Boot Camp and Goggles

June 8, 2007
Ya'll know I've been exercising since the end of April, and I'm always looking for new ways to burn calories. We've been going to our neighborhood pool everyday and I thought I'd swim some laps. (swimming is good for you and burns lots of calories I've always heard) Let me tell you-I'm not a great swimmer, you know the kind that does the perfect stroke, knows when to turn their head and breathe, and do that underwater turn thing. No, I'm the wear your child's mask (not goggles, mask) so you don't have to think about breathing. I'm the stop at the wall, turn around, begin again. And apparently I'm the make it one lap down and nearly die from lack of oxygen kind of swimmer. Oh my gosh, swimming laps is hard! After a slight break, I did manage 6 laps. (Be impressed people). So, every summer we have to buy a new "mask" and this year Wal-Mart made the cheapest mask ever. It totally leaked. So imagine my not so pretty stroke and then a leaking mask on top of that! (Not an olympic moment) This led to our excursion to Dick's Sporting Goods. (I won't even comment on the name of that store) We decided (Abby and me) that we would move into the 21st century and actually buy goggles! (Big step for us since we are both "nose holders")...side note -our neighbor scolded us for holding our noses and gave us hints on how not to-it's not that we didn't know how to hold our breath, it's just that we are lazy which I think I've covered before...- so we both pick out new goggles (not cheap let me add) and of course a new mask (just in case!). We were heading back to the escalator when I saw the fitness equipment on the wall. (I am a sucker for a new workout). There it was- Billy Blank's boot camp super cardio burner all nice and boxed and ready for me to try. And it was on sale! OK, let's just say there is a reason it is called Boot Camp! Picture the military with a screaming sergeant (is that spelled right?) telling you to count, and do it again, and work harder, blah, blah, blah. Oh my gosh, and I thought swimming was hard! I wasn't even using the Billy Bands that give you weight resistance! When am I going to be able to have enough oxygen to get through these workouts? Seriously, I know I'm the "oldest" among you all, but come on, sometimes I feel like I'm in a 60 year old body! (No offense if you are 60, it's just that I'm only 36). Oh to be young again, eat whatever I want, and not have to worry about metabolism, calories, excess pregnancy weight (did I mention Abby is almost 8-ha ha). Anyway, I say all this to arrive at the conclusion that I was NOT cut out for the military, especially the Navy Seals! I won't be signing up for the National Guard, and I'll probably be hanging out at the shallow end of the pool!