Things you learn as a Swimmer

 

It’s not easy.

The grueling morning workouts, the cold water, the weekend meets – you know what I’m talking about. It may not be enjoyable at the time, but all your hard work pays off in the end. Plus, your teammates are right there with you every step of the way!

To win, you need a plan.

You can’t get to where you want to be if you don’t know how to get there. Think of your goals similar to a road trip. You have to plan out your approach in order to get to your destination. If you don’t, you may not be on the right track or it could take longer than needed.

There will be obstacles.

Often times, it is not a simple task to move from point A to point B. There will be plenty of obstacles you must surmount before you arrive at your destination. It is up to you to overcome and conquer whatever you are faced with. You could always give up and throw in the towel, but what good would that do? Each obstacle makes you stronger.

Time alone is refreshing.

There isn’t a much better feeling than jumping into crisp, cool water. Once you enter the water, the whole world is turned off. You can’t hear anything, you don’t have access to your phone, no one is nagging you - it’s just you and the water. You have plenty of time to gather your thoughts and focus on the important things in life.

Losing is just the beginning.

Every time you fail, you are one step closer to winning. Use the loss as motivation to push even harder next time. Remember, it’s not a failure it’s one step closer to success.

Replenishing Electrolytes

If you are an athlete, you have heard about the importance of electrolytes to replace what you have lost through sweat. Sport drinks and bars are filled with these minerals, but at the cost of high calories and additives. Luckily, you can replenish these minerals through your diet with healthy, wholesome food.

Sodium. You mostly hear that you should avoid sodium because it causes you to hold water (aka water retention). This is the exact reason why athletes need sodium- so they can stay hydrated. Before a sweat session, try having something that contains a decent amount of salt and do so again post workout for recovery! Many items such as soups, deli meats, olives, cheeses and other packaged goods contain higher sodium levels.

Potassium. Have you ever gotten a bad cramp in your leg, leaving you in excruciating pain? There is a good chance that you were lacking potassium. Not only does this mineral affect muscle contractions, but also supports cell and heart functions and prevents kidney stones. A banana is an easy and quick way to replenish, giving you 450 to 600mg of potassium! Some other foods that naturally contain potassium include avocados, apricots, salmon, beans, and leafy greens.

Magnesium. Like potassium, magnesium also aids muscle contractions and can also assist bone development, nerve functions, and can even help fight fatigue! To get this mineral naturally, try filling your diet with green vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and beans

6 Reasons Why Swimming Rules!

Best of both.
Swimming is both a team sport as well as an individual sport. You get the opportunity to swim your individual races but also in relays which factor into overall team points.

No age limit.
You can pick up swimming at any age, whether young or old. You’d think that most people start young, but many actually don’t start until much later in life. This is mainly because it’s easy on the joints and not much equipment is needed.

Pushing the coach into the pool.
It’s not in every sport that you get to push your coach into a pool. Sure you could pour stuff over them or put pies in their faces, but having a coach soaked from head to toe – yes please!

Two-a-days.
How else do you plan on meeting your goals? Swimmer’s work ethic is unlike other athletes. To be the best, you have to train like the best.

Eat all the food.
Swimming can be a very taxing sport which means you need plenty of food to refuel and keep going. It has been stated that Michael Phelps eats upwards of 12,000 calories a day! Pizza and pasta? Sign me up!

Turning off the world.
Once you dive into the peaceful water, all of your worries go away. You can’t hear anything, you can’t see anything- you are unstoppable.

10 Reasons Swimming Moms are the Best

ONE
She is your #1 Fan.

TWO

She is always at your meets, no matter the weather or distance.

THREE

She taught you to work hard for what you want. 

FOUR

She brings you food.

FIVE

She constantly encourages you to do better.

SIX

She washes loads after loads of your laundry.

SEVEN

She’s always willing to listen when you've had a tough week.

EIGHT

She makes the BEST pancakes to keep you fueled.

NINE

She carries a stockpile to meets so she is sure to have everything you need.

TEN

She makes you love swimming even more than you do already.