ANTI Rant

Sticking to the workout plan of swimming 6 times a week, doing weights 2 times a week, and cutting down on desserts. Having an unexpected side effect of going from a size 6 to a size 2 jeans - a size you've not worn since you were 15! :groovy: :woot: for you!

Those perfect moments - even if they only last a few strokes - when you know you've got it right. I start every length hoping to get that feeling. Sweet indeed. ;)

Swimming a mile, and subsequently, 2 miles non-stop. :) I'm a lousy swimmer, so I'm very slow. However, when I think back 8 months to the first time I got into the pool, after decades of avoiding swimming, my progress has surprised me. On that first day, I could only swim about 15 metres, before I had to stop and catch my breath. Now, I'm swimming 5 days a week.

The feeling of that first 100 yards in warmup (seems effortless). Hearing the younger kids talking about me as their competition.

The feeling of that first 100 yards in warmup (seems effortless). Hearing the younger kids talking about me as their competition. Also, when doing 25 meter timed swims with your group, usually 4 lengths, after a tiresome workout, when you cheat on the 3rd and go slower and then go real fast on the last one, which is the one that really counts! I like being told how "thin" I look and how I've lost weight, when in reality I haven't lost weight, I just distributed it better. billy fanstone

I've had just one competition since I've been training consistently. Finished 200 fly in a moderate time- that certainly was a feeling of accomplishment. Took about 12 seconds off my 200 IM time from a year earlier. Though this isn't a unique or memorable notion, I must say that the burn after a hard practice is really addictive. :coffee:

I like the feeling you get after a hard workout. like you really accomplished something.

The paradox of appetite suppression after a hard workout is always interesting to me. The general feeling of wellbeing after a good swim, without any annoying joint discomfort, is awesome.

Corporate Idiocy (another overly redundant oxymoron) My place of employment actually offers a "Fitness reimbursement". They will reimburse the employee 50% up to $250 (so 1/2 of 500) of health club fees, fitness classes, stationary exercise equipment. :applaud: I bought my elliptical under this last year.:groovy: However, they will not cover "recreational equipment" such as bikes, golf clubs, tennis, etc.:mad: So if you were a triathlete who never went on a stationary cycle or indoor treadmill, you are excluded totally! As we are now into the new year and I can submit again, I asked our HR rep who is supposed to handle the program at our location if I could submit my masters swimming club and USMS registration fees. She forwards it to a corp benefits rep (as our local rep doesn't seem to be able to handle any of it herself :rolleyes: ) but prefaces the request by indicating, "I don't think this should be covered but...." and then makes it sound like they are my swimming club dues (like a local neighborhood pool) or swimming classes. The corp rep automatically backs her and says they don't cover swim lessons or fees to a local recreation center. :frustrated: I replied back to both of them indicating that these are supervised directed workouts and definitely for FITNESS purposes! I gave them links to the USMS site and our local Masters site. :argue: Letting them know that this is not just lounging around on a raft under a diving board with a umbrella drink! I have to wait and see if they can do more than just read their policy; it specifically uses the example of aerobics classes or jazzercize-so the reps look only for those titles. Now if we can just get those folks in corporate to understand that we swim miles a day in the pool and are in better shape than any foo foo aerobics class or trendy jazzercize class taker..... Although this could be like teaching the proverbial pig to sing!!!! :D Maybe I can get our club to call these "water aerobics" classes!!!:thhbbb: Problem is I doth protest too much and have already shown up on the HR radar by raising this issue and "making them 'think' ". (I also need to get the the local recreation center to call my karate classes something like "cardio kickboxing' so maybe these idiots will cover it too.....) Anybody else with this problem? Well, I have to move this Beef from the Rant page to the AntiRant page..... To be retitled-- Corporation Sees the Light! The Corp HR rep reviewed what I had presented about our program and decided that the Master's Swimming Fees WOULD BE COVERED--:woot: "Because your swimming program is a structured fitness program, your request has been approved for reimbursement". :groovy: We managed to get a corporation able to see our work as more than just pool lounging-- and pay money for it!!!

Here's a few of mine: 1. Having your wife, kids, and mom root you on as you swim in your first meet in 20yrs. 2. Seeing your workouts go from 500yds, to 900,1500, 2000, 3000 and 4000 over the past 6mos. 3. Being able to complete 100yds of fly for the 1st time in 20yrs. 4. Finally, that almost comatose sleep that one gets after a really good workout. 5. Oops, forgot about the banana:banana: