Ok so, I know I’m not really stating any brand new information right now, but….

Swimming is hard.

Really hard. I’ve always admired Olympic swimmers, but now I admire them a bajillion times more.

When you’re outside running or on the treadmill, you just gulp as much air as you need and keep on running. When you’re swimming, you’ll suck in water if you try and do that so you have to keep holding your breath and breathing when you can above water. It’s like, insanely challenging. I loved it.

Work it Out

I didn’t make it to the lap swim at 8:15 this morning because I felt like sleeping in a little. But around noon, I drove to the Y for my first swim. I was nervous and had no idea what to expect.

Lessons learned:

1. Swimming is hard.
2. Bring a towel.
3. Bring soap.
4. Bring a bag to put your soaking wet bathing suit in once you’re finished.

So all-in-all, the day wasn’t without its challenges, but the first step is the hardest and I’m glad I did it! I swam for a good 20-25 minutes, but have no idea how many laps I did. I started trying to count and then said the hell with it. I ended up (true to form) doing a sort of “interval” style swim, 1-2 laps of freestyle stroke at the best pace I could manage, and 1-2 laps of an easy breaststroke. I also sprinkled in a couple backstroke laps. Today was mainly a day to test the waters (ha, literally and figuratively).

After my swim I came home and thought about getting a strength workout in. I’ve been searching for something to change up my routine and do something other than the Ripped in 30 videos. In the end, I couldn’t motivate myself to do anything because I didn’t have a plan. I am someone who needs a plan! Plus I was all chloriney from the pool (I didn’t really think this through, clearly) so I hopped in the shower and moved on with my day.

I think I’ll start taking some strength classes at my new gym to get inspired. There’s one on Monday morning I need to check out.

Before my exciting swimming adventures, I had a delicious breakfast!

Apple Pie for Breakfast (sort of).
Inspired by Meals and Miles. Serves 1.

Ingredients:

1 apple (I used red delicious)
cinnamon
2.5 oz yogurt (I used Dannon Light N Fit)
1 tbsp of cinnamon raisin peanut butter
1 serving of Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Granola

Instructions:

1. Chop up an apple and place in a microwave safe bowl. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
2. Heat apple for 1:00-1:30 min in the microwave, until it’s soft yet tender.
3. Heat the peanut butter in a separate bowl for about 45 seconds until it’s thinned out.
4. Top your apple with yogurt, granola, peanut butter, or any toppings you desire!

Nutrition:

Since the toppings are so customizable, the nutrition is up in the air. My version had about 320 calories with 9 g of protein. It was scrumptious!

Looking at that picture makes me want the same thing for dinner! Seriously so warm and comforting. Not that I need a warm and comforting breakfast when it’s gorgeous and sunny and 90 degrees outside. But whatever. I’m weird.

I’m off to do a little shopping and get a few things done. The beach is calling my name tomorrow, so I want to get as much done today as possible!

Questions of the Day

Do you ever grossly underestimate how difficult something will be, like I did with swimming?
Do you ever crave something at an inappropriate time? i.e. soup in the summer or hotdogs and hamburgers in the winter?