Getting Closer

I was on such a roll.  Getting lots of workouts in each week, increasing my swim and run times (ok, not so much on the bike....) but feeling really good about my fitness.  And then a glitch- or rather, a couple of glitches.

I was traveling last week and didn't have control over my own schedule while I was away, so I only got a few 30 min workouts done in a hotel fitness closet  (ahem) room.  But I was ready to get back on track as soon as I got home- ready and motivated.

Until my foot started to feel funny.  No gory details here, but the short story is that I've hobbled around w/ blisters on my foot for a few days after going barefoot through airport security.  And I'd guess those "antimicrobial mats" I stood on weren't germ-free.  Enough said.  So week #2 is a loss.  Or is it?

Everyone gets injured, sick, sidetracked.  Instead of being frustrated and beating myself up I realized this is a great opportunity to focus on something else.  Food perhaps?  Not just eating, but what and how?  I've heard different experts in the fitness industry suggest that working out is about being fit and strong.  But to really get lean you need to focus on your eating- the quality and quantity.  Not so easy with two kids hanging onto their Halloween candy.

Rewind briefly to a telephone call a few months ago when I was complaining about my weight and the person I was talking with, who knows me much too well, said "Kim, you know exactly why you're not losing weight".  And you know, I do know.  I know the information- I've studied it for years.  But as many of us know all to well, making it happen day-to-day is a different story.  I keep getting closer to losing the emotional connection to food and instead making smart choices that honors my body and where I want to be.  So no, I didn't log in workouts this week.  But I did drink more water, snacked less, and ate more slowly.  Getting closer every day.

Xterra wetsuit

I've done half a dozen triathlons and the swim leg has always been a challenge.  The first time I did an open water swim years ago, I panicked.  I couldn't believe the difference from swimming in a pool where I could see the nice tiled stripe along the bottom leading me to the wall where I could touch and take a good breath before the next length.  That's a far cry from swimming past fish, through seaweed growing from the bottom, and staring into dark nothingness.  And then I tried a friends' wetsuit and was again surprsied.  The buoyancy of the wetsuit was wonderful.  I haven't done a race without a wetsuit since- even though I didn't own one myself.  I've been fortunate to have a generous neighbor who lets me borrow his suit for races.

Until now....I just purchased an Xterra Vector Pro wetsuit. Well, technically my parents are purchasing it as a Christmas gift but I ordered it and tried it out last week in the pool to check the fit.  I think I'm in love.  I harly had to do anything- I think the suit actually kicked a little for me.  The few laps I did seemed so effortless.  And I didn't need to perform any circus acts to get it on like spraying myself with Pam or using plastic bags.  Now, maybe that means I could have gone a size smaller but it felt good swimming, so I'm happy.

I'm looking forward to my open water swims next year, and that's the first time I've ever said that!