Hello All,
It's been awhile since I've been at the forums; about 4 months actually! AND... about that long since i've swum regularly as well!
This, for the last few years, has been my pattern. I will get into a groove and get into decent shape, then something will happen, i.e. I'll get sick, go on vacation, have a really busy week or two and not be able to go workout, holidays, etc.. and I'll lose it completely for about 2-4 months.. then it starts all over again.
Regardless, I ALWAYS find the pool calling my name after awhile until I absolutely have to get in it again, then of course remember how good it feels to be swimming..
My question is if anyone else has had similar issues with working out regularly, and what they have done, if anything, to overcome this?
Any hints or tricks to help get myself over the little hump and back into the pool quickly before I backslide would be GREATLY appreciated. (I am currently working on self discipline), and any hints on that would be great as well! ;)
Jeanette.
Parents
Former Member
I can similarly attest to the "staying motivated" thing....but my story's a little different, and maybe it will help.
I can agree with what you guys have all said on here. However, I have goals, very specific ones, I compete regularly, and I have teammates, but I still lose my drive after a small jolt of "take the world by storm" motivation. It would seem that not even those things are enough to keep me training hard.
And so, to the author, I offer this simple, long-winded advice: Maybe it's more the idea of the training that unmotivates you. I've been a competitive swimmer since I was a small child. For me, the pool has always been about being a workout medium, a training spot. The little kids playing in the pool next to me while I work out have an entirely different perspective about the water than I do. I can't remember what it's like to play in a pool, or splash around with no real intent on doing anything, or to wear a suit that isn't supposed to be sucker tight.
So the last time I got unmotivated, I went with it. I said "Self, you really don't want to train today." So I DIDN'T (shocked?). I went to the pool, anyway, in one suit (no drag suits), and I PLAYED. My version of playing anyway. I swam in little circles in the deep end, I floated, I dove clear to the bottom and came back up as slow as I could. I had no workout, no drive, no measurable distance (I really don't think I even made it up and back the lane ONCE).....
And I had a blast. And the next day, I played again, only I did a couple laps, because once I was in the water, I wanted to do a couple laps, in addition to play. So, for about three or four days, I would go, swim a little, abstractly, and I'd play a little. After a few days, I'm actually motivated to get something done, so I resume my workouts again. My point is this: Sometimes, it's a matter of taking a little time to have fun, and that makes you refocus, when you purposely get into the water and do nothing, instead of not going and then feeling bad for being unmotivated. BE UNMOTIVATED for a day, and ENJOY IT. Doesn't matter how old you are, if you get unmotivated, it may not be the goals, or the lack of teammates, or lack of competing, or WHATEVER. Maybe you just get tired of it. So take a break and play. You'll still be in the pool, working out more than you think, though without the structure, and that's fun. Life is too short to miss out on having fun. Especially in the water.
I can similarly attest to the "staying motivated" thing....but my story's a little different, and maybe it will help.
I can agree with what you guys have all said on here. However, I have goals, very specific ones, I compete regularly, and I have teammates, but I still lose my drive after a small jolt of "take the world by storm" motivation. It would seem that not even those things are enough to keep me training hard.
And so, to the author, I offer this simple, long-winded advice: Maybe it's more the idea of the training that unmotivates you. I've been a competitive swimmer since I was a small child. For me, the pool has always been about being a workout medium, a training spot. The little kids playing in the pool next to me while I work out have an entirely different perspective about the water than I do. I can't remember what it's like to play in a pool, or splash around with no real intent on doing anything, or to wear a suit that isn't supposed to be sucker tight.
So the last time I got unmotivated, I went with it. I said "Self, you really don't want to train today." So I DIDN'T (shocked?). I went to the pool, anyway, in one suit (no drag suits), and I PLAYED. My version of playing anyway. I swam in little circles in the deep end, I floated, I dove clear to the bottom and came back up as slow as I could. I had no workout, no drive, no measurable distance (I really don't think I even made it up and back the lane ONCE).....
And I had a blast. And the next day, I played again, only I did a couple laps, because once I was in the water, I wanted to do a couple laps, in addition to play. So, for about three or four days, I would go, swim a little, abstractly, and I'd play a little. After a few days, I'm actually motivated to get something done, so I resume my workouts again. My point is this: Sometimes, it's a matter of taking a little time to have fun, and that makes you refocus, when you purposely get into the water and do nothing, instead of not going and then feeling bad for being unmotivated. BE UNMOTIVATED for a day, and ENJOY IT. Doesn't matter how old you are, if you get unmotivated, it may not be the goals, or the lack of teammates, or lack of competing, or WHATEVER. Maybe you just get tired of it. So take a break and play. You'll still be in the pool, working out more than you think, though without the structure, and that's fun. Life is too short to miss out on having fun. Especially in the water.
