The Kindness of Strangers

The first part of my upcoming triathlon is swimming. For 1/3 of a mile. I know I've got a lot of training to do to get myself up to this point, yet I've been dragging my feet.

Why?

Because I don't want to look lame.

I don't want to walk into the pool area and have all the "real" swimmers look at me as if I'm some sort of poser. I don't want to share a lane with another swimmer and then, while they are swimming like fish, I swim like a cat!

Actually, this cat seems to be more graceful than I.

(sigh)

So I've dragged my feet about going to the pool.

Last week I decided enough was enough, put on my big girl swim pants, and begged my daughter to go with me. I figured if she was there I wouldn't be so vulnerable.

I'm happy to say it helped having her there. She cheered me on and encouraged me just the right amount. I also discovered that I needed more than just a swimsuit. I got water in my ears - which bugged me for the rest of the day. A quick trip to the nearby REI got me very cool silicone earplugs, a swim cap (purple, of course), and swim goggles, which, despite living with a pool in my backyard for 6 years, I've never used or owned.

Today, my second time swim training, I didn't have Kimi to lean on - she's all the way in Austin, TX. I went to yoga first, to limber up first. That was actually a fantastic move - we focused on shoulders and upper back asanas - perfect for swim prep!

In the changing room I took a ridiculous amount of time figuring out how to open my goggle case. Eventually, with ear plugs, swim cap, and goggles firmly in place, I was ready to get wet.

All of the lane were occupied. Gulp. That meant I had to...share!

Crap, crap, crap. Is it too late to retreat to the hot tub?

I mustered my courage and asked one of the swimmers if I could share his lane. He graciously said yes. After my first 50 yards we started chatting. His name is Joe, and he only just learned to swim 6 years ago. He's on the cusp of 70 (he didn't look it). He now competes in various swim sprint events. He congratulated me for trying something that challenged me, and then gave me some great training pointers. He was so kind and generous with his encouragement that I stopped feeling self-conscious about my "newbie" status.

In the end, not only did my worst fears not happen but I actually made a new friend.

So, on this Leap Day, I challenge you to take your own leap and try something that you want to do but have been talking yourself out of for fear of something going wrong. More likely than not, something really good will greet you when you land!

Feeling the Burn...Even in the Water!

Today I swam "for fitness" for the first time in my life. It wasn't easy.

I learned to swim as a kid and have enjoyed swimming ever since. Until our recent move we lived with a pool in our backyard plus I worked this past summer at a camp that had a lake, so I've been swimming quite a bit this past year. What I don't do is "lap" swimming, and I never learned proper form. I can swim on my back, with just feet, with just hands, in spirals, under water, and plain ol' treading water. It's good enough for my needs. Now, however, I need better form.

In my May Iron Girl triathlon I am to swim 1/3 (0.33) of a mile. Today, with lots of breaks between laps, I swam  0.14 miles. This is my baseline. Now I have some idea of what it's going to take to get myself up to a performance level required for the triathlon.

It's important to know where you are as you set your goals. The trick is making sure you are not only improving what you are doing but how you are doing it. I don't want to expend a lot of energy needlessly, so I am going to learn how to swim more efficiently.

And remember, just as Dory said in Disney's "Finding Nemo":

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming...

Copyrighted by the Walt Disney Company, all rights reserved

Y(MCA) Go to the Gym

When we finished our basement in our previous house we were able to create a space for a small home gym. We had a treadmill, weight bench with a set of handheld weights, TV plus assortment of yoga, pilates, kickboxing, and other strength-aerobic DVDs, exercise balls, mats, and pilates and yoga props. Except for the treadmill (which we had already owned for many years) these things were quite affordable, especially when purchased over time.

Having this space was essential for Phil's fitness needs - with all the work travel and 12 hours work days getting to a gym to work out was not going to happen. However, he could squeeze it in when all he had to do was throw on some shorts and go down to the basement for a workout any time he had a block of time. He eventually started doing first-thing-in-the-morning workouts: walking on the treadmill while watching a DVD of a favorite TV show, then some free weights. Even this was better than being mostly sedentary in front of a computer all day.

In the winter of 2008-09 I got serious about my weight and fitness issues and designed a fitness program/lifestyle overhaul that led to a 35 pound weight loss in about 6 months. I tracked my food calories and nutrient as well as the estimated calorie burn from my exercises. Tracking everything was a bit tedious but it made me extremely mindful about just how much I was actually eating in a portion of food and how nutritious (or not) that food was. Having the home gym was the other half of the foundation I built for my healthy lifestyle. I sweated my way through those DVDs, changing them up so that: 1) I wouldn't get bored, and 2) I would work different parts of body in different ways for optimal strength and cardio improvement.

Now, in our new home, we don't have the space to set up another home gym. I didn't want to revert to a more sedentary lifestyle so we joined the local Y, getting a family membership.

Best decision ever!

Not only do we have access to all of the different equipment, but a trainer, for no additional cost, spent an hour with me showing me the weight machines and calibrating them so that I can use them safely and effectively. Oh, and then there are the group classes, such as NIA, Zumba, and yoga, which I love.

Another cool thing is that, since I'm training for the triathlon, I need to swim - and there is no pool at this new house of ours. The YMCA I go to has a nice indoor pool, however, so I can add my swim trainings to things I can do thanks to my Y membership.

There are good ways to create spaces for yourself to get and stay fit  - either in your home or outside. You may need to get a little creative if your home is small, but remember: This is the only body you have and this is the only life you'll live. If you honor your body and take care of yourself now, you are much more likely to enjoy good health during your later years.

Getting Back in the Groove

My family was on vacation these last few days - lots of driving to and fro, which means lots of sitting for hours on end. We ate "out" every single meal. For about 48 hours we were staying at a theme park resort, so lots of yummy things to eat added on top of the lots of sitting for hours bookending the trip. Needless to say, all training went out the window - there wasn't time to squeeze anything into the already packed four days we had allotted for the trip.

Today, back in my cozy home, I started to catch up on things - emails, Facebook groups and friends, reading the news reports, and tagging and captioning uploaded photos. Happily busy, I suddenly realized that I would have to stop immediately and get ready for my Groove class. That's when the little voice inside my head said, "...or...you could skip it...just this once".

It was tempting. All of the things I could do instead of Grooving flashed in my mind and they looked good!

Fortunately, that other part of my brain - my positive motivation coach - jumped up and started waving her hands. "Hey, it's been nearly a week since you exercised - get back to work!" Then my imaginary coach flashed a visual - me doing the Frost Bite 10K and struggling because I wasn't training my body anymore. I didn't like that vision; not one bit!

So I pushed myself away from the computer, changed my clothes and drove to Groove. I threw myself into my workout and enjoyed the feeling of breathing and stretching, moving and grooving, and getting my body back to work.

Taking a short break from your fitness routines is fine, but don't talk yourself out of getting back in your groove!

Lifelong Health vs. Short-term Fads

Today I was joined in my Groove class by my 17 year old daughter, Kimi. It was a small class - only one other student besides us - which normally would make Kimi feel self-conscious but I think her concerns were set aside pretty quickly by our instructor, Leanna. A very good thing!

A predictable thing happened as we did our dance moves - Kimi & I played off of each other. Our normal goofiness reared its head including one amusing (to us, at least!) moment when we "challenged" each other & postured as if we were enemies. We quickly got back to business and had a great workout.

Kimi isn't new to group exercise classes - she used to do ballet, jazz, and gymnastics when much younger and, more recently, ninjitsu. She is actually quite strong, energetic, and very flexible - which might not be your first thought looking at her. While petite (pocket-sized, she likes to say), right now she is not slender. The girl's got curves...not excessively but more than she wants.

Since our move in October Kimi has embraced healthier habits. First, she changed her diet and became a vegetarian, something that's rather easy to do where we live. Now, she's seeking more opportunities to be physically active. The key here is she is choosing this - all of her motivations are intrinsic and come from a healthy place inside her. Too often motivations are too external - we do things because it's fashionable (do a cleanse, eat lots of protein, hot yoga is the best yoga....) not because it makes sense for us. Paying attention to what we want and what we need is so important for not only starting a healthy lifestyle but maintaining it as just that, a life style - not a diet, not a fad.

This is what I did three years ago when I decided I needed to change my habits. I lost 35 pounds over 6 months, focusing on quality and quantity of foods and on increasing regular activity, and I believe that my example helped Kimi see what healthy looks like.  No yo-yo'ing, no self-loathing, no deprivation - I still eat chocolate, drink beer, and enjoy myself at parties. I also stay mindful of what any given week's worth of eating and activity is for me and make sure that I am maintaining my sweet-spot of balance.

Lifelong health, not fitting into a too-tight outfit for a special occasion, should always be our primary goal.

Getting out of my own way

I've been quite jazzed since jogging on Monday - my first time since becoming a grownup! I noticed this morning that my arms are gaining definition, which is cool, too. I've been sharing my info via Facebook statuses on my wall and with my group of fitness gal-pals/support group Hot Chocolate Drops and welcoming the accolades with open arms. Overall, I've been feeling pretty good about myself.

Then, this morning, I went to my classes. I got myself settled into my usual spot for Zumba - near the windows so I can see outside, second row in (first row feels too on-the-spot still) so that I can clearly see what my instructor is doing. I felt good, strong and ready.

Mid-way through the class our instructor repositioned herself at the back of the room. I was now about as far away as possible and had zero sight lines to her. She started doing new moves and I was lost. I kept trying to use the others in front of me for some guidance but they each were doing something a little different from the others - which way was the right way? I could not tell. Now they're spinning, now...something with arms? Crud! I was kind of bobbing and weaving, fully aware that I wasn't even close to what I was supposed to be doing. I felt so frustrated...with myself, with the other students (they could see her, right? what was their excuse?), and with the instructor (who I adore!). As my heart rate slowed, since I wasn't moving like I had been, I even felt cheated - I wasn't getting the workout I need or want. It was a pity party for one, right out there on the dance floor.

Finally, the thoughts popped into my head: It doesn't really matter. Stop trying to be "perfect". Just keep moving. Breathe.

I was so caught up in what I couldn't do that I let my emotions get the better of me. I lost enjoyment and I lost opportunity - all because I couldn't get out of my own way. Once I did...hey, look at that! I was back to finding a rhythm that was "good enough" even if it wasn't exactly what the instructor was doing.

So, I learned my lesson, right?

Well...

Following Zumba I go to yoga. It's a big switch in nearly every possible way. I walked into the room and set up my sticky mat in my favorite spot for yoga - right next to the window so I can see outside, first row (yoga isn't exactly follow-the-steps!). I put my extra gear away in a cubby and returned to find someone placing her mat rightnexttomine, which is kind of a no-no, since each yogi needs a little side space beyond the mat to stretch and extend arms and legs. I slid my mat away from hers to create more space and plopped down. That's when I noticed it...I was facing the wall now. My beautiful window view was in front of the other gal. MY view.

{grumble, grumble} Find your breath...
{grumble, grumble} Notice any tension in your body and breathe into it...
{grumble, grumble} On your next inhale gently open your eyes and take in the light

Oh.

I can see. I can let go. I can be in the moment and not dwell on the little things...little things that truly don't matter. I can get out of my own way...and discover what's waiting on the other side.