Friedo Has a Life Altering Event

So, yesterday evening I began my Get Less Fat regimen. I decided, you see, that after three years of not exercising at college and work, I had become too fat. So I went to the nearby Bally’s which has a swimming pool, and signed up. I am now paying some ridiculous monthly fee to hop in a swimming pool. Being such a tightwad, I will be motivated to actually take advantage of my membership.

The only kind of exercise I ever really enjoyed has been swimming. That’s why I was a Professional Sexy Lifeguard for a while. This morning I woke up at 6:00 in the AM. I stuffed my bathing suit and towel in my backpack and headed right out the door for the subway. I had erroniously thought that the express service starts at 5:30, but unfortunately it doesn’t start until 6:30. Which means I had to take the icky 7 local all the way to Times Square. Then I took the 9 down to Penn Station which is next to Bally’s. I gave the lady my Official Membership Card, which she swiped through her card reader thingamahoogie, and I went on my way to the locker room. I was surprised how many nekkid men were in the locker room at ten 'till seven. There I learned that this was the type of locker room where you must bring your own lock; they don’t give you a key, so I got changed and shoved my clothes and watch into my backpack and brought it with me.

Into the pool I go. It’s not a very wide pool but it’s 25 yards long, which is standard. The water is a nice temperature and it’s not overly chlorinated. This is actually the first time I’ve gone swimming in about four years. I do 50 yards and I’m fucking exhausted. I used to be able to swim 400 yards without breaking a sweat (as much as one can actually break a sweat while immersed in water.) Now I was panting and holding onto the side and feeling my heart thump through my chest after only 50. I waited it out and swam 100 more yards before deciding that I was about to drown and got out. Took me a nice, warm public shower and got dressed and headed to work.

So, I’m even fatter and more out-of-shape than I thought. I have decided I will continue to wake up at 6:00 AM and swim in the mornings until I’m in shape again. At this rate, that should be sometime in 2004.

I’m very proud of you. Don’t give up. You can do it and I know that you can. The hardest part is getting started and you’ve already done that!

Go, team! I swam a lot in college and tried to get back into it a few years later, and that water just kicked my ass.

Awww, thanks for the encouragement. I can feel the lard leaking out already.

I am bordering on lard-ass myself and enjoy swimming for exercise (I like working out and not feeling the sweat and heat, and swimming is one exercise where carry the excess body around isn’t as penalizing as it would be, say, jogging) and was getting rather good at it-- was taking classes at the University. Which, unfortunately, involved learning butterfly. So I get nice and, ahem, limber, and after some time, we are playing Marco Polo as a break from laps, and my shoulder dislocates. Owie owie owie! This was two years ago, and I still am afraid to really swim-- my shoulder feels funny and I get nervous and guard it. So I do a lot of laps kicking with a paddle board, and doing really careful pulling exercises. Give it a try until you are feeling more into things.

Woohoo!

That’s awesome.

Do you feel like you have more energy now? I’d always feel tired, but a good sort of tired, combined with lots of extra energy.

Keep it up, friedo!

Bravo, friedo! I know how much I love going to the gym :rolleyes: so I’m always sympathetic. Wish I could swim, too - never really learned.

Way to go, friedo! If I had the money to join, and the will to get up at 4am (it’s a long way from LI), I’d join ya for a swim. That Bally’s is a block from my office. Keep it up, though. Just think how you’ll be makin’ all the Doper wimmin swoon come January! :smiley:

Good work, friedo! I also try to get my ass out of bed to get to the gym before work, but I’ve been a wuss about swimming. You can serve as my inspiration!