So yeah, there was swimming last Thursday. I actually like swimming workouts because I don’t feel so behind and slow. I’m not a great swimmer but I can hold my own. Where I fail in the pool is when we use the kick boards. Natalie had us do 5 laps (down and back, 500 yards) just using the kick board. I do not move when I’m just kicking. I’m am naturally floaty. My Grandma Bowling was buoyant too and I’ve inherited her natural life preserver. Either that or my inner tubes of fat are not aerodynamic. Consequently, in the pool, I’m all about the upper arm strength. So Thursday, as my team dutifully kicked there way up and down the pool, I kicked my guts out and achieved an astonishing 1/2 pool length or 25 yards. Go Karen! When we broke into teams for a team swim relay race I was like a seal. I was gliding along quick-ish as can be. Natalie asked where I came up with my considerably speedier lap. Easy… I could use my arms that time!
Friday, we had our third weigh-in and I lost 5 pounds which left me feeling vindicated after the previous weeks collosal failure on -1 pounds. 5 is a good and respectable number. Me likes the 5 🙂
As I was chatting with a friend later that day I mentioned that I was only 3 pounds off my goal of losing 5 pounds a week, thus shedding the 40 I recently gained during this 8 week competition. As we were talking she threw out an idea that I had not thought of before. She suggested that perhaps I was getting too caught up in those big goals. When I didn’t meet them it left me feeling defeated and then I give up. Since I’m trying to change my approach this time, she suggested that I need to reset the way I think about my goals. Instead each week the slate is wiped clean and I only need to think “how much can I lose this week?” I’m not even going to put a number on it because some weeks are harder that others. I’ll only focus on doing my best so I’ll have a loss on Friday. 1 pound–that it a loss. 5 pounds–great! Another loss. This way I won’t get so bogged down in that far off goal. The big number won’t depress me and cause me to give up. We’ll see if this approach keeps me from gaining back everything I lose when I’m not longer participating in the Ultimate Loser. I’d love for this to be the last time that I need the UL to lose weight. I just need to take it 1 week at a time.
Big Fat Loser 
big sis Said:
on May 4, 2009 at 4:42 pm
I am boyent also. Or at least I was last time I went swimming. I am not a very good swimmer either. I didn’t even learn how until I was a teenager. I usually do a back stroke or side stroke. I can’t swim the regular freestyle called “THE AMER CRAWL”
big sis Said:
on May 4, 2009 at 4:45 pm
i CANNOT C ORDINATE SWIM STROKE WITH BREATH taking . That is why I only can do back stroke or side stroke.
Chelle Said:
on May 4, 2009 at 9:26 pm
Kickboards suck. You rock.
Auntie L Said:
on May 4, 2009 at 10:57 pm
I learned the trick of setting very small, if any, goals a long time ago. I used to think I must be lazy because I was so opposed to goals. The main problem was that I was trying to set goals according to other peoples expectations, not my own. It works much better that way. Just do the best you can everyday and let the chips fall where they may. An example is what my Dermatologist told me at my last appointment. I told him that I had tried hard all week to not pick at my acne sores, but on Friday night I caved in. He said that I would get to the Celestial kingdom anyway. I told him that that might be true, but I would have lots of scars. He said “no you won’t because they will all be gone after the Resurrection”. See some of the things we worry about are just plain ridiculous.
wyogranny Said:
on May 4, 2009 at 11:24 pm
Sounds like a good plan! Keep on kicking, you’ll get there.
Lisa Said:
on May 5, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Us seals gotta stick together. We use our flippers for propulsion *big word points* and tails/legs for steering. Hooray for arms!
Double hooray for introspection, good friends with sage advice, and slow but steady to ourgoals! U da best!
Lisa Said:
on May 5, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Us seals gotta stick together. We use our flippers for propulsion *big word points* and tails/legs for steering. Hooray for arms!
Double hooray for introspection, good friends with sage advice, and slow but steady to our goals! U da best!
library ninja Said:
on May 5, 2009 at 2:45 pm
I realize that by calling my week with a 1 pound loss a “colossal failure” is in direct conflict with my later musings on changing my mind set and being happy each week with what I accomplish. But really… I’m a work in progress and Rome was not created in a day! 🙂
pi-day dave Said:
on May 8, 2009 at 6:19 am
I’m also an arm swimmer. I can do ok with my legs, but if I want to get anywhere fast or even at all it’s all arms baby all arms.
superflychic Said:
on May 9, 2009 at 7:25 pm
See! One pound is a loss! Good for you!
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