Everyone who swims at the gym must have read my blog post last week, because there was not a soul in the pool when I arrived for my workout on Friday at 5:00 pm. After thoroughly checking the area to make sure that there were no signs announcing a shark attack or rat infestation, I hopped in the first lane. There was only one guy who got in for the entire 60 mins that I was doing my workout. And just in case you're super concerned about me drowning if I do in fact have the pool all to myself - have no fear. Not only is the hot tub and sauna (which usually have people in them) about 10 feet away from the pool, but the pool itself is only about 3 and a half feet deep all the way across. It's a good idea in theory, but it might still be a little too shallow. Those big guys have a heck of a time with the underwater turns.
After my workout, I showered and went over to a friend's house to watch the opening of the Winter Olympics. I was pretty impressed with the opening ceremonies and wished the whole time that I was still on the west coast so I could take a jaunt up to Vancouver to check out the spectacle.
The weekend was pretty low key - I went shopping to find some new workout shoes (because I'm so hardcore now) and hung around the house. Sunday was the day of love - Valentines Day and Steve and I celebrated by going to Lawry's Prime Rib and having an excellent meal and a delightful evening. If you're into to it, check out my Yelp review (lindsaykell.yelp.com).
Monday's kwando (kickboxing) class was as brutal as always, but my endurance is up and I'm hardly sore for it. I look forward to my swimming workout today. It always makes my muscles relax and loosen up. It's disappointing that I haven't lost any weight yet...but I probably need to modify my diet along with this new exercise regimen and remind myself that just because I'm working out doesn't mean I can eat whatever I want.
Other than that, all is quiet on the home-front. The boyfriend is sick with head cold, which thankfully doesn't happen to often, because I don't dodge colds very well. Only time will tell if I can successfully keep my immune system in check and not catch it from him. I did my taxes last night and am totally not getting as much back as I thought-- bummer. February is almost over, and that means the worst of winter in Chicago is also almost over. I am massively looking forward to March, because I have a trip home to Oregon planned the 18-22 and a trip to New York (first-timers) with my boyfriend planned the 25-28. Both should be a VERY sweet (and much needed) break indeed!
Showing posts with label swimming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label swimming. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
I Love to Swim: Lindsay's History
Picking up swimming again at Bally makes me want to reflect on how I became one of the few who choose this activity as part of their weekly workouts...
I've been swimming since before I can remember. And probably the only reason I can be sure of that is because my parents were avid video-tapers of my activities. The way I see it, I had a 50/50 chance of liking the water. My dad's family is all about swimming. According to my dad, my grandfather used to swim regularly in Boundry Bay with his five children. My two cousins were both captains of the swim teams in high school, and my ancestors were supposedly Pirates. Most of my mother's side of the family is deathly afraid of the water, which is odd considering they all grew up in Monterey, CA; inches from the Pacific Ocean.
My dad has a great respect for the water, which I have found is much different than my mom's fear. When we moved to Oregon when I was five, he signed me and my then two-year-old brother up for swimming lessons. According to the videos I've seen, I loved it (bro, not so much). My parents had to all but pull me from the water when it was time to leave. From there, we took swimming lessons every summer at the pool in our town. I used to loathe my dad for making me stop playing with my friends and do extra laps when we went to the pool for fun. I guess it didn't scar me too much. I never swam in high school, or on any swim team for that matter. I was busy with basketball in the winter, but looking back I wish I would have tried swim team instead; I was pretty fast.
I got a job at that same pool during the summers that I was in college. I started swimming laps for fun and after the summer was over, I realized how good it felt to be stronger (and thinner!). So, I started swimming in college. There were two pools at U of O-- one Olympic-sized pool in the main rec center and a smaller, older one in the old rec building. I made the mistake of marching into the main rec with my summer two-piece on. I'm sure it was not as dramatic as I remember, but I felt like I was met with stares from everyone who was SO hardcore in their speedos, swim caps and goggles. It only took one time for me to realize that this would be the pool that I would have to work up to. I swam in the old pool for many months, until I finally bought a swim cap, speedo and plunged like a pro into the new rec center pool to take my place among snobs.
I also took a swim class my junior year of college. It might sound super lame, one of the greatest moments of my life was when the instructor asked ME to demonstrate good technique for a drill. No one else, including the kids in the "best lane" (which, I'll admit was only one over from mine), had been asked after or before for the rest of the term, so I felt like a true pro.
Fast forward to Chicago in 2010 and you will now find me swimming up a storm at Bally after work on Wednesdays and Fridays. I love the feeling of gliding through the water, and clearing my head to focus on the feeling of each stroke. It's slow going now, but I'm determined to work back up to where I was, and hopefully get fit in the process! I know that swimming will be something that I can continue enjoy for my entire life.
I've been swimming since before I can remember. And probably the only reason I can be sure of that is because my parents were avid video-tapers of my activities. The way I see it, I had a 50/50 chance of liking the water. My dad's family is all about swimming. According to my dad, my grandfather used to swim regularly in Boundry Bay with his five children. My two cousins were both captains of the swim teams in high school, and my ancestors were supposedly Pirates. Most of my mother's side of the family is deathly afraid of the water, which is odd considering they all grew up in Monterey, CA; inches from the Pacific Ocean.
My dad has a great respect for the water, which I have found is much different than my mom's fear. When we moved to Oregon when I was five, he signed me and my then two-year-old brother up for swimming lessons. According to the videos I've seen, I loved it (bro, not so much). My parents had to all but pull me from the water when it was time to leave. From there, we took swimming lessons every summer at the pool in our town. I used to loathe my dad for making me stop playing with my friends and do extra laps when we went to the pool for fun. I guess it didn't scar me too much. I never swam in high school, or on any swim team for that matter. I was busy with basketball in the winter, but looking back I wish I would have tried swim team instead; I was pretty fast.
I got a job at that same pool during the summers that I was in college. I started swimming laps for fun and after the summer was over, I realized how good it felt to be stronger (and thinner!). So, I started swimming in college. There were two pools at U of O-- one Olympic-sized pool in the main rec center and a smaller, older one in the old rec building. I made the mistake of marching into the main rec with my summer two-piece on. I'm sure it was not as dramatic as I remember, but I felt like I was met with stares from everyone who was SO hardcore in their speedos, swim caps and goggles. It only took one time for me to realize that this would be the pool that I would have to work up to. I swam in the old pool for many months, until I finally bought a swim cap, speedo and plunged like a pro into the new rec center pool to take my place among snobs.
I also took a swim class my junior year of college. It might sound super lame, one of the greatest moments of my life was when the instructor asked ME to demonstrate good technique for a drill. No one else, including the kids in the "best lane" (which, I'll admit was only one over from mine), had been asked after or before for the rest of the term, so I felt like a true pro.
Fast forward to Chicago in 2010 and you will now find me swimming up a storm at Bally after work on Wednesdays and Fridays. I love the feeling of gliding through the water, and clearing my head to focus on the feeling of each stroke. It's slow going now, but I'm determined to work back up to where I was, and hopefully get fit in the process! I know that swimming will be something that I can continue enjoy for my entire life.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
A Gym Rat in the Making
http://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=-E-Fui3-t6jkMoQfANZ9TQ
My Yelp Review of the Bally gym that I just joined says it all. It's not pretty, but it is functioning. I didn't think it was possible to get a cheap gym membership in Chicago, but I only pay $28 dollars a month and can go to any Bally now.
I was so tired of gaining weight over these ridiculously cold winters that Chicago is known for. I was NOT motivated to work out by myself in the little gym of my apartment building and doing work out videos in my living room was getting old. I'm not one to push myself without some type of motivation.
This Bally is working pretty well for me. I do kickboxing class on Mondays after work and I swim on Wednesdays and Fridays for an hour. This Wednesday will mark the fourth week of my routine. I haven't noticed that much of a difference in my body yet, but I do feel better about myself...which I guess is a good start.
The classes are NOT for the weak willed. We start at 5:30 sharp and do NOT stop until 6:30. Our instructor encourages us to drink water, but there is never a time when everyone takes a break. Push-ups, football shuffles, jumping jacks, squats and planks are mixed in between kicks, jabs, crosses and upper-cuts. I took a kickboxing class in college, but I don't remember it being this tough. I was probably in better shape, though. I'm happy to report that I'm not nearly as sore today as I was after last Monday's class.
I LOVE to swim. I've been doing it since before I can remember. It is the best way for me to work out....no soreness/sweating/gasping for air. I realize I probably don't push myself as hard as the instructor in kickboxing does, but I still feel like I get a good workout. The pool at Bally is not the best. There are only four lanes and I can touch both the right & left lane separators at the same time when I reach my arms out to my sides. I've only had to share the lane a few times, and never for the full duration of my workout. I don't really mind when I share with a smaller individual, but larger guys make it tough.
All in all, I have been pleased with the gym. It is most certainly not perfect, but it gets the job done. I basically have no excuse NOT to go because it's only four blocks from work. Here's to slowly becoming a gym rat and hopefully not gaining any more weight this winter!
My Yelp Review of the Bally gym that I just joined says it all. It's not pretty, but it is functioning. I didn't think it was possible to get a cheap gym membership in Chicago, but I only pay $28 dollars a month and can go to any Bally now.
I was so tired of gaining weight over these ridiculously cold winters that Chicago is known for. I was NOT motivated to work out by myself in the little gym of my apartment building and doing work out videos in my living room was getting old. I'm not one to push myself without some type of motivation.
This Bally is working pretty well for me. I do kickboxing class on Mondays after work and I swim on Wednesdays and Fridays for an hour. This Wednesday will mark the fourth week of my routine. I haven't noticed that much of a difference in my body yet, but I do feel better about myself...which I guess is a good start.
The classes are NOT for the weak willed. We start at 5:30 sharp and do NOT stop until 6:30. Our instructor encourages us to drink water, but there is never a time when everyone takes a break. Push-ups, football shuffles, jumping jacks, squats and planks are mixed in between kicks, jabs, crosses and upper-cuts. I took a kickboxing class in college, but I don't remember it being this tough. I was probably in better shape, though. I'm happy to report that I'm not nearly as sore today as I was after last Monday's class.
I LOVE to swim. I've been doing it since before I can remember. It is the best way for me to work out....no soreness/sweating/gasping for air. I realize I probably don't push myself as hard as the instructor in kickboxing does, but I still feel like I get a good workout. The pool at Bally is not the best. There are only four lanes and I can touch both the right & left lane separators at the same time when I reach my arms out to my sides. I've only had to share the lane a few times, and never for the full duration of my workout. I don't really mind when I share with a smaller individual, but larger guys make it tough.
All in all, I have been pleased with the gym. It is most certainly not perfect, but it gets the job done. I basically have no excuse NOT to go because it's only four blocks from work. Here's to slowly becoming a gym rat and hopefully not gaining any more weight this winter!
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