Another newbie question: how do you keep count of how many strokes/lengths/laps?

I also bought an ironman watch at Wal-mart I sometimes count laps, but it can be hard to push the button coming out of the turn. Also if I printout a workout and bring it to the pool it usually has the yardage already figured so I don't use it to just count laps. I too, use it to either count sets of 100's or sets of 50's. I also use it to track how long it take me to do the entire workout. I've always been bad about "how many laps am I on" that's why I don't do distance swims or work outs. I lose track just doing 4 sets of 100's. But I did find an easy way to help me count sets if I don't use my watch. The "black T" that marks the lanes on the wall is made up of 4 tiles across. So every time I finish a 100 or 50 I touch a tile, I can remember which tile I touched easier than counting my sets- At least up to 4 tile sets, then repeat if doing more than 4 tiles. - It's kinda a silly but works for me.

I also bought an ironman watch at Wal-mart I sometimes count laps, but it can be hard to push the button coming out of the turn. Also if I printout a workout and bring it to the pool it usually has the yardage already figured so I don't use it to just count laps. I too, use it to either count sets of 100's or sets of 50's. I also use it to track how long it take me to do the entire workout. I've always been bad about "how many laps am I on" that's why I don't do distance swims or work outs. I lose track just doing 4 sets of 100's. But I did find an easy way to help me count sets if I don't use my watch. The "black T" that marks the lanes on the wall is made up of 4 tiles across. So every time I finish a 100 or 50 I touch a tile, I can remember which tile I touched easier than counting my sets- At least up to 4 tile sets, then repeat if doing more than 4 tiles. - It's kinda a silly but works for me.