Okay so compared to some of you I am barely wet or a swimmer yet,, but I have started swimming again back in Sept of this year and am going 4 mornings a week. I am pretty proud of myself and can see that this is something I am going to do for life. A. because I like it and B. because I have to for both my physical and mental health.
So as my friends and co-workers realize what I am doing I am surprised that 75% of them think I am crazy. Why would I do that? Getting up so early is dumb? I am never going to keep doing this. I am over 40 so I should be happy with who I am. OMG it makes me crazy:frustrated:. The other 25% might think the early morning practices are crazy but they think what I am doing is wonderful. ( though they would never do it :lmao:)
I just do not understand why people think they can tell me what they think especially when it is negative and really none of their business. My one girlfriend who is in kick A$$ shape said " they are jealous" they are used to seeing you how you are. To know that you are going to change your body and just be more mentally strong makes them realize that they are weak. I laughed but maybe she has a point.
Another wise friend said, " they have not gone through what you have in the past couple of years: Thryoid cancer and a daughter diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa ( degenerative eye disease) so they dont know that you need to do this for you.
I think there is a time in ones life to step it up and really enjoy and push yourself or stay the same and watch your body and mind start to deteriorate. I AM READY FOR CHANGE.
But I just wish people would stop giving me their 2 cents when I never asked for their opinions in the first place.
Please tell me this has happened to others, or I am just lucky to be surrounded by lots of would be Dr Phil's?
Katie
Fort,
Someone is literally plagiarizing from American Heritage Dictionary:
self-aggrandizement:
noun: The act or practice of enhancing or exaggerating one's own importance, power, or reputation
Don't sweat it -- most of us get your desire to compete. I'm not sure what he's driving at. :dunno:
Nothing wrong here at all. Carry on:bighug:
Mark
Thanks, Mark. It's probably an alias trying to cause trouble or diss me. I know some that are fond of dictionaries.
Dorothy we all eagerly await your 48 US states swim meet tour in 2011!
;):lmao:
Unfortunately, that would cost money, and the cost of college.....although the second kid has a full 529, did not get that soon enough on the first one.
I've always found it interesting that other sports will come to swimming practice but swimmers will never go to their practice. Probably because swimmers are kind of goofy out of the water. Then again, I never wanted to go to a wresting or football practice for fear of immediate death.
My favorite thing to here is...
Why do you swim so much, aren't you too old to be doing that? Isn't it time you gave up competing?
I just look at them like they are stupid and tell them to say that to the 70, 80 and 90+ men and women that still do it. At 34 I am young in the world of master swimming.
My other favorite that I have heard from non swimmer, mostly my softball friends is...
Why do you swim? It is not a REAL sport.
I just look at them stupid too and say, And slow pitch softball is? Where any over weight drunk man or woman with a cigarette hanging out of his/her mouth between every inning qualifies that as a sport.
I have pretty much given up defending the sport I love and have since I was little. It all comes down to them that diet and still gain weight and I can out eat them and I am loosing weight. Now whos sport is better?
34 is toooooooooooooooo OLD to SWIM:rofl:. WOW I am 41. I wonder how I even manage to get up at all :cane:. GEESH people kill me.
I had to laugh as there are a lot of smokers at my work place to. They are the ones who cannot believe I am doing this either. It makes you wonder as they are smoking with an extra large triple triple coffee in hand.
You should get one of your softball friends to come to one of your practices and you go to one of theirs LOL LOL. I am betting you will be MUCH better at softball than they are at swimming.
Cheers
Katie
The weightlifting issue with woman is interesting. I have lifted weights for several years. I work in a male dominated workplace and we have a workout room which is awesome. It has some cardio machines and tons of weights. NOTHING FOR LEGS mind you :doh:. The boys all want to look good up top and dont seem to care about their legs too much.GEESH.
Nothing is funnier than guys parading about in sleeveless t's and shorts... big chest and forearms and little stick legs... walking mushrooms...
I point them out to my wife and tell her to look...
The sad fact is working legs properly is too hard for most gymrats...
Exactly it makes me laugh. I work in a jail so the boys in their Correctional Officer Uniforms look all toned and tough in their shirts with their arms showing. But if you see them in shorts they look kind of hilarious looking.
They also seem to lack cardio as well. As my g/f and I do cardio and weights they just do the weights. To each his own I guess.
Katie
Katie you are right about me going to softball. I played in a tournament not to long ago and did very well the first 2 games, but the last 2 games were a little slower and I was extremely sore the next day. But this year I have only played maybe 20 games. Last year I play around 200. I was gone almost every weekend and played 4 nights a week. Softball was alot easier to do but harder on the body and I gain so much weight.
I will take the pleasure I get from a painful swim practice over softball any day.
swimminlyn Yes softball makes you sore but I am sure the food and perhaps the beer or booze does not help either LOL. It is great that you do both.
Dorothy . You have done so well with your weightloss and inches lost. That is awesome. I am starting really hard with the food on Monday. I am excited. I put on a shirt today that I bought about 6 weeks ago and have not worn. It is much looser in the back area. SO THAT IS GOOD THING.
I know that both food and exericise are important. I am looking forward to incorporating both now. It is time to just do it.
Thanks for the encouragement. Dont you hate that you never lose where you really need to first LOL
Katie
Fortress...
My first time out this year I felt like I had to learn to run all of again. The jogging wasn't bad but my legs were a little wobbly the 1st fly ball I had to chase down. Then there was trying to throw the softball. Now that was a site. Trying to get the follow through and not release the ball above my head like my are was trying to enter the water on a freestyle stroke.
I have since put away my bat bag and am getting ready for a fun winter season of swimming. My 1st meet in is 2.5 weeks in Indianapolis.
