Hit the wall today in practice. Do you eat before you go.

Katie - don't let that "wall" get you down. It is just your mind and body trying to play games with you. The best feeling is when you're able to hit that wall, swim through it, and then speed through it at the end of practice. :bolt: Be glad you're actually in the pool, though! :frustrated: keep up the good work! Oh, and one of our fellow forumites may be able to fill you in on Luna Bars... Julie???

Listen to Blakbeard's Peg. Give yourself time and you'll be able to swim through it one day. I get up at 4am and eat a banana. On the way to practice I eat an energy bar. I swim 4:30-6. UsuallyI can make it a few hours on the banana and energy bar. Welcome back to swimming Alison

Katie, you go girl! I only have thyroid disease. I can only imagine how hard fighting thyroid cancer is. Alison

Thanks Alison It was tough but I got through it 2 surgeries , radiation and then getting my meds right. I feel fabulous so the meds must be right. I workout lots so there is some toning under the flab. I am 5 10 and large boned and overweight. Did you have any problems with weightgain once you were diagnosed with thyroid disease? Do you think the swimming will help? Katie A survivor! :woot: I gained a lot of weight after losing a lot, too I lost 25 lbs and was down to bones when I was diagnosed. I then gained it all back and a lot more. I was over weight. I was doing ballet once a week and aerobics 3 times a week and still gaining. Within 8 months of starting back in the pool I lost the weight and was down to my original size. Having a baby has changed that a bit but I can still fit into my 12 year old wedding dress :) Yes, I think the swimming will help you a lot. I can tell when my meds are off (just off 2 months ago) so watch your body and listen to it. (this from a person who tapped her wrist for 4 months to make it through LC season!) Alison

Thanks Blackbeards Peg and swimshark I am glad I am back in the pool ( I think LOL) I had thyroid cancer and treatment that finished last year. I am up in weight and need to do this. I know that swimming has to and will become part of my life. I am competitive by nature so that is a good thing. I wont let myself stop. So my goals for this year are to continue swimming 3 to 4 times a week and continue weight training the other days as well as some cardio. If that does not help get the weight of I dont knwo what will. Okay Swimshart 4:30:bow: holy . I thought 5:30 was early enough. GEESH that is early. I plan on swimming Mon and thurs nights from 6 - 7 pm and Tuesday and Friday mornings from 5:30 to 7. I will keep you posted on how it is going. I am very tired tonight. I swam then walked 2.2 k's at lunch. I have to go home and cut the lawn as it is going to rain tomorrow. So I think that is enough physical activitiy for today. Katie

Thanks Alison It was tough but I got through it 2 surgeries , radiation and then getting my meds right. I feel fabulous so the meds must be right. I workout lots so there is some toning under the flab. I am 5 10 and large boned and overweight. Did you have any problems with weightgain once you were diagnosed with thyroid disease? Do you think the swimming will help? Katie

Katie- I've been back in the water for three years now, and there are days/nights/weeks when I still hit that wall. Give yourself time to get back in the swing. Practice should never be easy, but it will get better with time. Stick with it and soon you'll be complaining about bad swims or being off your best practice times. Dana

Katie, I too was out for 20 years and came back overweight (220), with lower back problems. Now 3 years laters I have significantly sped up my swimming and just recently hit the 165 mark. Swimming can definitely get you the weight loss you what but the key is to keep your metabolism up. I found that 6-7 small meals per day is much better than 3 large ones. I usually have a Boost shake on the way to practice in the morning. If you push yourself in workout you will find you won't really have to watch the eating too closely and the weight will still come off. Good luck and keep us up on your progress.

Thanks Dana I will give it time. I was very tired today. I came home, got dinner in the oven and then cut the lawn. I am heading out now with my oldest as she has physio for an ankle injury. I was so tired I thought nope cannot go tomorow. BUT then I thought that is ridiculous so I am going. I wont swim Saturday or Sunday so I can rest then. Alison I was hyper thyroid originally too. I had a huge goiter that was pushing on my throat. I hate it. I named it 'Ned the alien":lmao: anyway it was then they found the cancer and I gained weight after my surgery. Though I feel better heavier than I did hyper. That was nasty. I am glad to hear that the swimming helped. I am hoping for weightloss, fitness and meeting new people and basicially just challenging myself. I think it is important that my girls see their mother challenge herself, because they think I am old LOL LOL LOL. Congrats on having a baby. Katie

First, CONGRATS are in order for taking the plunge and not giving up! You are not alone in "hitting the wall." I hit the wall tons, especially when I started masters after a 12 year break from swimming. You are doing the right thing. Just keep plugging along. I agree in that it will get better. Your body will adapt. To get through those challenging times where my body is adjusting to increased workload, I eat one power bar gel with 25 mg of caffeine right before my 5:45 AM practice. They help me to keep going and prevent me from cramping up and bonking/ hitting the wall. I think they are about 110 calories. And I don't use them every practice. Just when I'm really tired from doubles. I don't like to eat a lot before swimming as I feel too full from regular food that early in the morning. And I drink lots of water before and during the workout. Good luck! I'm sure you'll get some additional great ideas from this board. Try a few and see what work for you.