Conquering Fears

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natalie_ca

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Originally Posted by calico2222

btw, I LOVE the bathing suit you picked out!! I might have to one of them myself!
Thanks. I carry a lot of weight around my stomach and hips/thighs area so I look like an egg on legs in a regular 1 piece. And when the girl pulled out some 2 pieces I nearly fainted and told her "not with this fat body!!"
But I was very surprised. The 2 piece was the last one I tried on and the one I liked the most. At least the dress part covers up some of the fat rolls. I just wish it were a bit longer
 

calico2222

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Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

Thanks. I carry a lot of weight around my stomach and hips/thighs area so I look like an egg on legs in a regular 1 piece. And when the girl pulled out some 2 pieces I nearly fainted and told her "not with this fat body!!"
But I was very surprised. The 2 piece was the last one I tried on and the one I liked the most. At least the dress part covers up some of the fat rolls. I just wish it were a bit longer
Believe me, I know what you mean! I have started to call myself Humpty Dumpty. But that suit is just adorable!
 

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Good luck with overcoming your fear, Linda. Hopefully you'll enjoy the classes so much that you won't even think about the water after the first one.
 

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Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

OMG! Me too! I went across the Mackinac Bridge once back in 1978 on the way to Detroit! I was terrified!! I was laying flat on the back seat too afraid to look out the window. I was so scared that I was crying and shaking really badly
On the way back we went a different route through Chicago!
I've been over the Mac Bridge and yes it IS scary!!! You see the straits while you're driving over them!

This bridge also freaked me out. It's called the Veterans Glass city Bridge on the outskirts of Toledo, OH: http://enr.construction.com/images2/...09-maumee3.jpg

All the suspensions and towers are in the CENTER on the bridge rather than on the edge (heres a better picture: http://www.pubs.asce.org/NR/rdonlyre.../0307feat1.jpg)

I kept thinking I my car and I were going to slide off to the right.
 
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natalie_ca

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Ugh! Today is the day. I could hardly sleep last night. I was so wound up that by 9pm I wasn't even the least bit tired so I took a sleeping pill so that when I went to bed I could fall asleep. At 2am I was still awake.

Not sure what time I fell asleep but I Chynna woke me up at 6:30 in her her usual fashion (giant paw in my face!
).

My bag is packed, and I packed a snack for later because won't get home until after 1:30pm, so I'll be near faint from hunger.

I'm excited and anxious all at the same time.

Keep your fingers crossed. I'll let you know how it all went down, later today!

PS: I'm taking an anti-anxiety pill with me just in case I panic
Hopefully I won't need to take it!
 

lunasmom

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Good luck!

I was talking to my mom last night. She goes to classes called Aqua Aerobics...I'm not sure if thats the same as what you're taking (and a different term), however her class works with noodles to help keep them afloat if they're in water water deeper than 4 feet.
 
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natalie_ca

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I just got home about 10 minutes ago.

I told the instructor right up about my experience, so she kept an eye on me and gave me tips on how to not "tip over". The water goes to a max of 5 feet, but I was in water that was chest high. I started near an edge so that I could hang on!! But as the class went on I found myself moving towards water that was a bit deeper and not near an edge, so that is good


The only time I panicked a little was when we had to use one of those "noodle" things so that we floated and we had to do things with our legs that didn't involve touching the bottom. I kept tipping over backwards or side ways. She said that it will improve as I learn how my body works in the water where my centre of balance is concerned. When I was working with that noodle thing, I went in between the metal bars so that if I tipped over I could grab hold of a bar and keep myself from flipping over


Being heavy with excess fat doesn't help either because fat floats so I'm rather boyant in the water.

I talked to her about my program and she said that it would be good for me to try and get in an aqua fit/size/aerobics (all the same thing different terms) each time I go there, even if it's on days when I do my resistance training on the machines on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

My lower back is a bit sore right now because I found myself straining to stay upright and I guess I was working my abdominals more than I realized or felt. I've taken some pain medication and once that kicks in I'm going to lay down and have a nap. I'm sooooo tired today!

I also got lots of compliments on my swimsuit. Several people, including 2 guys said that my suit is gorgeous and asked me where I got it!

I sat in the jacuzzi for awhile and took in a sauna. The jacuzzi jets on my feet felt wonderful! I felt like I was in heaven!


It was scarey and I'm glad I did it. The fear isn't totally gone. I'm ok if one foot is always on the pool bottom, but as soon as my feet come off the bottom it's like there is no bottom there and the panic sets in.
 

sillyjilly

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Originally Posted by butzie

Is your aquasize class like the aquafit classes I go to? We are always in the shallow end of the pool. It is more aerobics than swimming.
Originally Posted by SwampWitch

OMG that woman who pushed you in was such an idiot! What an unforgivable thing to do to a kid! I hope she was fired!

Like butzie pointed out, you will probably never get your head under the water in an aquatics class, or even get water on your face.

I'm sure it will be fine. Please let us know how it went!
Originally Posted by Natalie_ca

Yeah. They changed the name to "Aquafit", but I've always known tham as "Aquasizes"


I know it's more aerobics than swimming, but it's the idea of getting into the pool. After that drowning incident it was years before I ever went into a pool again, and finally when I did it was only maybe 10 or 12 times, but always in the shallow end like maybe hip high. But I haven't been in a pool in over 25 years and I've totally forgotten what it's like. And I'm trying my best to keep the panicky feeling that is building up, under control.
My AquaFit class we do use the deep end for most of it but we have some who just stay in the shallow end. Most of us never get our head wet even in the deep end.

Good luck with your fear honey, and just know that everyone there is with you. You will be fine!
 

jcat

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You've "broken the ice", so to speak, by managing to get and stay in the pool, so things can only get better. Congratulations!
 
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natalie_ca

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Originally Posted by Essayons89

Are you ready to go scuba diving yet?
Never! I can't even splash water on my face. Water on my face from the shower or even from rain outside sets off a big time anxiety attack.
 

essayons89

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You did the most difficult part and took that important first step.

A friend of mine wanted to help me get over my fear of heights by paying my way to go skydiving with him. It was hit first time going, too. I didn't do it. I didn't even go to watch him and our boss at the time do it. I used to have dreams where I would be running and go right off of the edge of a cliff. I always woke up before I hit the bottom. I can't go the edge when standing on anything high. At work there is kind of a second floor above the restrooms that is used as part of our break area. I can't stand up there and look over the rail without feeling a little dizzy.
 

bonnie1965

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way to go, Linda! I really enjoyed the aqua aerobics. Didn't think I would since I am a large woman. But everyone there was a larger person
I never go in water too deep because I don't know how to swim
Don't really have a fear of water, just never managed to learn. I can float with the best of them though


I bought my first swimsuit in 30 years for those classes. It is like your's only a one piece and tropical print
Those noodles confused me! I spent more time trying to make it work with them than actually exercising. Ah, I miss it.
 

xlaydeextaniax

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well done!


i could never face up to my fear's! i'd rather die on the spot
nothing in the world could change that, not even an amount of money LOL!

yeh, that's how bad it is! i used to be scared of the water, when my dad took me swimming i never used to let go, & this once he let go & i nearly drowned (i actually didn't, but it certainly felt like it though). it's harder for me because of my disability, even now i have to wear armbands & hold onto my partner
 
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natalie_ca

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Originally Posted by Bonnie1965

I bought my first swimsuit in 30 years for those classes. It is like your's only a one piece and tropical print
I went again today! I managed to not float all over the place and am quickly learning what position my body needs to be in in order to keep myself from tipping over and floating all around the pool! LOL

The instructors are really good. It was a different one today and I told her about my phobia. She was really good at adapting movements for me. During the part where we had to use the "noodle" we were supposed to be floating in a reclined position in the water and working our legs. During all of those types of exercises I had to hold onto the side of the pool because when I lean back and my feet leave the bottom panic sets in.

I'm really enjoying it though. The water feels so nice and warm.

One thing about my bathing suit. Because of the dress part when it's wet and I'm getting out of the pool the thing feels like it weights 10 pounds!

Today one of the girls from the class stopped me and told me that if my suit has nylon and spandex in it that that it will disintegrate from the chlorine in the pool water! She said she and some of the other members were going through a suit every 6 to 8 weeks because the material was being eaten away from the chlorine and had become transparent. She recommends that I get a 100% polyester suit.

I looked at the label of the suit I bought the other day and it says 80% nylon and 20% spandex! And the instructions say to wash in cold water and hang to dry and to NOT USE CHLORINE!

Who the heck makes a swim suit that you can't use in a swimming pool!

I didn't know what to look for as this is the first bathing suit I've owned in more than 25 years and back then I didn't use it often enough for it to break down, so I don't even know what the material was.

The suit I bought was $100.00 plus taxes and if it starts to break apart in 6 weeks, I'm going back to the store and showing it to them and telling them that I specifically said that I needed a bathing suit to do aqua fit classes.

I washed it in the shower at the gym and then when I got home I washed it with Tide and cold water in the sink. So hopefully the 1 hour that I'm in the pool/jacuzzi each day isn't going to do it much harm.
 
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