My only tips for swimming is to serioulsy go at your own pace and I change my stroke every 4 laps, from freestyle to breaststroke. I only took one break for about 20 secs at the 20 minute mark - I loved it and it's a complete body workout, you don't feel like you are doing anything but man once you stop!!!!

Hi Alice -

 

It was so great to hear from you !  You know the only truly important thing about all of this is the destination.  It is not about the path really.  Some people's route will be direct and go in a straight line, some will take detours and feel like they are sometimes going in circles or even like they are covering old ground but it really doesn't matter as long as you finally get to where you are going.  It is not a race and I know thinking about how much progress you could have made by now can sometimes feel like just one more thing to feel depressed about but refuse to go there.  I just tell myself that all of my friends who have gotten skinny and are at or close to goal will just be there waiting and cheering me at the finish line when I finally get there and they will also have a step up on sharing tips on maintenance.  I could truly get down.  I of all people have a multitude of really good friends who started with me and who are already comfortably sunbathing on the shore of good health and reinvention while I am still swimming and sometimes treading water.  Instead of allowing that to be another burden to carry I use it as a motivational tool.  I often envision the transformations of my wonderful friends and use them to imagine my own.  I think doing this right now is something you want to do deep inside.  You felt pulled to the computer, you read my blog and connected with it.  Don't lose that pull or dismiss whatever it was that spoke to you.  I believe that is the small voice inside of us that tells us what we are truly yearing for (what we crave even more than french fries or chocolate) !  You want this, I know you do- so just reach out and start walking for it.  There is no time limit, the only rules are your own, the only goal that needs to be met is simply moving forward or failing to slide backward or even making sure that if you slide in the wrong direction that you pull yourself back to your starting point. 

How wonderful it is that you are thinking about this now, during the time of the year when most people are adding even more weight to their frames.  Even if you stop any additional gain, wouldn't that be a very wonderful gift to yourself?  You can do it !!  I will be here doing it too.  I am not comparing myself to anyone else and I am just enjoying and feeling proud of my own little victories. 

 

Happy Thanksgiving !!

Shannon