Getting the motivation to swim daily...

1. Social anxiety - swimming is really an individual thing. Once you are in the water, you can block everything and everyone out. 2. Lots and lots and lots of fat people swim. At my pool, there definately more fat people than thin people. I fugre, good for them, they are doing something about it, so think that way. Just stop worrying about it and know you are doing something about it. 3. Perhaps biting off 6 days a week may be too much at once. If you are not doing any right now, do two, and then after two weeks, add another day, and so forth until you gradually get up to your goal of 6. Don't beat yourself up if you miss a day here or there. Life happens, just get back in the next time and do a good work-out. This is something you have to do for yourself, just do it!

hi chris, just show up NOW and do the best you can lose one pound at a time you stair stepped to where you are and you'll stair step back here's a few replies to your why not reasons. Social anxiety + be nice, you'll spend most of your time swimming, there isn't much time for talking People seeing how fat I am + if you keep showing up, you'll get skinny and people will have something to compare you to Failing + you don't have to confess every detail of your plan to those around you. WHY you train is your business. You'll succeed if you show up and do the best you can. as for motivation pick when you're going to train what time of day which days and make unbreakable appointments YOU MUST SHOW UP pretty soon you'll be in the habit I prefer Monday - Friday 6:30 am - 8:00 am figure out what works best for you and just start showing up there's many more tips in Swim Faster Faster that you might find helpful good luck to becoming a better you keep us posted ande Originally posted by Bohemian Help! I'm trying to aquire the motivation to swim daily...well six days a week, one day of rest. I need to lose around 50 pounds by winter, but I still can't get myself in the pool. I don't know why. I guess a few reasons could be: (1) Social anxiety (2) People seeing how fat I am (3) Failing Can someone help me gain motivation to get into the pool so I can improve my life? Thanks! Best, Chris

The more you go the easier it will become. Your goal of weight loss is far more important to you than the opinion of people whom you do not know, right?

Thank you both for your responses. I think I'll start swimming tonight. Is doing 500 yards a good starting point? 100 freestyle, the rest breaststroke? I did goto the pool a few months ago and did 1000 yards, and I couldn't move literally for 3 days. I don't want that to happen again. I'm already training with a personal trainer. I heard swimming helps with weight training. When should I swim, before or after I see him? Best, Chris

I was once a competitive swimmer - and then for multiple reasons pretty much abandoned the sport for the last five years. Then I decided to get my somewhat pudgy self back in the pool and join my university swim team this fall. Beeelive me, I've had to deal with a lot of the same issues you feel. When worrying about what other people who probably arn't fit think about your appearance...just remember: You're probably doing more to help yourself than they are. If you're worried about experienced swimmers thinking less of you, I can assure you most don't. If I see an out of shape or less experienced person swimming in the lane next to me, and they're obviously trying hard, I'm more likely to be sort of proud of them. I'd only think less of someone if they wern't trying during a swim or something. As for the swimming 6 days a week thing.....how often are you swimming now? Like the others said, I wouldn't reccomend going from 0 or 2 to 6 days a week. You'll be more likely to injure yourself or quit because of exhaustion, and that's not good. Instead, how about swimming 3-4 times a week and focusing on increasing your yardage? You might also think of doing weight training, if you're not already, to increase muscle mass and aid in weight loss. Your body needs time to rest to insure that it the damage you do to your muscles is repaired. If you're already doing all that and you really are committed to swimming six days a week and your only problem is forcing yourself to go, then let me suggest this: Just go. Unless you are exceedingly sore or have a good reason not to go swim, force yourself to go. That doesn't mean that you should force yourself to finish your workout, of course. You need to listen to yourself during your swim to prevent injury. Ok, I guess that's all I can say... Edit: Just saw your response Re the starting point...: For a good starting point, I think, you should find a place where you're pushing yourself, but not hurting yourself. That is, you won't get any benefit by swimming something that's too easy for you, but if you hurt yourself swimming too much you'll just be sidelined and that won't be good either. You might want to check out the workouts section of this site for set ideas. Most of the workouts on this site will probably be much too much for you right now - they seem to average between 3-4,000yds - but you can always go in and take out part of it and do that instead of the whole thing. As for whether to swim before or after you train with your personal trainer, I'm not sure. I guess it would depend on what you're doing with them. Perhaps it's something you might want to discuss with them? If you're trainer is properly certified and educated they should be able to devise a schedule for you that makes the most of your sessions with them and any time you get in the pool. I myself do free weight work on my own after I swim, but that's just me and is largely affected by my time schedule.

I suggest swimming before weight training. Swimming with fatigued muscles can lead to injury. Any yardage is sufficient as long as you continue to slowly increase the yardage or the intensity of the workout.

I started swimming again this summer after not swimming for many years. I have a LOT of weight to lose and I also struggle with motivation, shyness, and the horror of wearing a bathing suit in front of other people. I just basically have to give myself a pep talk and tell myself, who cares what anyone else thinks - I need to do this for ME. It's for my health, and I need to do it, no matter what anyone else says or thinks. As for motivation, I joined a master's team that practices 2 days a week and I am motivated to get up and go to practice because I know everyone else will be there, and it will be a good workout and I'll be pushed. (I do also modify for my fitness level during the workout, as I am not in as good shape as a lot of the people there - but I'm improving.) I've also tried to add days on my own, and I basically make it as difficult as possible to find an excuse NOT to go. I get everything ready the night before, etc. You can do it! I hope you enjoy it. :)

Originally posted by hmlee I was once a competitive swimmer - and then for multiple reasons pretty much abandoned the sport for the last five years. Then I decided to get my somewhat pudgy self back in the pool and join my university swim team this fall. I'd like to eventually swim at my university's swim team as well. Beeelive me, I've had to deal with a lot of the same issues you feel. Nice to know I'm not alone. If you're worried about experienced swimmers thinking less of you, I can assure you most don't. If I see an out of shape or less experienced person swimming in the lane next to me, and they're obviously trying hard, I'm more likely to be sort of proud of them. I'd only think less of someone if they wern't trying during a swim or something. I know you're right, but I also have extreme paranoia. I don't really want to get into the specifics. I hope when I do goto the pool tonight, I have a positive experience. As for the swimming 6 days a week thing.....how often are you swimming now? Zero days. Like the others said, I wouldn't reccomend going from 0 or 2 to 6 days a week. You'll be more likely to injure yourself or quit because of exhaustion, and that's not good. I thought swimming was the safest of all sports? Instead, how about swimming 3-4 times a week and focusing on increasing your yardage? You might also think of doing weight training, if you're not already, to increase muscle mass and aid in weight loss. Your body needs time to rest to insure that it the damage you do to your muscles is repaired./quote] Okay, four times a week or every other day. Let's go with that. What type of programme should I be looking at? Can you give suggestions? Best, Chris

Re the starting point...: For a good starting point, I think, you should find a place where you're pushing yourself, but not hurting yourself. That is, you won't get any benefit by swimming something that's too easy for you, but if you hurt yourself swimming too much you'll just be sidelined and that won't be good either. You might want to check out the workouts section of this site for set ideas. Most of the workouts on this site will probably be much too much for you right now - they seem to average between 3-4,000yds - but you can always go in and take out part of it and do that instead of the whole thing. I've looked at the workouts, but they don't make sense to me - I don't know how to read them. I'll ask my trainer (about what to do first). Best, Chris

Hey, Bohemian -- Once you get in the pool, very little else matters. Are there even people in the next lane? I often don't know. Is someone talking to me? I don't hear them. With ear plugs and a cap, I can't hear much at all besides my own breathing and heartbeat. With poor eyesight and partially fogged goggles, I don't bother to look beyond the line at the bottom of the pool to make sure I'm going straight. Every swimmer is different. How much distance to start with is a function of your current physique, abilities and stamina. Bite off more than you can chew, and you can bet that you won't be able to get back in the next day. Shoot low at first. Leave something for tomorrow and the next day. After seeing how you feel at the end of the week, then you can consider picking up the distance and pace. Maybe even start by going only 3 or 4 days the first week. But I agree with you that 6 days per week is better for burning the calories than just going every other day. So work up to 6 days. Why require yourself to lose 50 lbs by winter? Will you consider yourself a failure if you lose only 20? (Don't forget -- if you don't do it at all you will nose NOTHING.) Wouldn't it be satisfaction enough to have to hit the day-after-Thanksgiving sales to get a smaller suit? Don't fret about your current physique. I know I have seen some very portly people take up swimming, and suddenly one day I realize, "Man, they've lost some weight!" I think that's more visually dramatic and more noteworthy than your run-of-the-mill masters athlete coming to the pool day after day. Embrace your current shape, and you will be able to embrace some very evident results some time down the road! Good luck! I'm pulling for you.