If you are looking for motivation to make a positive change in your life, read the below words by Jen Malone:
'I recently stopped smoking and I reckon I did it pretty easily. I know that ultimately, in my mind I wanted to stop however I did find reading the Allan Carr book – Easy Way to Stop Smoking – helped me along also. The one major point that I took from the book was about breaking habits. We often say that it is so hard to break a habit. However, when we go overseas, we very easily break the habit of driving on the left hand side of the road and drive on the opposite side of the road. Habits can be broken!! Maybe not always easily but with the right tools, it can be made easier. But, I have to say, and I probably say this at least three times a week, I AM SO HAPPY THAT I DON’T SMOKE ANYMORE. 😊
At the time, I gave up smoking I wanted to try something different or get involved in something different but wasn’t quite sure what. Why? I guess I wanted to show myself that I could be confident, brave and step outside my comfort zone by meeting new people and put myself in new situations. Easier said than done. I also didn’t want to have a stale life by being too afraid to try new things that might or might not interest me and develop ‘me’.
For the past 15 years I have led a very comfortable and stable life where everybody knew me and I have had lots of friends. This had all pretty much come from work though and now I was no longer involved in the business, and although these friends were still in my life, it was time to make a new life and have new interests (and hopefully make some new friends). It was time for ‘ME’.
So? What to do? Well . . . .
As soon as I saw the 8 week Swimfit course on Facebook, I knew I wanted to try it but I’ve got to to be honest, I was nervous! My fitness was poor, I didn’t know anybody and I had never tried swimming in this way. I thought I could swim but what if I was hopeless? It was always just a splash around in the pool. And let’s not forget the whole, everyone will see me in a pair of swimmers.
Anyhow, after much procrastination, I signed up! I thought, if I didn’t like it at the end of the 8 weeks then I figured I could just stop.
Joining Swimfit was a HUGE step outside my comfort zone. At the time, I guess a big thing for me was that it would improve my fitness.
The first day was the hardest but I am so proud of myself for making it there. And to this day, I am so happy I did make it because it is one of the best things I have ever done. It makes me feel so fantastic.
The first few weeks, I will admit, I had to push myself to make the sessions as it was not easy for me. (I had paid though and I didn’t want to waste my money so I really had to keep going for at least the 8 weeks!) I got puffed really easily, I didn’t think I was so unfit, I couldn’t swim as far or as fast as everyone else, I would come home exhausted and couldn’t move for the rest of the day. BUT, it was a good exhausted feeling. I knew or felt that whatever I was doing would be good for me in the long run.
Irene also had a definite ‘knack’ of not making me feel inferior in comparison to the others. Although Irene, is a good swimmer herself, she never got frustrated if I couldn’t keep up or make me feel like a dummy. She was and is really good at aligning the sessions to suit all of us to meet our capabilities but we are all still individually challenged at each session.
Also, my new swimming friends were a great group of people. They were so friendly and welcoming. Their experience with swimming made me realise that a lot of people start off like me and with practice, you get better. They had been in my position before which was REALLY encouraging.
At the finish of my 8 week Swimfit program, I knew this was definitely something I wanted to continue with and make a part of my life.
I have been swimming with Swimfit for five months now and can truthfully say that I now love to make the sessions (I won’t lie, it was pretty hard in the middle of Winter and cold!) At the end of the 8 week program and after speaking with some of my swimming buddies I also decided to have one-one-one personal lessons with Irene. In these lessons, Irene teaches me about my stroke technique and stroke correction. After a couple of lessons, I thought what else is she going to teach me? I never realised how many different parts to a stroke there is and how there is such a technique to swimming.
Although I was / am the least experienced one in the session (and I am ok with this!), I feel so proud of myself. I stepped outside my comfort zone and although I still have a long way to go with my fitness, I noticed in six weeks that my fitness had improved. Along with this my swimming technique has also improved. From my private lessons and the Swimfit sessions, I can feel not only my fitness and swimming technique improving, but also my body is getting stronger and my confidence has grown. Another side benefit, which I wasn’t even looking for, is that I am losing inches on my body. Bonus!!
I love Swimfit. I tried to think about one word to describe Swimfit or what I think of our Sessions. But I can’t! We have a great time at Swimfit. There have been so many benefits for me. Physically, each session I am challenged individually. It is not about beating the person next to you however pushing yourself to beat your own times.
It doesn’t matter if you are 3 minutes behind the fastest person or 5 seconds. You got this! Do the best you can!
Apart from the physical side, for me, I have also benefited from the motivation that I get from Irene and my swimming buddies. Something that occurred to me on my Swimfit journey, is that since I started swimming, I started to eat healthier. I have started trying new recipes for meals, sweets and snacks. Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy a glass of wine or two!
Importantly, I have fun. If we don’t have fun, we don’t want to exercise. We love to have a laugh so make sure you bring your sense of humour along also!'
Thank you so much for sharing your personal Swimfit journey with the world Jen! I am sure you will inspire others to join that exercise class they've been thinking about joining for weeks, or get (back) into swimming. We love having you as part of our Swimfit family and I can't wait to see where you will take your new passion for swimming.'
Cheers,
Irene
Your Personal Swim Coach