Hi all,
Between a lengthy bout of bronchitis, job changes and adjusting to new schedules, I haven't swam with any consistency in about a year. I'd like to get back into competition shape -- which entails losing about 15 pounds and gaining back the muscle I lost -- in time for a meet next March or April. Anyone else ever gone through this? How do you work back a schedule of swimming 1-1.5 hours a day and lifting three days a week without doing too much too quickly and burning out or injuring yourself (or giving up because you feel like you're so far away from "good shape"?) Any ideas of what sort of yardage/intervals to start with?
I appreciate the help -- I'm so ready to stop being a couch potato, but I'm not sure where to start.
Parents
Former Member
I DID IT!!!!
Day 1 of the comeback, haha, began Tuesday. I got in the pool and did a broken 1650 -- 11 laps, rest 15 seconds, 10 laps, rest 15 seconds, 9 laps, etc. It took me about 30 minutes. Then I got out and lifted upper body, and that took about 30 minutes also. I did three sets of a handful of upper body exercises (less weight than I was used to) and then tried that assisted dip/chin-up machine. I could only do 5 each (with a lot of assistance!). Now I'm sore and tired.
I'm happy I went, but already feeling discouraged about how exhausted and sore I am, which is what I was afraid of, that I had lost so much in a year. Will it take me a year to get back to what I was, weight-wise and strength-wise and speed-wise? Or less?
I'm hoping to hit the pool again tomorrow to do about the same distance and hopefully get in lower-body lifting. Thursday's bad because I have to go in early for a 10-11 hour day, but hopefully my body recovers and I can get back in Friday.
Thank you all, again, for all the support and advice! It's really been helpful!
I DID IT!!!!
Day 1 of the comeback, haha, began Tuesday. I got in the pool and did a broken 1650 -- 11 laps, rest 15 seconds, 10 laps, rest 15 seconds, 9 laps, etc. It took me about 30 minutes. Then I got out and lifted upper body, and that took about 30 minutes also. I did three sets of a handful of upper body exercises (less weight than I was used to) and then tried that assisted dip/chin-up machine. I could only do 5 each (with a lot of assistance!). Now I'm sore and tired.
I'm happy I went, but already feeling discouraged about how exhausted and sore I am, which is what I was afraid of, that I had lost so much in a year. Will it take me a year to get back to what I was, weight-wise and strength-wise and speed-wise? Or less?
I'm hoping to hit the pool again tomorrow to do about the same distance and hopefully get in lower-body lifting. Thursday's bad because I have to go in early for a 10-11 hour day, but hopefully my body recovers and I can get back in Friday.
Thank you all, again, for all the support and advice! It's really been helpful!
