The Joy of Life...The Joy of Swimming.

So...I've made a few changes, as referenced in my previous blog.

1.  Sticking to a pretty regimented WW diet. 
The really great thing about Weight Watchers is that the plan allows you a certain number of points every day, plus, it allows you a certain number of "cheat" points.  And--if you are exercising regularly, you earn "activity points" as well.  It's a nice plan and is really easy to stick to.  I plan my meals the night before, from breakfast until dinner, making deciding what to have for dinner a breeze once I get home from work.  It's simple...and has made it possible for me to think more about what I'm putting into my body (and if each food is really worth it).

2.  Being more positive about myself - and about life in general.
I have a frequent tendency to complain a lot...I don't really do it on purpose, but sometimes I have a sort of "out of body" experience, where, as I am talking (aka complaining about life in general), I can hear what I'm saying.  During these moments, I often thought, "Will you SHUT UP?!"  I'm annoying myself--I must be annoying others!  I'm not sure that that's the best reason to stop doing this, however.

I've also spent a good deal of time reflecting on what life is supposed to be about (and what I want to get out of it).  I am totally responsible for my negative perspective; likewise, it is my responsibility to change it.  So-perspective en route to change. 

(Thanks especially to Katie, who serves as inspiration every day for me...to make every day a good...a great...a fantastic day.  I know it's up to me.)


3.  Getting active. 
January 1, 2011 marked the day I began my life anew, including daily physical activity.  I started with a little Wii Fit Plus, doing about 30 minutes of yoga, strength exercises, and cardio.  It's really only been four days, but I found an activity that calls to me...that makes my arms and legs yearn for it daily: swimming. 

I've always been a water baby (and water teenager, and water adult); I took swimming lessons at a young age and immediately found that I was good at it.  I joined the swim team in middle school, getting up at 5 am for practices (and being so excited about it that I would wear my swim suit to bed in giddy anticipation).  A few years ago, I belonged to a few different pools (at the Lancaster YMCA and later the pool at LA Fitness).  Then, with our move into Elizabethtown three years ago, I let the memberships fade into the distance. 

I thought that there wasn't a pool for miles around in E-Town for years, and by the time I realized that there was one at my disposal (through the Masonic Life Center), I was a little too lazy to seek it out.  Yesterday, I got my heiney out of that mindset and called them to inquire about a membership after school.  I joined the pool with a free week-long membership and have been at the pool two days in a row.  I plan to make it five by the end of the week. 

The pool is, in a word, amazing.  It's housed in a greenhouse-looking building complete with frosted glass.  It is incredibly well lit, even at night; today, I almost felt like I was swimming outside. 

Being in the water, for me, is an incredibly calming, almost spiritual experience.  I feel at home, I feel like all of my problems go away, and I feel weightless - like I can achieve anything.  I know that this is a scientific thing: that you weight only 25% of your actual weight in the water.  I don't know if that's really what I love about water, but I feel powerful, safe, and successful when I glide through the silky, warm water.  This feeling, I know for sure, is what will keep me working out, getting healthy, and feeling positive. 

Here's to making every day a great one.