I prefer swimming as my main form of exercise, mostly due to have arthritis in both knees. When school started again at the end of August, I told myself I wasn't going to procrastinate about going to swim. Monday through Friday, I wake up around 4:30 to 5:00 am and throw my suit on and head to a nearby park district pool. I swim 30 minutes (sometimes a tad more) and jog in the water for 5 minutes. I missed one day the week of Labor Day, but have been faithful otherwise.

Anyone else swimming??

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Ilse

380 (Highest)/318(9-11-08)/230.2(current)/154
5'6"
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible"
Walt Disney

Ilse, thanks for posting this! I used to swim several times a week (at the Concordia pool in River Forest). I think I may start again. Maybe this week I'll take the plunge!

Alice

Alice,

Don't let the cold weather talk you out of swimming. I used that excuse frequently last year and then didn't go swimming at all. for many many days. I belong for to the Prairie Stone Sports and Fitness, which is part of the Hoffman Estates park district. It's a really good deal for swimming only.

How does it work at the Concordia pool? Do they have a membership or what?

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Ilse

380 (Highest)/318(9-11-08)/230.2(current)/154
5'6"
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible"
Walt Disney

What's really cool about the Concordia pool is that you don't need a membership to swim. Just pay each time you go. Was $2 when I went a couple of years ago. I think it's up to 2.50 now. Still a good deal.

The thing about swimming just about anywhere is fitting the pool's schedule in with one's one schedule. My best time for exercise is morning, but I'm not an extreme early riser. I have to be out of the house by 7:30 in order to have enough time in the pool to make it worthwhile. Some mornings that's pushing it a bit for me. They open at 6 am and one of the guards told me that folks are leaning against the door, waiting to get in, when she opens up. There's often only 2 or 3 of us in the whole pool when I'm there - a real luxury.

Years ago I swam at the Oak Park Y. That was always more crowded, and, of course, a membership was needed so it ended up being more expensive.

Still, swimming is a good alternative to my usual exercise walk. I once strained my Achilles tendons by walking too much, so I want to include both swimming and biking in my routine and not have that happen again. Not have all my eggs in one basket, so to speak. I remember when I had knee pain a while back, just getting into the pool made it feel so much better. Do you find that to be the case for you?

Bye now, and happy swimming,

Alice

I swim every Wednesday during the school year with my kids for their PE. When my neck first flared up, I couldn't even do a lap. I'm still not doing much, but was able to do about 6 laps last week and added a few more strokes in.

I was WSI for 8 years, just before and after college. Not being able to swim was a horrible feeling!

We pay for membership at a club, as that is the only option in our area. Unfortunately, their schedule makes it only possible to go 1x a week and not at all during the summer! :crying:

I am really lucky this fitness club through the Hoffman Estates park district is only $52/year for non-resisdents. I get to use a generic locker room (I bring my own lock and towel). It opens at 5am, so that gives me time to get my 30 minute swim and 5 minute water jog in and still have time for breakfast at home before I have to be at work by 7:30am. It's perfect for me. I love being the only one in the locker room and pool! (the lap pool is more busy at that time, I swim in the family pool) The managers accomodate my quirk of not liking music being piped into the pool area and turn off the music for me. I make sure it doesn't play in the locker room. The family pool area has a whirlpool, so if I need to hop in, it's right there to use.

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Ilse

380 (Highest)/318(9-11-08)/230.2(current)/154
5'6"
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible"
Walt Disney

Oh, Ilse, that sounds ideal! And only $52 a year? How wonderful. You guys must think I'm a real wimp since getting out the door by 7:30 is hard for me.

Sharron, going once a week is better than nothing, eh? And how great that you have gone from zero laps to six. I think water and swimming is very therapeutic, especially for an old WSI. I have loved to swim since before I can remember.

Ilse - do you know anyplace in Chicagoland that's good for buying bathing suits off-season? I guess the sporting goods stores must have them. I'm about a size 20 or 22. The suit I have now has a fasterner at the upper back and I cannot do it up by myself. I would love to get another suit if I start going back to Concordia.

Concordia University is a very friendly place. The students there are so sweet and wholesome, it's like going to Lake Woebegon.

Alice

I have been swimming for years also.
I currently swim monday, wed and friday - and am up to 1 mile (which is 80 laps at the pool I go to.) I belonged to a club that I was paying 60 dollars a year renewal (original membership was like 275) so when that club shut down, this club I go to now offered those members to come over for the same
renewal rate... So i am still paying only 60 dollars a year for a gym - full - pool hot tub, sauna, steam room, weights, machines - bikes, elipitical, treadmills, and land and water classes.... So I feel lucky to have this "cheap" gym to go to. I get up at 5: 30 am m=f swim mwf, and water aerobics tues,and thurs.
and on saturday I do water aerobics and water volley ball....
that is my schedule, some times I will go on sunday, then take monday off, sometime I take sunday off.... just depends on how my muscles feel.
I love swimming, it is the only thing I have found I can consistently do...

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http://www.youravon.com/cnorulak
carolyn in texas
started 8/11/03 327/268/177
5/20/08/ - 348
onward thru the fog

Alice,

I know at Woodfield there is a swimsuit shop called "Everything But Water". Otherwise, I'm sure you could mail-order a suit from somewhere. Otherwise, the stores start getting swimsuits in around March. I did a search and found all kinds of websites.

I also saw a few swimsuits at Galyans, but they weren't all that large. I usually buy several when they are inexpensive and have then for over the winter.

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Ilse

380 (Highest)/318(9-11-08)/230.2(current)/154
5'6"
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible"
Walt Disney

Alice,

I know at Woodfield there is a swimsuit shop called "Everything But Water". Otherwise, I'm sure you could mail-order a suit from somewhere. Otherwise, the stores start getting swimsuits in around March. I did a search and found all kinds of websites.

I also saw a few swimsuits at Galyans, but they weren't all that large. I usually buy several when they are inexpensive and have then for over the winter.

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Ilse

380 (Highest)/318(9-11-08)/230.2(current)/154
5'6"
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible"
Walt Disney

Ilse - thanks for the swimsuit tips, especially about buying more than one!

Alice

I swim a minimum of 3X a week every week. . .and have been since last March--I have also dropped from an 18 to a 10 in that time.

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Lori

232/190/130
My other journal http://www.lowcarbeating.com/bb/showthread.php?t=1130

Hey! I'm swimming, too!
My daughters are swimming with their swim team (through the local Y); we just finished our 3rd year with the team for the summer session, but this is our first time to do fall/winter session...
Anyway, since the numbers are so low this time of year, the coach asked if I would like to swim with them. I started 8 weeks ago and I've lost 12.5 pounds!

Here's a tip some of you might not know about... the coach told me that if I REALLY wanted to get the calories burning, that I should go buy some fins (scuba flippers). At first I argued with her because they make you go really fast in the water and I didn't think I was working as hard... but in reality, you are working a MUCH larger muscle group (the thighs) and you will be a lot more tired (and sore, initially!). I have to admit, since I started swimming with fins, the weight has come off faster.

I also love swimming because I am sleeping like a baby since I started!

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Summer

Summer,

Does using the fins work for any type of stroke? I usually do the backwards crawl. What about had fins?

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Ilse

380 (Highest)/318(9-11-08)/230.2(current)/154
5'6"
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible"
Walt Disney

Rhonda - that is so awesome!

Summer - I would have said the same thing about the fins. That is really surprising to me, but so logical once you explained it. Most pools don't allow fins during lap swim time, probably because of traffic problems, but I will see if I can find a way to at least try it. I am so intrigued! And impressed by your progress as well.

It's only 6:55 here, and I'm up and at the computer, so I should be able to manage morning swimming. Thanks so much for the encouragement and inspiration, all of you.

Alice