Swim Update 3-12-15

I looked forward to today’s swim lesson; 3 weeks since my last. Prior to today’s lesson, I felt plateaued and no longer improving so was so looking forward to this lesson. My instructor (Geoff) pointed out that the catch-up drills I’d been practicing had worked well but that now I needed to back off (so to speak) on catch up. He said that full catch up is more often used in longer distances (e.g., 1500 yards+) and less catch up is used in sprints (e.g., 50 or 100 yards); makes sense. He also pointed out that (not sure how to say this) the less full catch up I use, the less kick I’ll need; guess this also makes sense because at full catch up, I have both hands/arms extended out in front of me and kick is a big part of keeping me afloat. This also helps explain why I feel like I’m lower in the water than I should be and hence having trouble getting enough air when I turn my head to breathe.

Geoff also told me that I was crossing over my arms, especially my left to right; this will eventually hurt my shoulders he said so it is important to correct this incorrect form. My arms should be straight ahead and not cross an imaginary plain extending from the middle of my head straight out to the opposite end of the pool. 

So today, we worked on several things including timing of my arm stroke. I learned a new drill to back off my catch up - touching my head with the thumb of my raised arm after it comes out of the water and as I’m bringing it overhead to re-enter again. As my thumb touches my head, it is a signal that my other arm should start the “catch” in the downward stroke. With full catch-up, I would keep the extended arm in the outreached stretch position until the other hand reenters the water.

He also reminded me that as my arm goes through the end of the stroke, my other arm should be actively stretched out in front - not inactively lying out in front of me. I need to stretch it to get the most out of the glide.

Lastly, I learned how to properly turn at the end of the pool; no, I’m not doing flip turns (maybe someday:). When I finish a length, I touch both hands to the top edge of the pool (above the water line), turn to my left keeping my right hand on the edge lip of the pool and using it to push me down below the water. My left hand/arm is extended away from the edge of the pool and as I use both feet to kick off from the pool wall, I bring my right hand forward to join the left in a tight clasp with the left hand below the right and the right thumb below the left hand. I immediately begin kicking (flip - not dolphin due to my back problems) and when I reach the surface, I begin stroking with my left arm (that is why I begin with my left hand clasped below the right) followed by a right arm stroke and my first breath. This was the standard technique; however, Geoff said he recently saw Missy Franklin start her first stroke on the breath side so that I could do it either way. I was starting my first stroke on my breath side but will try the left side first stroke and see how it goes; as I get tired, I suspect it will be hard to go this long before my first breath after a turn. 

Before next week's lesson (2 left) I need to do 25 75s (about 1 mile). For reference, Geoff told me he is swimming 5000-6000 yards a day - that's over 3 miles! 

There is so much to swimming; never realized what a technically challenging sport it is. I have a new appreciation for swimmers, especially good ones:)

Last of the Forteo

March 4th was my last dose of Forteo (daily shot for Osteoporosis); I ran out because of an insurance issue. It’s complicated but given my no income status, I thought I might be eligible for less expensive health insurance so I applied (via www.healthcare.gov) on December 15th. Sure enough, the website indicates I might be eligible but my case is still pending; unfortunately, no more Forteo, tests, or doctor visits until this insurance matter is cleared up.

One can only take Forteo for 2 years (cumulative) and the drug maker indicates injections can be interrupted so this temporary interruption shouldn't be a big deal. November 13, 2013 was my first injection so after about 15 months of shots, I’m anxious to find out how my bones are doing. On the positive side, I don’t like taking any kind of drugs so I’m not missing the daily shots:); maybe once I’m cleared to take tests, my doctor will suggest I don’t need the remaining 9 months of injections:)

In the interim, I’m eating healthy to insure my dietary intake meets or exceeds the 1000mg RDA for calcium. I’m also lifting weights to stress my bones, taking a Vitamin D (D3 2000IU) supplement, and working on my tan:)

Weight Loss

I’ve lost 10 pounds (down to 143) since moving to Tucson November 1st. The stability of staying put allows me to routinely work out; however, most of the loss came these past 2 months while focused on swimming and tracking my food intake. I haven’t been trying to lose weight but know I've reduced my fat and caloric intake; worry I've lost too much, but do admit to carrying a couple extra pounds around the middle when I arrived in Tucson:) 150 is a comfortable weight for me. I haven’t changed what I eat so much (did switch from whole to low-fat milk and haven’t had ice cream in 2 months:) as the quantity. My average caloric intake based on about 40 days of tracking is about 1900; according to my research, I should be consuming 2000-2400 calories per day so hence the weight loss.

I was eating too many nuts and discovered how easy it is to overeat, even healthy foods. I'd also periodically go on binges, like when I'd buy a loaf of bread at a Farmers Market; always feel like I've got to eat the loaf while it is fresh so would consume it in a day or two. Haven't had bread in 2 months but I suspect this will change when I move to MD and have an oven to bake in:) Shopping and preparing meals for one is a challenge I'm just mastering.

I've always read food nutrition labels but until recently, didn't carefully tally my total daily intake; it is much more challenging to meet USDA daily nutrition guidelines than I anticipated. I love tracking my intake and feel good about what (and how much) I eat:)

Happiness

My journey over the past year helped me understand what true happiness is - the absence of all negative states of mind (desire, hatred, ignorance). Although I thought I was happy, I now recognize that my previous lifestyle of a 60+ hour work week and pursuit of status, power, material things, and sensory pleasures was never going to achieve true happiness; only dissatisfaction. I'm happy to be on the right path to true happiness:)

Getting Ready

Less than 1 month before I leave Tucson and lots to do. Yesterday, I just happened to notice a screw sticking out of my truck tire; must have run over it recently. The tire wasn't leaking but I brought the truck into the shop today to have the hole plugged; can't be over prepared when getting ready to tow a trailer on a long trip. With that in mind, I'm having the fuel filter changed even though the computer indicates it has 45% life remaining. Evidently the fuel pump in my truck is under the hood (as opposed to being in the fuel tank or towards the back). As a result, the pump works hard to pull fuel into the engine; it only takes a small obstruction to shut down the engine and be stranded somewhere.

I'm waiting to hear from LazyDays RV about the window covers on my Airstream; they have a slight crack but are under warranty so Airstream will replace them for free. Hope they come in before I leave.

I'm waffling between storing the Airstream in Tucson, Denver, or somewhere in between. Since I'll be returning to Denver before driving to Maryland, I'm leaning towards storing it in the Denver area. The storage location is important for when I return from Maryland in September and decide to either take the Airstream on the road again or sell it.

Lots to do but its all good:)

Swim Update

My swimming technique (Australian Crawl) is improving thanks to my latest instructor. As a novice swimming, I never realized how many components there are to freestyle swimming technique - an instructor is essential! Unfortunately, mine is on vacation/conference in HI for awhile:) During my last lesson, he gave me a dog paddle drill to practice but I don't think I'm doing it correctly and still don't feel comfortable with all the components of my arm technique (can't even recall all the different positions for this blog). On the positive side, I know my stroke is improving because I'm starting to feel more comfortable and efficient in the water. Did 60 lengths yesterday, mostly a combination of freestyle and breast stroke.

Remembering Tucson

With 1 month remaining before leaving (April 1st) Tucson, I've been thinking about my last 4 months in this town; what I'll remember.  I'm miss the town and hope to return some future winter; swimming outside during winter, potholes, lots of seniors:), and sprawl pretty much capture the things that will stick me.

As my first winter without snow, the ability to swim outside throughout the winter is a wonderful experience. Although it was a bit cool (50s and windy) to swim outside some days, most of the winter it was in the 60s and 70s. The club I swim at keeps their two pools at 79 and 83 degrees F respectively so the water was fine. I swam indoors at a couple of locations in Tucson and other towns and much prefer swimming outside; the Tucson Racquet and Fitness Club has worked out well during my stay.

Great place to spend the winter!