amyamy's swimming essentials

when i do my swimming routine, i will not swim without the following:

• speedo sonar goggles
  
• aqualine hand paddles
  
• aqua line training fins
  

the speedo goggles that i use is by far one of the best goggles i've came across. it's soft silicone mould that goes around your eyes don't leave marks after using them for a while, and they give very good vision when you're in water. it's absolutely comfortable, so if you're looking for a good pair of swim goggles, i'd highly recommend you get this model. i got it from Rebel Sports for about $45, but i'm pretty sure the price has been reduced since.

i've only started using the hand paddles after seeing the pro-swimmers use them. it improves your freestyle strokes (and others as well), and makes you work harder. basically, if you're doing the wrong stroke, you end up using more strength as it causes resistance. once you get the hang of using these hand paddles, swimming freestyle without them are a breeze :) my hand paddles are from aqua line (http://aqualine-swim-products.co.nz/) and they cost about $12.

training fins are for lazy bums like me. i'm a slow swimmer and i dont like using all my energy kicking and end up becoming tired quickly. i used to use the full length flippers, but i got too dependent on them after a while, so i decided to cut down on the length, and i ended up with training flippers. these make you go faster, and improves your kicking techniques. even though it makes you go faster, i think the amount of energy you put in to kick (with flippers) is about the same as kicking without flippers as flippers are quite heavy ;) that's only my opinion, and remember, i'm a lazy person! my training fins are from aqua line as well, and they cost about $19. Rebel Sports are selling a different brand for about $35-$40, depending on size.

other things that you might want to add are kick boards or flutter boards. i usually use them to warm up or warm down as well as using them in between my swim routines to catch up with my breath. it improves your stamina as well, as you're basically moving only by kicking. i do about 10-20 laps with kick boards, depending on how long i spend on swimming.

if you're thinking of taking up swimming, i'd recommend you to get a good full body swim togs as they are more comfortable than wearing a bikini. if you're a guy, PLEASE dont wear speedos? LOL! invest in those knee length tight shorts (think, tri-athletes!). they look much better than speedos! when you have proper togs, you wouldn't have to worry about exposing something ;)

other than that, if you love your hair more than i do, then use a swimming cap la. i love my hair, but i hate using swimming caps because it feels like my face skin is being stretched or pulled back, and i just hate hate hate it. but my hair is still fine, despite swimming 3 times a week. just condition it everyday or everytime after swimming!

and that ends my swimming essentials talk.

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chehwah! talk like pro only! HAHAHAHAH~ i just felt like blogging, and didnt know what to write, so i started writing about that :)

swimming rocks!

of blisters, dizziness and ABS and FATS

my 5 days away from work just flew by!!

ok fine, it wasn't exactly away from work, since i spent 4 days swimming on my days off -.-" as mentioned earlier, i spent 4 hours there on sunday and when i was waiting for dinner, the whole restaurant was spinning with me. i was super dizzy. but it got better after a while, so i could drive my sisters and myself home safely.

yesterday, we spent about 2 hours there, and when i got home, i was feeling dizzy again. i really cant pinpoint what the reason is, but it might be because we're going hard out with swimming now. sis and i have set a goal to have ABS by the end of the year so my sis is doing 50 laps of swimming and 50 sit ups every night, while i do about 50 laps of swimming as well, and eat a whole heap of junk food. so much for ABS..more like FATS.

and my blister on my right foot is SO sore i have to limp while walking. that's why i decided not to swim for a day or two so that it'll have a chance to heal. sigh, such is the pain when one swims for a long long time just to be 'fit'.

anyway, i'm due back at work today in just over an hour, and i'm not quite looking forward to it. but having said that, if i dont have work today, i wouldnt know what to do since i cant spend 4 hours swimming :(

triple yeouch!

i've got THREE really huge and deep blisters, no thanks to the flippers. somehow, they just keep rubbing against the sides and middle of my feet and i end up with blistered feet for days on end. and i cant swim properly or with full speed when i have flippers, coz the ouch factor is just too high.

my fingers resemble dried prunes now coz my sisters and i went swimming for.....well, FOUR HOURS. dont ask HOW we did it, but we did. they stopped half way through for food but i was still really bloated from our yumcha lunch, so i didnt join them. besides, i'm sick of the cafe's food andd they're a total rip off anyway.

i cant dive -.-" did a couple of belly flops when there wasn't anyone in the pool (apart from my sisters, who belly flopped with me) and we got sick of hurting our thighs and tummy so we left. i was limping all the way to the car, not too sure which foot to put the pressure on coz it hurts like crazy from all the blisters -.-" horrible sight.

ps: my colleague, lana, got pulled into the pool by her bf when she was on duty and she came back out soaking wet. it was such a funny sight!!

stepper...w00tw00t!

w00t!

i love my new stepper (even though i got lost TWICE when i went to pick it up this morning)! i've climbed 1000 steps today on 2 separate occasions, and golly gosh it's hard work!!

10 steps = 1 calorie, so i've only burned 100 calories today. that isn't even enough to burn off one piece of roti canai (malaysian pancake)! shocking -.-"

but i guess it's a pretty good way for me to work out while watching telly and while taking breaks from studying. it's kinda refreshing after sitting down for a few hours....


it's kinda challenging as well because you do have to maintain balance (a little la, not too much) when you move your body weight from side to side. it gets really difficult when you try to do it at high speed, but i'm not up to that level yet.

i think this will really help with my stamina :)

article on running :)

if you're into running/ working out (that involves using your legs :p ), i suggest you read this *clickety click*

i found it when looking for some songs which are suitable for running (to keep me going and keep my spirits high, and distract me from concentrating on how tired i am). i read a few of his/ her/ their entries, and i found them rather helpful. and encouraging!

because for a person who has a fitness level of -100, it's a good form of encouragement that there is someone else out there with a fitness level like mine, but is doing pretty well now. hehe :D

i kid you not. my fitness level really is at -100! read: NEGATIVE ONE HUNDRED!

dont believe me? watch me run or swim :p i'll pass out from exhaustion before you finish spelling my name!

me and my useless legs (which are not made for working out!)

warao..my legs feel like they're about to fall off soon!

i just went for a 12 minutes powerwalk + run + sprints up the hill round the 'hood and i feel like dying already! 12 MINUTES ONLY!! HOW CAN?!?!?!!

but nvm. it's only my 2nd round this week and i will improve. i MUST improve :p what with my swimming routine and my running, i betcha i'm gonna be fit after..*drum rolls* heh, never! i'll probably give up on the running routine in 2 weeks or something!

but fret not! there's always my swimming routine to fall back on!

now i'm starting to wonder how am i supposed to go to work later when my legs are all wobbly now. blahhhh >"< i'll just beg daddle to lemme sit in the lap pool for 4 hours :D

i woke up at half 7 this morning, and while driving home from uni (after handing in my assgt), i was thinking with my eyes semi-shut "go home, get changed, go to bed...then later wake up and go work out, then work" but once i got home, i got changed into my running shorts and my nike top, and i was out the door. and while warming down outside my house, i was thinking "ooh, have a quick shower, tidy up my room a wee bit, then sleep" butthat obviously did not happen because i'm sitting here, very wide awake!

if you feel tired or sleepy, the best is not to go to bed (unless you had 2 hours of sleep la!), but to go for a swim or a run or whatever. whenever i have a headache nowadays, i no longer use it as an excuse to sleep. instead, i'll pack my stuff and drive off to the pool and swim, then later on relax in the spa. seriously, it's the best and quickest cure you can ever ask for a headache.

you know what's freaky? seems like Christine and i are on a crazy workout/ eating regime. i'm more on the workout regime while Christine's both. crazy woman -.-" i still stuff whatever i want into my mouth and dont bother looking at the nutritinal panel anymore :p

sunbathing in winter. go me!!!

i am feeling rather contented at the moment, because i went swimming today and i did....dunno how many laps. lost count, but definately over 20. maybe over 30? wouldnt know for sure, BUT i feel exhausted.

FUH!

guess what i did this afternoon?

....

i went sunbathing! where? right on my bed! i am one of the blessed ones in my family who gets sunshine in my room for most of the day. i had a good spot of sunshine coming right in, at one corner of my bed, so i moved my notes to my bed, got changed into a bikini top and plopped myself on the bed and started studying.

and boy, it felt goooooddd when your back's all warm and it's so chilly outside :)

but, i wonder if my neighbours saw me in my bikini. and if they did, i wonder what they thought about that? "eep! we have one freeeaaaky girl for a neighbour!" or "woah! she's hot.." just kidding :P

i think i should do this whole sunbathing-in-my-wee-bikini-on-my-bed thing more often coz winter's basically here, and who would go sunbathing at the beach right? and it's right in the comfort of my own room! what more can i ask? ...a super hot guy rubbing baby oil on my back perhaps? now, i wouldnt mind that :p