First Open Water Swim Practice

I haven't posted in a while!

Anyway, since my last entry regarding the thrill of wanting to compete in a sprint tri, I've actually psuedo trained. The big eye-opener for me was when I did my first open water swim with a beginner group. It made me realize that I need a pre-beginner group. The swell was quite large that day, and I was already nervous, so I did what was natural in this panic-inducing situation - I hyperventilated and had negative thoughts of drowning! I freaked out badly. On my first attempt, I got past the breakers but then when all the swimmers started swimming, leaving me pathetically trying to tread water and not suck in anymore salt water. I was exhausted and disheartened, so I tried to let the waves edge me back to shore - though I think I might have been in some kind of tiny rip tide action because it was taking forever.

When the group was done with their first round, they came out of the waters beaming with pride and exhillaration. They encouraged me that what I did is pretty much what all first timers go through, and that I must do it again! So I did. One of the guys was must have pitied me and he coached me past the breaks, because I really just wanted to give up with the biggish waves. I was still hyperventilating and swallowing good amounts of salt water. But I made it and this time the group leader stayed behind with me and got me sort of swimming. At first, it felt like I just forgot how to swim. I couldn't exhale with my face in the water, and my strokes just felt odd and unnatural. I somehow managed to make it 50 yards shy of the end of the length, but I gave up when I saw the group leader no longer nearby. I got to shore after one big wave crashed on my head - still hyperventilating. I was dizzy for the next 1/2 hour.

Thank god for the support from beginnertriathlete.com. I posted my experience on the forum and it turns out that it's not too uncommon to hyperventilate and maybe to panic a bit at first. Also, I found out about another group swim in a bay, where there are no waves! So, I am giving it another shot today. Hopefully I have a much more pleasant story to tell!

My first triathlon!

Okay, so it will be sprint race, and I haven't actually decided which one yet, let alone actually train for one. I mean, I swim, run, and mountain bike, but I have yet to do them all in the same day! Anyway, I'm pretty clueless about the whole process and would love to find some local group to train with and ask all my questions! So far, I've joined BeginnerTriathlete.com and what a cool website!! I will occasionally post about my progress on this to keep me accountable, but will still throw in other interesting things I find here and there. Wish me luck with this triathlon thing!! :)

The Joys of Swimming

I used to only swim occasionally. I would just watch my friends who swam competitively for school and try to mimic their freestyle. They would give me little tips here and there and that was it. I never understood the breathing part, either, but I managed to breathe on my right side only.

Two winters ago, I sprained my ankle during dance class. I couldn't run, though I admit I was desperate enough to try, and elipticycles as well as cycling was still uncomfortable. So, I got serious with swimming.

My form and stroke was a mess, but I tried and pool lifeguards noticed my struggle and offered plenty of tips as I practiced. Other veteran swimmers also pitched in with advice and even gave me some resources they've used to improve their swimming. One guy raved about Total Immersion books and DVDs, so I bought two of their DVDs. They are pretty expensive, but I found them to be worth it.

I am still practicing and still improving my technique. Just recently, I discovered that if I tilt my body a little more, I can get a deeper scoop with my arms and feel a stronger push. I am no expert swimmer by any means, but this doesn't stop me from tremendously enjoying it and getting a great work out, too! I hope that with this post, I can encourage people who are reluctant to swim for whatever reason, to give it a chance. It can be beneficial AND fun!

How Living Clutter-Free Can Help You Lose The Extra Weight

A few days ago, I saw a link on cnn.com that linked to an article on oprah.com, that addressed the possibility that clutter in a person's home can be the cause of the extra weight he has on his body. I thought that was fascinating. Click here to read this interesting article.

Peter Walsh, the "organizational mastermind" who appears on Oprah every now and then, found a huge correlation between cluttered homes and not-so-lean folks. He believes that cleaning up your home will also help you trim down your body. Apparently, a cleaner, neater home not only lightens the mind and mood, but also lightens the body by encouraging you to make healthier food decisions and adds motivation to exercise more often.

Yoga for Youth - Everyday

We all know, by now, that practicing yoga implies increasing flexibility, strengthening muscles and the core, and lengthening the spine. But are we practicing yoga as often as we can?

I used to take yoga classes for years. I think they're great for people to start and get an idea, especially if the instructor can explain what to work towards with each position, for example, feeling the stretch along the side of the body, etc. Then I realized that with a couple simple DVDs and maybe some books, I can do it on my own in the comforts of my home with music I love, everyday! I can even throw in a few dance moves if I'm feeling it with the music, you know? Anyway, not too long after I ditched instructor-led classes, I developed my own flow of yoga routines. (You can email me if you're interested in my routine). I play some Bebel Gilberto or Radiohead (especially their latest album, In Rainbows) and now I do yoga with giddiness. It used to always be a little weird to be in a room filled with people breathing, sweating, stumbling, and no one saying a word, except for the instructor's constant - voice. So I've met with some internal resistance to going to class in the past.

Anyway, my point is that practicing yoga should be almost daily. Even if it's just 20 minutes. It increases flexibility which keeps us younger, especially if we can maintain a flexible and lengthened spine. This can help with our daily posture and stride. So, we don't need to wait till our next yoga class, now!

You Might Wanna Put Down That Sugary Starbuck's Drink...

...or breakfast granola, fruity yogurt, vanilla flavored soy milk, and the list can go on. There are even a lot of food products on the shelf and fridge that claim health benefits but contain loads of sugar that could be harming your body. Yogurt is a popular breakfast item, especially the fruity yogurts that come in those convenient cups, like DanActive - which also claims it helps with regularity. Regularity happens naturally with a diet consisting of fiber from vegetables, fruits, sometimes whole grain, and a lot of water. DanActive, and many other fruit flavored yogurts have so much sugar that it negates the benefits of eating yogurt, I think. Instead, try plain yogurt with fresh fruits and maybe a small amount of honey, if needed.

I understand the coffee fix urge, but when I do go to Starbuck's on occasion, most of the drinks I hear called out are drinks like Venti Non-fat Vanilla Soy Latte, or Grande Non-fat Mocha with Whip. These drinks are tasty for a reason, and it's because of all that sugar! Craving sugar is natural, and I can't resist it all either. But I think we should be very determined to cut back on a lot of the sugars we eat. There are 146 ways that sugar harms your health! I will list 10 here, but follow this link to see the whole list:

http://www.rheumatic.org/sugar.htm

1. Sugar can suppress the immune system.
2. Sugar upsets the mineral relationships in the body.
3. Sugar can cause hyperactivity, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, and crankiness in children.
4. Sugar can produce a significant rise in triglycerides.
5. Sugar contributes to the reduction in defense against bacterial infection (infectious diseases).
6. Sugar causes a loss of tissue elasticity and function, the more sugar you eat the more elasticity and function you loose.
7. Sugar reduces high density lipoproteins.
8. Sugar leads to chromium deficiency.
9 Sugar leads to cancer of the ovaries.
10. Sugar can increase fasting levels of glucose.

Sugar is often hidden and is in most packaged or processed foods. Labels may list sugar as corn sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, fruit sugar, glucose, glucose syrup, high-fructose glucose syrup, honey, invert sugar, invert sugar syrup, isoglucose, lactose, levulose, maltose, milk sugar, molasses, sucrose, or sucrose syrup. So be cautious!

Taking a Moment to Appreciate Good Health

Something occurred to me this morning: With each day I do enjoy good health, I don't even think about it. But I should, we all should. Today is a sunny, warm day where I am at, and I will make it a point to get out and soak up some sun, take a walk with my husband, and appreciate how my mind and body feels.