I’ve heard about the Great North Swim and I’d like to be able to do it next year – I’d have no chance trying really for this year.

I’m up to 20 minutes swimming in the pool and thats taken 6 weeks to get there. I’m not doing it constantly – often pausing at ends and then restarting but keep on going as much as I can.

I believe its in september so planning for next year giving me around 18 months to prepare for it. To get past the 25m certificate I have and go for the mile.

About 60+ lengths of the pool to do – I struggle after 4 usually so only need to get another 60 or so and then try outside swimming – not really tried that one.

I’ve been in an outside pool but not really in the sea, or a river – that will be an experience I can look forward too althou will probably be very cold. I know i’ll need to wear a wet suit – so need one of those sometime too… But thats something for next year.

The plan so far is gradually increase my swimming in time and then lengths. I want to try and get my swimming up so that I can swim for an hour and then try to get up to a mile if not already.

My Current predicted plan:

Get to the level of Comfortable constant swimming:

June/July – Get to 25 minutes
Aug/Sep – Get to 35 Minutes
End of December – get to 60 minutes

Its about a 7 month plan so far, but its the preparation plan before going for the main training for the actual events in 2010.

I think it will fit in well with the rest of my plans for fitness as gives a seperate goal and a joined goal for extra motivation.

I’ve been thinking and not acting for too long and realise that IF I want to be fitter, look better and feel better and more alive I NEED to change and activly change in many ways – A change of diet (what I eat) aswell as increased exercise and fitness.

In 2000, I was:
10st ish, 28 inch waist, slim build, 6 foot 1 inch.
BMI: 18.5

In June 2009 I am:
12st 7, 36 to 38 inch waist, build – podgy, 6 foot 1 inch
BMI: 23

The ideal BMI is 22 apparently, so I’ve changed a LOT within 9 years. Now life is a lot different – I don’t have classes to get to – I drive to work and sit in an office a lot of the day – no longer active and think I eat more now that I did then.

So its Time for change…

As said before, I’ve been going to the gym to help with this but thats not all I am doing – that is the start to get me going.

I’ve realised that I’ve had more energy since doing more exercise – I gave a little time up and now seem to have more time as I’m less tired so the theory is that if I do more again, I’ll be fine for time as I’m more awake to get through the other stuff.

I’m trying the exercise DVD’s, mixed with the Gym & swim, Running etc to hopefully trim myself down, and get a more toned body and remove any podgyness thats appeared over time.

The past few months I’ve done exercise but not really documented it. I’ve been going to the gym more in May than I have all the previous months and been trying swimming more.

I started soon after easter near the end of April to go swimming more than the gym and lazing in the pool. I chose to try and swim for a set amount of time and increase it gradually over the weeks.

Basically

• Week 1: 5 minutes
• Week 2: 5 minutes
• Week 3: 10 minutes
• Week 4: 10 minutes
• Week 5: 20 minutes
• Week 6: 20 Minutes

I’ve have been trying to increase the time by around 5 minutes every 5th time i’ve gone. But at 20 minutes I’m having difficulty to keep going and so staying there until slightly comfortable and I feel I can push myself further.

I don’t swim constantly – I stop and catch my breath then keep going or switch to float for a bit but do keep going. I’d like to get up to 30 minutes of comfortable constant swimming and think i’ll get there over time.

Other stuff I’ve done: Salsa Dance, started running a bit more, walking places near by instead of driving and attempted some things on a bike.

Overall not really done much but I’m getting there slowly.