Sunday, May 30, 2010
Fit and happy
Posted by: Phat Mama, 30-May-2010
As I’ve said in one of my posts at the start of the New Year, 2010 will be Fitness Year for me. I’m working hard to return to those days when keeping fit is second nature to me. And, looking at the way things are going, I think I’m making progress.
I start the water exercises with a warming up session first.
For the past few weeks I’ve been to the swimming pool almost daily. Now, for someone who has a phobia for water I am proud to say that I survived the “trauma”. I braved myself to get into the water by first testing the depth and feel of the water at the wading pool. Never mind that some spying eyes might be laughing at me behind their windows or doors. Then I slowly immerse my body until it is familiar with its surroundings. Gradually, when I’ve built enough confidence, I started practicing on floating as well as holding my breath below water.
After several days, I have managed to move up one level – the children pool. For several days I practiced my “child-like” paddling minus a float. Well, I managed to get from one end of the pool to the other fairly well. So I deserve a pat on my back.
These are some of the leg and hand exercises I picked online - paddling, hand rotations, on the spot jumping and stretching..
Today I am already comfortable being in the adult section of the pool. I’m still learning to paddle smoothly but to get the most out of my exercise routine in the water I have added several simple exercise. These moves can help strengthen my muscles and firm up my body but they need a lot of endurance, which I lack. Doing them in water makes the exercises easier for my body to withstand.
Before I start on my water exercises, I would do a rigorous hoop dance workout by the poolside for about 45 minutes to an hour. By the time I finished my muscles are all worked up and my body warm, just nice to get into the water and avoiding cramps.
After a hard session...aahhh...time to enjoy a five minute relaxation on the float.
Once in the water I start with several stretching exercises for warming up. Then I proceed with the leg stretches to firm up my thighs. To add to these routines I go into several health sites online and learn about various other water exercises that I can try and adapt into my workouts.
I know that these carefully self-devised exercise routines will help me build my stamina as well as improve my physical condition again. According to health experts, regular daily exercise is important should we want a healthy lifestyle.
And I really like what professor Peter Brubaker of Wake Forest University said in an article I picked up from timesofindia.indiatimes.com: “Set realistic expectations…People are unrealistic about what they can achieve and how quickly they can achieve it. Any time is a good time to make a commitment to change your lifestyle.”
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Is the water exercise helps to burn the fat? I do swimming myself, breaststroke but since i start of my practical I haven't have the time to do so.. really need an exercise coz I'm getting chubbier.. huhu..
Hi Ija...I don't know yet if it will burn fat as fast as you'd like it to but it helps with my flexibility. I find some of the exercises like the semi squats to firm up your thighs easier to do when in the water. I also do other rigorous exercise routines, which help burn up fat before I jump into the water. Maybe you can add to your swimming routines by taking up several other exercises that you are comfortable with?