Ok, here is some info, I am 23 years old, I am 6'3 and I weigh 185 pounds. I have been actively working out for the past 4 years, and I started out at 140, so I have worked out very hard to get to where I want to be. Now I am just TERRIFIED of water, I have never took swimming lessons at all. I have tried like 5-6 times and was unsucessful, last time I got in the water and it got over my head, I had a panic attack.
However I have been dating this super great athelete, and she is one awesome woman. I love her to death, she works hard and she is really good at what she does. She swims for UT, she was heavily recruited. However she is a breaststroker, and very good at it I must say. I went to 2 meets earlier in the season, and she did very well, and WOW those girls put in a lot of time, at least 4 hours of practice a day,and then weights after that. They work hard, more info can be found here!!
utladyvols.collegesports.com/.../clay_tiffany00.html
Now she has agreed to teach me how to swim, but I am so scared of the water, I am just scared of drowning...I know I know she is not going to let that happen, or the lifeguard either. But I have everything ready.....goggles and nose clip, and I know this is crazy, but I can swim underwater, but not on top of water. But we will see how things go. I am really looking into swimming to help me get better physically and its so healthy for you as well.
Any ideas or suggestions that could help me come over my fear of the water would be greatly appreciate, we are taking off to the pool tommorrow, so I was just curious, is there anything that I can do to help my self and better myself and to mentally prepare myself for this experience. I just don't want to look like a moron that is 23 and don't know how to swim, Its very embarrassing!!
thanks,
P.S. This board rocks!!!
-Viper
Parents
Former Member
Viper,
There is an important element in learning to swim, and it is called "readiness." You do not sound like you are ready to learn to swim. You need to learn to be comfortable in the water first! If your girfriend does not understand that, she may try to teach you skills that you simply are not ready to grasp.
I would say these are some of the skills that you need to master in order to develop a comfort level that will allow you to learn to swim:
floating on back
floating on front
gliding
rhythmic breathing
All of these in water that is not over your head.
As said already, there may be programs in your area designed for "terrified of water" adults. Trying to learn to swim before you overcome the fear may set you back even more!
Good luck!
Viper,
There is an important element in learning to swim, and it is called "readiness." You do not sound like you are ready to learn to swim. You need to learn to be comfortable in the water first! If your girfriend does not understand that, she may try to teach you skills that you simply are not ready to grasp.
I would say these are some of the skills that you need to master in order to develop a comfort level that will allow you to learn to swim:
floating on back
floating on front
gliding
rhythmic breathing
All of these in water that is not over your head.
As said already, there may be programs in your area designed for "terrified of water" adults. Trying to learn to swim before you overcome the fear may set you back even more!
Good luck!
