I had my first swim meet this past Saturday since I started to get back into swimming this year. It was chilly, but a lot of fun! I swam 7 events: 50 free, 50 fly, 50 back, 100 I.M., 200 free, 400 free relay, and 200 T-shirt relay (just for fun). I am of course, NO WHERE near the shape I was in during my college years, and still far from where I would like to be... but you've gotta start somewhere right? I feel like that swim meet was just what I needed to push myself back into training mode. I have been practicing at least 3 times a week for 2 weeks, but now that I have a baseline to compare myself too I am excited to get in the water more often!
My goal is to get back into swimming to the point that it becomes apart of my life again. I miss the camaraderie of being on a team, I miss setting goals for myself and being able to attain them, I miss the challenge! I know I will probably never be in as good of shape as I once was, but I do hope that I can start over, and not compare myself to where I once was, but instead set new goals, and be just as excited when I reach them! However, I don't think I will ever get used to seeing people swim past me when I look into the lanes next to me. That needs to change ASAP! My mind is ready for it, but my body isn't.
Results:
50 free- 26.95
50 fly- 29.38
100 I.M.- 1:10.99
50 Back- 33.59
200 free- 2:16.46 (split- 1:04, 1:11)
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Week 1: Fail
I can't believe that just 1 week into the new year I am already flaking on on of my resolutions! I'm pathetic! LOL! Turns out waking up at 5:00 am in order to be in the pool by 5:30 am is pretty much impossible. I did run on Tuesday, that was a plus! I am currently re-evaluating my workout schedule to better accommodate my sleep schedule. Also, this past week I have been really involved with my school work which has been somewhat a distraction to my personal life. I guess that could be considered both good and bad. We will see how long that lasts.
I would like to report that I have been having a lot of fun with my budgeting spreadsheet! I have reformatted it, and made it easily accessible on all of my devices. I can even edit it with my phone which makes it super simple to update on the go. YAY ME! Also, working pretty much my entire winter break has put me ahead in my finances, so I am hoping I can keep it that way, at least until summer when I go back to working full-time and Cheesecake (and continuing to get my teacher salary). I foresee that after this summer, next (school) year will be a lot easier for me financially. For once. Maybe then I can focus solely on teaching...? That would be nice!
Just for fun:
1. I am at my parents house tonight, cuddling with Bellatrix
2. She has farted on me at least 5 times tonight
3. It is currently 2:50 am and I can't sleep
4. My students and I inherited a classroom bunny named Bugsy
5. I am extremely allergic to Bugsy
I would like to report that I have been having a lot of fun with my budgeting spreadsheet! I have reformatted it, and made it easily accessible on all of my devices. I can even edit it with my phone which makes it super simple to update on the go. YAY ME! Also, working pretty much my entire winter break has put me ahead in my finances, so I am hoping I can keep it that way, at least until summer when I go back to working full-time and Cheesecake (and continuing to get my teacher salary). I foresee that after this summer, next (school) year will be a lot easier for me financially. For once. Maybe then I can focus solely on teaching...? That would be nice!
Just for fun:
1. I am at my parents house tonight, cuddling with Bellatrix
2. She has farted on me at least 5 times tonight
3. It is currently 2:50 am and I can't sleep
4. My students and I inherited a classroom bunny named Bugsy
5. I am extremely allergic to Bugsy
Sunday, January 5, 2014
I can't stay out of the water
The start of this school year has been somewhat of a roller coaster ride of emotions for me. It would be nice if I had a good solid workout regimen to keep me grounded throughout this period of my life, but that has not been the case thus far. Last year I began swimming with the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center masters team. I was unable to keep up with my membership, and have now gone about 6 months without swimming. Last Thursday I made the decision to go back. This time around I hope to be able to stick with it, and find a more regular practice schedule for myself. I am lucky because school starts later this year, so I am planning on going to morning practice before school. I might try going just 3 times a week at first, and then upgrade to 4 or even 5.
Swimming has always been a part of me. It was a way to let off steam, hang out with friends, and create goals for myself. While sometimes it is hard to go back to that place because I am nowhere near the physical shape I was once in, I still yearn for the water. Going back last week felt really great! It felt amazing not to think about anything else for an hour. Especially since all I could think about was the throbbing pain that was pulsing through my shoulders since I hadn't used them in 6 months. Today, 3 days after my practice I am still sore all over my body, but I can't wait to jump back in the pool and do it all over again!
I am planning on swimming Mon, Wed, Fri mornings this week. Wish me luck!
Swimming has always been a part of me. It was a way to let off steam, hang out with friends, and create goals for myself. While sometimes it is hard to go back to that place because I am nowhere near the physical shape I was once in, I still yearn for the water. Going back last week felt really great! It felt amazing not to think about anything else for an hour. Especially since all I could think about was the throbbing pain that was pulsing through my shoulders since I hadn't used them in 6 months. Today, 3 days after my practice I am still sore all over my body, but I can't wait to jump back in the pool and do it all over again!
I am planning on swimming Mon, Wed, Fri mornings this week. Wish me luck!
Goodbye 2013
As 2013 is at a close, and I am contemplating new resolutions, I find myself looking over 2013's resolutions and feeling defeated. I had some good intentions when writing these resolutions, however life got in the way and I was not able to make good as much as I would have liked to on these:
1. BE FRUGAL: I am going to be VERY careful with my money. I am known to compulsively shop, and even to overspend using my credit cards. Right now I have more debt (just credit cards not even student loans) than I have available credit.... I am going to put my credit cards away, and be as frugal as possible with my money. I will only buy things for myself when absolutely necessary, and I will have to crack down on eating out :)
I was completely honest when I said that I tend to overspend on my credit cards. This is a goal that I am continuing to work towards. I have however put my credit cards away, and they are no longer being used. I did use them a lot over the summer when I was moving out, and when I was teaching before receiving my first paycheck. My balances are still higher than my available credit, however I have started a budgeting system that I am enjoying so far, and I hope to continue it throughout 2014. Will my credit cards be paid off by the end of this year... No, but I hope to stick to my budget, and continue to have them put away. No new charges!
2. BE A NEAT FREAK: This one might be a little harder for me to abide by. I really am a neat freak deep down, but sometimes I get sooo busy that cleaning gets neglected. My plan of action (don't laugh) is to make a list of weekly and monthly "chores" that I MUST abide by in order to follow through with this resolution.
HAHA! What was I thinking when I wrote this resolution....? I wish I had the time to make a list of daily, weekly, and monthly tasks to complete in order to keep my life and apartment neat and organized... but that is just not realistic. I do what I can, when I can. It is generally neat.... not as neat as I'd like, but it's a work in progress.
3. REACH MY GOAL WEIGHT: This is hard to put a time limit too, but I have wanted to reach this goal weight (135, currently 150) since I started this blog, and I think 2013 is the year to do it!!!
I had an interesting year, and I started out with a strong workout plan. I also joined a swim team, and went to crossfit over the summer. Unfortunately I went through a rocky financial period starting my new job, and moving out so I was unable to continue swimming, or crossfit. Also, with the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year I have been more stressed out, and busy then I ever have been in my life. Just the thought of working out was enough to make me anxious. Now that I am feeling slightly more comfortable with my position and financial situation I have started swimming again. I am hoping this will help me physically and mentally.
4. GET MORE SLEEP!!!
I did a good job of this, and I think I have generally kept up with it. I get between 6-8 hours of sleep a night. YAY! I made good on a resolution!
5. READ MORE: I love to read, but it takes me FOREVER to finish a book... I get caught up in other things, and I go days without reading a book that I started... I want to finish my current book list, and start a new one :)
I wish I would have kept a list of books that I completed this past year. I did read quite a few books :) Of course, not as many as I would have liked too. Now, with my new teaching job it is nearly impossible to a. find the time to sit down and read and b. actually read and enjoy it without worrying about lesson planning.
Overall, I enjoyed my resolutions for 2013. I can say that I made a genuine effort to make each of them a part of my life. I will continue to live out these resolutions for the year 2014 in addition to make some new goals for myself!
1. BE FRUGAL: I am going to be VERY careful with my money. I am known to compulsively shop, and even to overspend using my credit cards. Right now I have more debt (just credit cards not even student loans) than I have available credit.... I am going to put my credit cards away, and be as frugal as possible with my money. I will only buy things for myself when absolutely necessary, and I will have to crack down on eating out :)
I was completely honest when I said that I tend to overspend on my credit cards. This is a goal that I am continuing to work towards. I have however put my credit cards away, and they are no longer being used. I did use them a lot over the summer when I was moving out, and when I was teaching before receiving my first paycheck. My balances are still higher than my available credit, however I have started a budgeting system that I am enjoying so far, and I hope to continue it throughout 2014. Will my credit cards be paid off by the end of this year... No, but I hope to stick to my budget, and continue to have them put away. No new charges!
2. BE A NEAT FREAK: This one might be a little harder for me to abide by. I really am a neat freak deep down, but sometimes I get sooo busy that cleaning gets neglected. My plan of action (don't laugh) is to make a list of weekly and monthly "chores" that I MUST abide by in order to follow through with this resolution.
HAHA! What was I thinking when I wrote this resolution....? I wish I had the time to make a list of daily, weekly, and monthly tasks to complete in order to keep my life and apartment neat and organized... but that is just not realistic. I do what I can, when I can. It is generally neat.... not as neat as I'd like, but it's a work in progress.
3. REACH MY GOAL WEIGHT: This is hard to put a time limit too, but I have wanted to reach this goal weight (135, currently 150) since I started this blog, and I think 2013 is the year to do it!!!
I had an interesting year, and I started out with a strong workout plan. I also joined a swim team, and went to crossfit over the summer. Unfortunately I went through a rocky financial period starting my new job, and moving out so I was unable to continue swimming, or crossfit. Also, with the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year I have been more stressed out, and busy then I ever have been in my life. Just the thought of working out was enough to make me anxious. Now that I am feeling slightly more comfortable with my position and financial situation I have started swimming again. I am hoping this will help me physically and mentally.
4. GET MORE SLEEP!!!
I did a good job of this, and I think I have generally kept up with it. I get between 6-8 hours of sleep a night. YAY! I made good on a resolution!
5. READ MORE: I love to read, but it takes me FOREVER to finish a book... I get caught up in other things, and I go days without reading a book that I started... I want to finish my current book list, and start a new one :)
I wish I would have kept a list of books that I completed this past year. I did read quite a few books :) Of course, not as many as I would have liked too. Now, with my new teaching job it is nearly impossible to a. find the time to sit down and read and b. actually read and enjoy it without worrying about lesson planning.
Overall, I enjoyed my resolutions for 2013. I can say that I made a genuine effort to make each of them a part of my life. I will continue to live out these resolutions for the year 2014 in addition to make some new goals for myself!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)