons to help them be more confident. They're very strong swimmers now and I think they could teach me a lot!
ReplyDeleteMy two could definitely show me a thing or two. They're still both strong swimmers and Eleanor especially enjoys taking a dip when she gets the chance.
DeleteI still can't swim properly, Jo, and I live by the sea. I had lessons as a child, both with the school and then privately, but still my little body would sink when I stopped swimming, I can't tread water. I learned from a chap who is a great surfer (this was years ago, he was my hairdresser at the time) that there are people who can't swim, they don't have the buoyancy and I'm obviously one of those. When I try and float, I just sink!
ReplyDeleteBut well done, you!
Margaret P
My mum learnt to swim in her thirties whilst she took my sister for her lessons. She's never been a brilliant swimmer as she's very nervous but at least she learnt.
DeleteWe were very lucky and had a swimming pool in our little village primary school, so swimming was part of school life. I haven't been for years though, you'll be getting so fit from all the healthy exercise xx
ReplyDeleteWe had a swimming pool in school once I got to high school, which was from the age of thirteen but we had to travel by bus to get there from infant school. I'm hoping that I do get fitter from the exercise, I know I need to.
DeleteWonderful it's such great exercise, it'll be doing you the power of good.
ReplyDeleteI know it's getting easier each time I go so I think it's doing something already.
DeleteWell done you, it is something that we have been looking at as there is a swimming pool in the next village. I could certainly do with a little exercise.
ReplyDeleteI'm not one for overexerting myself but swimming can be as relaxing or as strenuous as you choose so it seems like the best exercise option for me. I'm really enjoying it and I'm hoping that it will get me a little fitter in the process.
DeleteWell done Jo. Glad you are enjoying swimming again & for staying with it. I'm still afraid of deep water & can swim, though I've not been for a long-----time. I might be starting hydrotherapy after I see a new physio, so we'll what happens & if I end up using the new pool here in our town. Take care.
ReplyDeleteI hope I can keep going with it and that the enjoyment doesn't wane as swimming's such good exercise and I'm sure it must be doing me good.
DeleteI'd be an even later learner as I still can't swim. School swimming lessons put me off completely. Being very short-sighted being in an echo swimming baths was very disorientating especially when wearing a silly rubber hat that meant not only couldn't I see but I couldn't hear properly either. I was totally out of my comfort zone and on top of that had a sadistic instructor
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, having an instructor who doesn't instil confidence is many people's experience of learning to swim and it can put people off for life. Thankfully, there's some brilliant classes these days so our kids don't have to have these experiences any more. I can imagine how upsetting your experience was, taking away your hearing when you had poor eyesight, that must have been awful and very scary.
DeleteSuch good exercise and building up slowly is the sensible way to go. Well done you.
ReplyDeleteLisa x
I found those first twenty lengths quite hard going but it's getting easier each time I go and I'm not noticing the small increase I make each time.
DeleteWell done Jo, it is great exercise. My boys were good swimmers, one competed in college. Best of luck as you get to 30 lengths.
ReplyDeleteI wish I'd started swimming a long time ago now, I'm enjoying it so much.
DeleteGoodness, 28 lengths!!! That's a fair distance, you can certainly cross that one off now! I can't swim, for some reason the chlorine in the water irritates my skin. I hated getting dried after swimming too, it's very clammy as you say.xxx
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping to get up to 32 lengths soon, that's half a mile, not bad going when I haven't been swimming for quite some time.
Delete