Swimming: good day in pool

Swimming used to intimidate the hell out of me. Still does. But now I'm working on it. Good policy-- you must do the thing you're afraid of... believe it was Eleanor Roosevelt who said that.

I find that lap swimmers intimidate me the most. These human dolphins go up and down the pool, turning underwater like Michael Phelps when they get close to the wall and speeding off to do another lap. I never thought I could do laps back and forth, to and fro, again and again.

Okay, the unbelievably good lap swimmers still put me to shame. I can go back and forth, but not very quickly, even with the mini-fins. But I am going back-and-forth. Yes, actual laps! Not sure if I have a best stroke. I can do the crawl or freestyle and that's the granddaddy of all strokes. The kicking part still eludes me, but I have the arm movements and I breath on either side. Usually I'll recover with some sidestroke after exerting myself with the crawl.

My two areas of progress.

1) How to Kick with Swim Fins on Breast Stroke:
I watched a DVD on how to kick with swim fins. One guy explained that the breast-stroke kick involves using the fins like paddles. That kick resembles a frog kicking in the water. In order to get some power out of the fins, he explained that you bring your heels together behind you. That turns the fins sideways. Then you kick out, like the frog does. Wow, I did get some more power with that kicking method and felt better, and slightly faster, with my breast stroke today.

2) Increase Breathing Power and Lung Capacity:
Saw I guy who could swim 2/3 the length of the pool underwater! Spoke to him afterwards and told him how amazed I was. Asked him about it. He said he sometimes just works on holding his breath while swimming. Then it dawned on me. I could practice underwater for distance, but can also just practice going longer without taking a breath while doing freestyle swimming. I could increase my lung capacity as part of the normal lap swimming.

Realized a big part of swimming is confidence about breathing. How do you stay calm, keep breathing and wait to get your strength back. Much of it is learning to breath. Breathing is how you stay calm. Getting yourself to relax in the water is what swimming is all about.

Okay, it ain't rocket science. But it did feel like progress!

What's in a blog? ... 7 soul-enhancing benefits of working out

Started to write a blog entry concerning my personal preferences for a healthy lifestyle. I sounded bitter, angry, self-righteous and a regular Mr. Know-it-all." So I deleted the post. Felt better immediately after deleting.

So how does one share their beliefs on health and exercise-- which is what I do on this particular blog-- without sounding preachy? Maybe get more positive.... I'll try it.

Four Things I Like to do--- 100% success rate
1) I always feel a sense of relaxation when I get outside.
2) Relaxation hits as soon as you breath the fresh air. You breath better. You think better.
3) Muscles feel good when I swim at Deep Eddy pool. (Austin, Texas)
4) Enter the water and you've entered a different medium.

Things I've tried to improve-- 50% success rate
5) I'm trying to develop some muscle in my skinny, underdeveloped calf muscles. My left calf, the not-dominant side, is really bad. Don't know if this is possible. Okay to fail.
6) I've become more comfortable in the water this summer and feel more buoyant!

Post-exercise 

7) I enjoy the sense of accomplishment when I get home after exerting myself.