What things have you been forced to give up to swim?
Former Member
Since most of us have limited time we have had to make some sacrifices. For me it is: Golf and a clean house.
I love golf but haven't played at all in two years and maybe 10 times in the last seven. My wife and I both work full time and have two small children, so it's hard for me to justify spending six hours on a weekend to play golf.
It stresses me out to have a messy house but there just isn't any time in the day, unless I gave up the remainder of my free time at the end of the night but I'm too exhausted and stressed. I'll watch the game (the one thing I haven't given up - thank god for the DVR!) and leave dirty dishes in the sink. Actually not sure if I would have more energy for this if I didn't swim but I would surely have more time.
Sleep. I can swim at lunch twice a week, but my time then is extremely limited & I usually am lucky to get in a 3000 - so I have to make it up on the other days of the week by going to the pool at 5:30am. Now it doesn't seem like such a sacrifice, because when 4:55 rolls around, bing! I'm awake! and I truly love how I feel during & after my swim.
For me, it's more of what do I get back because I swim. Two years ago, I was spending a day or two a month in bed with back pain from arthritis. I couldn't pick up my children for fear it would be the tweak that threw my back out yet again. The arthritis never goes away but since swimming regularly about 90 minutes a day, the pain is mostly gone. I can lift heavy objects (and squirming children) without fear of ending up in bed for the rest of the day. No doubt, I'm sleepy at 9:00 PM because I wake up at 4:45 AM to get to the pool when it opens. That doesn't mix well with my wife who is a night owl. However, the alternative was far worse.
I did sacrifice one thing before my last meet. I decided to grow my nails out in hopes it would give me a little extra speed. That made it difficult to play guitar until I trimmed them again. So, for about two weeks I put the guitar down. I don't think I'll be doing that again.
For me, it's more of what do I get back because I swim. Two years ago, I was spending a day or two a month in bed with back pain from arthritis. I couldn't pick up my children for fear it would be the tweak that threw my back out yet again. The arthritis never goes away but since swimming regularly about 90 minutes a day, the pain is mostly gone. I can lift heavy objects (and squirming children) without fear of ending up in bed for the rest of the day.
Good for you!!
I did sacrifice one thing before my last meet. I decided to grow my nails out in hopes it would give me a little extra speed. That made it difficult to play guitar until I trimmed them again. So, for about two weeks I put the guitar down. I don't think I'll be doing that again.
This one is funny to me - my son says he grows his nails out to play
guitar!
This one is funny to me - my son says he grows his nails out to play
guitar!
Everyone has their own style I guess. I can pick ok but I have a lot of trouble keeping my fingers on the frets with long nails. In the last couple weeks, I've also lost some of my callouses. Hate having to rebuild them since it hurts to play without them.
I don't think I've given up anything...healthy hair maybe....I never got a tattoo because I didn't want to be out of the water for the length of time it takes to have it properly set (not much of a sacrifice!)...and I get up at 5am anyway to get my behind to work on time, so swimming doesn't cost me any sleep.
I haven't given up a thing, really.
High school football. It was the season before swim season and I couldn't risk injury. Swimming paid for college for me so it was way more important to be healthy for that than to screw around with football. Still can't help but wonder what it would've been like making a big hit as a linebacker or catch a game winning td. :)
Former Member
I would say mostly sleep and probably being in a better mood sometimes as it wears me out and can make me a bit grumpy being tired or sore.
