March 20th, 2012
81 notes ·
Zoom Despite waking up and feeling like a bus hit me (I’m looking at you last night’s 15k run), I went swimming this morning. It was my fifth time in the pool and a hell of a lot easier than my first. Bathing Suit: Okay, okay. I know I am wearing the wrong type of bathing suit to swim laps in (I wear the blue one in this post), but here’s my concern: if I was to go buy one of those Speedo ones, I’m pretty sure my boobs would get zero support. Slash, do my boobs even need support? #thingsIdontknowanythingabout.  What do you swim laps in? I understand the Speedo ones would probably be great for smaller chested gals, but me, with big booobs? not so much. The Coins: I brought ten coins with me to keep track of my laps. After there-n-back I would move a coin over to a new pile. It helps me keep count. I did a total of ten there-back 50 meter laps (total: 500 meters). Pushing Myself: Just like with running, I’m awful-awful-awful at pushing myself. Between each there-n-back lap I would push a coin over, and then wait a few seconds, get my breath back, and then go again. To swim 20 laps continuously? Pretty sure I would die. Getting “Swimmer Muscles”: You guys, I’m terrified of this. TERRIFIED. I image myself turning into an upside-pyramid, with massive neck muscles. I know, I know, I’m probably way off with the reality of the situation… or am I? Being Self Conscious: I find it scary being over weight in society in black clothes, but then if I minus the clothes, add a bathing suit and a public swimming pool to the mix - I find it terrifying. Especially as I image myself moving up and down the lane in a frantic, cliche, splashy, big-person-type way. This morning there were other people at the pool.  I literally had to close my eyes, bite my lip, take off my clothes and slip in the pool while coaching my way through the ordeal - It’s okay Liz, It’s okay Liz, You can do this - all while sucking my gut in. I know I’m supposed to be happy with my body, but I’m not, especially after my recent gain, which has resulted in me becoming (yet again) very self conscious. But still, one thing I’ve learnt is no one is watching me, so despite terror sweeping over my body, I still do it (which is how I first got into running: suck up the fear, and just do it) Goggles: So important. About $15. Don’t try swim laps without them (I learned this the hard way) The Smell: Chlorine! Oh Lordy Lord it’s strong. Even after a shower I swear I can still smell it on me.  Any ideas for this?  My Hair: I remember swimming in the backyard pool every day during my childhood, and I remember my straw-like hair.  I was thinking of investing in a swim cap, or perhaps some special swimmer’s shampoo/conditioner? Because I can already tell how awful and dry and straw-like my hair is…  A Triathlon: Whoa, wait, what? It’s in the back of my mind, not gonna lie… just gotta first figure out the swimming stuff, and then find myself a bike. Hmmm.

Despite waking up and feeling like a bus hit me (I’m looking at you last night’s 15k run), I went swimming this morning. It was my fifth time in the pool and a hell of a lot easier than my first.

  • Bathing Suit: Okay, okay. I know I am wearing the wrong type of bathing suit to swim laps in (I wear the blue one in this post), but here’s my concern: if I was to go buy one of those Speedo ones, I’m pretty sure my boobs would get zero support. Slash, do my boobs even need support? #thingsIdontknowanythingabout.  What do you swim laps in? I understand the Speedo ones would probably be great for smaller chested gals, but me, with big booobs? not so much.
  • The Coins: I brought ten coins with me to keep track of my laps. After there-n-back I would move a coin over to a new pile. It helps me keep count. I did a total of ten there-back 50 meter laps (total: 500 meters).
  • Pushing Myself: Just like with running, I’m awful-awful-awful at pushing myself. Between each there-n-back lap I would push a coin over, and then wait a few seconds, get my breath back, and then go again. To swim 20 laps continuously? Pretty sure I would die.
  • Getting “Swimmer Muscles”: You guys, I’m terrified of this. TERRIFIED. I image myself turning into an upside-pyramid, with massive neck muscles. I know, I know, I’m probably way off with the reality of the situation… or am I?
  • Being Self Conscious: I find it scary being over weight in society in black clothes, but then if I minus the clothes, add a bathing suit and a public swimming pool to the mix - I find it terrifying. Especially as I image myself moving up and down the lane in a frantic, cliche, splashy, big-person-type way. This morning there were other people at the pool.  I literally had to close my eyes, bite my lip, take off my clothes and slip in the pool while coaching my way through the ordeal - It’s okay Liz, It’s okay Liz, You can do this - all while sucking my gut in. I know I’m supposed to be happy with my body, but I’m not, especially after my recent gain, which has resulted in me becoming (yet again) very self conscious. But still, one thing I’ve learnt is no one is watching me, so despite terror sweeping over my body, I still do it (which is how I first got into running: suck up the fear, and just do it)
  • Goggles: So important. About $15. Don’t try swim laps without them (I learned this the hard way)
  • The Smell: Chlorine! Oh Lordy Lord it’s strong. Even after a shower I swear I can still smell it on me.  Any ideas for this? 
  • My Hair: I remember swimming in the backyard pool every day during my childhood, and I remember my straw-like hair.  I was thinking of investing in a swim cap, or perhaps some special swimmer’s shampoo/conditioner? Because I can already tell how awful and dry and straw-like my hair is… 
  • A Triathlon: Whoa, wait, what? It’s in the back of my mind, not gonna lie… just gotta first figure out the swimming stuff, and then find myself a bike. Hmmm.
Swimming
Comments
March 19th, 2012
55 notes ·

  • It’s official. I’m *that* girl. Guy enters picture. Girl falls off the face of the Earth. And by Earth I mean Interwebs. It’s not you. It’s me. Really and truly. And know this, Little Blog, my mom is now calling me ‘Elusive Elizabeth’ because of my serious lack of communication… my apologies to all those waiting for emails, and skype dates, and Draw Something responses.
  • Soooooo I saw Contraband with Matt on Friday. Twas really good. Was it $38 (I. Kid. You. Not. $19 each!!) good? I’m not sure. But more importantly The Hunger Games come out this week and little does Matt know, we are going to go see it, and *we* are going to LOVE it. Sooooooooo excited!
  • On Friday night Devon, Matt, Charles, Joseph and I headed to The Peel Hotel - one of Melbourne’s top gay bars. Matt got hit on lots and lots, which was greatly entertaining for me, but besides that - Devon and I were pretty much the only two girls in the bar. Interesting. Also interesting, how the bar has made a point to not allow straight guys and girls in (we just headed there that early - so they let us in). Good? Bad? I’m not sure, but I found it interesting that a group who is fighting for equality is banning other groups.
  • Matt falls asleep the second his lips hit the T in the words ‘good night.’  He makes me feel like I have insomnia even though I’m pretty sure I’m in lala land within 120 seconds of closing my eyes. But still, whoa. And I thought I was a good sleeper. Also, I always imagined myself an elegant, lady-like sleeper. Curled up on my side, eyes shut, mouth closed, peacefully snoozing away. False. Matt captured a horrid photo of the reality of the situation: mouth wide open, drool, arms, legs everywhere. God, I’m so awesome it hurts.
  • Also, remember the days (see blog archives - I’m way too lazy to find the link) where I couldn’t actually sleep next to guys. Why? Because I would lay there in paranoia about my weight and feel the need to suck my gut in the whole night? Yea - I know. Well. Not so much with Matt. I willing pass out like it’s my job with no hesitations and have never been so comfortable in my own skin around someone else. WIN.
  • On Saturday he took me to his local ‘Footy’ (Australian football - like rugby, but less rules, and more speed/tackles) and taught me the rules. He’s still trying to convince me to cheer for Essendon - his team, but I promised the lovely Maeg I’d choose her team - Geelong. Decisions. Decisions.
  • I now have American netflix on my computer. Life is goooood.
  • Matt and I created a pact not to ever eat at McDonalds… sober. It’s both our kryptonites. I’m embarrassed to say we’ve already broken this twice. #EPICFAIL (and sidenote: McDonalds Macers WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH YOUR MCFLURRIES. FAIL)
  • I had two job interviews last week. One was a complete waste of time, “you sounded so great on the phone and your resume is perfect, but there is no job at the moment.” AWESOME. But fingers crossed the second one pulls through.
  • On Saturday night I met Matt’s friends. (I should note it’s weird being in a foreign relationship - everything is so one sided as I have no friends/family here for him to meet.) I was really nervous, but they were really nice, and I ended up drinking more than I should have and laughing a lot.  Matt held my hand, and kissed me, and all that jazz in public/in front of them - and it made me realize what a complete idiot I’ve been in the past - if a guy actually likes you, they’ll show you. I’m so used to being hidden by guys in relationships (I know, I’ve got a history of picking real winners), or liked in secrecy. In his words, he “wanted to show me off” - it was a really nice change.
  • Sunday was embarrassingly lazy for us. We had great plans to run, but then we napped, and watched Archer, and ate all day. Yup. Sounds like we’re one in the same.
  • Today I had big plans of actually going for a 15k run, but when I went to get changed I realized I left my under-my-skirt-shorts (aka chub-rub prevention shorts) at his house, and as I didn’t feel like waddling around tomorrow, I went swimming instead. GO ME! It was SO MUCH EASIER this time around. I have a feeling swimming is purely practice-practice-practice!
  • Heard of Tough Mudder? Gah. 13 days…  (ps google it if you haven’t)
  • Despite McDonalds, and beers, and matching Matt in food intake over nearly a week straight, the scale reads the same. Obviously we’re still in the unicorns and ponies and rainbows and sparkly things honeymoon phase, but I told him I’d be getting my jiggly ass into eating-healthy and running-more gear soon. And I meant it. 
  • To the Anons who asked if One Twenty Five is still important to me… yes. It is. But not really ‘One Twenty Five’ per se. More just being healthy and feeling comfortable. Despite Matt being all shades of awesome when it comes to my body (despite me freaking out about it and trying to hide occasionally), I still want to lose weight, get healthy, and feel good about myself for me.
  • I’m hoping to run 25k on May 20 on Great Ocean Road! And a full marathon on July 1. OHMYGOD.
  • Last night I got this insane wave of homesickness sweep over me.  I was talking to Matt in bed, telling him about the awesomeness of my people at home, and then BAMN! suddenly I felt tears going down my face. Toronto, I miss you.
  • Remember that time I hardly posted any photos of anything? Well it’s because my MAC is a piece of poop and my “startup disk is full,” so it won’t let me upload photos. BAD NEWS BEARS y’all!
  • On Sunday Matt and I played scrabble (after watching a documentary on the world’s best scrabble players, of course).  There was great controversy. But I stand by my decisions.
  • Can we please comment on how the new format of Pintrest hurts my soul? Because what were they thinking?
  • Okay. That is all. My apologies for there significantly being no real news in this post.

Swimming
Comments
March 14th, 2012
63 notes ·

Guess who went swimming today? This gal!

  • Firstly I drastically improved. Last time the goal was to get from wall A to wall B in any way, shape or form. Today it was to somewhat form a technique, perhaps even, dare I say it? a skill.
  • Matt came with me today which obviously helped a lot - he’s one of those annoying people who does everything and anything, which means he knows how to swim well from doing triathlons, which also meant he was able to give me a pretty formal swimming lesson on “How To Swim Free Style.” (Note: I know how to swim, but haven’t had actual lessons since I was about 5 in the backyard pool in South Africa)
  • I felt like I was 5 again - holding onto the side of the pool with my nose blowing bubbles under the water, taking breaths to the side and keeping my legs kicking.
  • Learning the basic strokes (the S shape arm movement thing), where to look, having goggles (so. important.), and keeping your arms close to you, helped me lot with the workout.  At the end of the swim (my goal was to do 10 laps of 25 meters) I was exhausted.
  • We timed our 50 meter laps —> Matt: 00:43.9 // Me: 01:00.7. Hopefully we’ll do this every month to see if our times’ improve.
  • Oh! And that is him in the bottom photo - not me. I create way more bubbles. 
  • He also took a secret video of me doing handstands at the end. Somewhat shuddered when I saw that…. gotta find that motivation boost thing of “must. eat. healthy. Every bad thing adds up. Can’t Eat What He eats. I am a girl” mentality.
Swimming
Comments
February 29th, 2012
84 notes ·

I went swimming y’all!  Whoa. So amazed that I actually did it.  I may or may not have had a fake conversation with no one on my celly while waiting for a guy to vacate the area, and then boom! I was in the pool and suddenly swimming. No thinking. Just doing.

  • Firstly, I am not a swimmer. I know how to swim, yes. I’m not going to die if you push me overboard, true. But. But I’ve had no lessons in the correct technique of swimming since I was about 5 years old in my South African backyard pool. Which pretty much means I suck at swimming.
  • Just an FYI for those keeping track. This is the first time I’ve ever gone swimming for exercise. Ever.
  • Running and swimming are totally different. Everyone can run. Everyone. Whereas swimming you kinda need to have some sort of technique/skill. A technique/skill I was seriously lacking. But I tried… that I did. Despite zigzagging up and down the lanes.
  • I brought 10 coins with me to mark my number of laps. (moved a coin over after each lap)  Within about two laps (and really, this is just like Liz-get-your-body-from-there-to-there-as-fast-as-you-can) it was evident that swimming is HARD. And I have zero upper body, arm strength.
  • I may or may not have hit the wall a few times.
  • So… is one lap there-back, or is that two? Hmmm
  • As we all know, I’m really bad at ‘pushing myself’ when nobody is looking, and today was no different.  After about 4 laps I was POOPED, and then did some hand stands, doggie-style swimming, just to enjoy the pool. 
  • I was SUPER self conscious about the whole thing. But not one person actually saw me swimming.  I’m not sure I could do it if someone else had been in the second lane…

Overall? I think I’m going to try go at least once a week, given the pool is downstairs, free and all… perhaps if I find some courage, and lose some weight first, I’ll find the courage to ask a real swimmer to help me out. Perhaps. 

((BTW, huge respect for all triathlon people out there. HUGE RESPECT.))

Swimming
Comments
Welcome! I'm Liz, the girl relieved the Internet has 0 calories. I'm a Canadian in Melbourne. A marathoner. CrossFitter. Paleo (somewhat) eater. Traveler. Cheese lover. And I think you're great!

F | 28 | 5'4"
Highest Weight: 203
Current Weight: 172
Goal Weight: 125(!)

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