Mood:  happy
Now Playing: The Cosby Show on TBS
Topic: Swimming Thoughts
I think this whole swimming thing is really good for me. Once I finish a workout in the pool, I always feel so great about myself and that's something I haven't felt in years. These days swimming is the only thing that makes me feel good about myself without me having to drink alcohol along with it. It's weird because during the last few days, I've felt really tired and so not motivated but once I finish swimming I always feel great about myself afterwards. This might be just what I need for me to make my self-esteem and confidence be where it needs to be.

Wednesday's Workout
Wednesday 10/07

800 free (warm up)
4 x 500 free @ 8:45ish
6 x 50 alternate fly/free
300 kick
300 free
200 kick
100 swim

Amanda Krause
krauseak@msn.com
"I'm Amanda Krause and I approve this message."

Yesterday's workout
Topic: Workouts
Monday 10/04

800 free
10 x 200 I.M./back
5 x 100 free
500 kick
total: 3800 yards

I'm so proud of myself for finishing this one. That 10 x 200 set was really hard! Not sure if I am going to go by the pool tonight since I told Deb I would see her in two hours, and then I've got choir practice from 7-8:30. The gym closes at 10:00 so I haven't decided yet.

Proposed workouts for the week
Mood:  chillin'
Topic: Workouts
The good news though is that at least I am feeling some motivation to start doing some obscene, crazy swim workouts this week in preparation for my swim meet next Sunday. I'm all set to push myself to the limit this week and jump up to some 4000 yard workouts from 3500. I'm not sure quite where the motivation came from, but I noticed it surfaced while I was praying in bed before attempting to go to sleep. Here are my proposed workouts for the week:

Monday???????
800 free (warm-up)???????
10 x 200 alternate I.M./back ?
500 kick??
6 x 75 fly?
400 free????

Tuesday
800 free
4 x 500 free
500 kick
3 x 100 fly
2 x 200 back

Wednesday??????????????????????????
800 free??????????????????????????????
10 x 200 I.M.???????????????????
500 kick????????????????????????
6 x 75 fly??????????????????????
400 swim????????????????????????

Thursday
800 free
10 x 200 free
500 kick
8 x 50 fly
300 swim

Friday
800 free
10 x 200 back
5 x 100 free
500 kick
200 swim

I have a feeling I might be torturing myself this week. I just feel like taking on a challenge and tackle some crazy-like workouts I used to do as a kid on the swim team.

Playing Tennis
Mood:  caffeinated
Now Playing: Notre Dame vs Purdue
Topic: Tennis
A few hours ago I played tennis with my sister and I can tell I am already in better shape even after just a week of swimming and weights. I didn't get tired as easily and I noticed that I was hitting the ball better. Of course, the balls were really flat so that could explain why I was hitting better but even so, I was surprised that I'm already in better shape after such a short period of time. Always nice to have some immediate gratification. :)

Today's Workout
Mood:  hungry
Topic: Workouts
Friday 10/01/04
800 Free - warmup
10 x 200 free (alternate 2 x 200 sprint/200 slow)
Fastest Sprint: 3:32
200 breast
500 kick

Wow, I was actually surprised to finish my workout today because I just was not up for it. I was really feeling lacking in energy plus my appetite had totally disappeared even though I'd hardly eaten since breakfast. I am pretty proud of myself for finishing a difficult workout. Today was a round of 200's free and instead of alternating sprints and slow, I did two sprints and one slow. It wasn't pleasan't, but I did it.

Stupid Gits
Mood:  don't ask
I ordered a pizza and chicken wings over an hour ago and got nothing, not even a phone call. So I called Pizza Hut and apparently people are placing orders with my phone number and address 3-5 times a day, and no one ever answers ... so they refuse to deliver to my apartment now. The only way they would place my order was if I agreed to go down to the restaurant and pick it up, which is impossible because it was 11:30pm at the time and I don't have a car. Arrrrrrgh. So needless to say I'm a bit pissed off because no one bothered to tell me that when I called Pizza Hut to place my order.

Twenty minutes ago I called up Domino's with the same order. So we shall see whether or not they show up. (sigh) Assuming they follow through, it'll be just after midnight when I get my order. Not quite what I planned on since I was hoping to be in bed by midnight but oh well. It's a Friday night after all so I'm going to try not to be too hard on myself.

I've really got to stop ordering pizza so much. This is the third time this week. Not only is it expensive, I also want to drop some weight to help my swimming, 15 pounds to be exact.

Great News
Mood:  lazy
Fortunately my check for the swim meet has been rerun through the bank and cleared. So now I'm officially in the swim meet. I'm so excited!! Didn't swim today, just stayed home watching TV all day long and being lazy and slept the day away hahaha.

Random Thoughts About Swimming & Training & Stuff
Now Playing: Dawson's Creek rerun on TV
Topic: Swimming Thoughts
I've forgotten what it feels like to be in training for something. It's been so long! It's so strange how I go to the pool feeling totally unmotivated (such as yesterday) and once I finish my swim workout I feel like i can conquer the world and I can do anything. It's just amazing what happens. I don't know what it is. Once I finish a workout I feel like I have truly accomplished something.

Also, being in training for something makes me feel like I have a purpose, so to speak. I haven't had anything to aim for since I was a teenager so between then and now it's been really hard to stay motivated to do anything. Yeah, the Olympics is a long shot but at least there are swim meets for me to compete in and for now that is enough for me. It'd be nice to make the Olympics, but at the ripe old age of 28 I am obviously not counting on it.

I am one of those people who can't just go out and exercise just because it's good for me. I'm one of those who needs some sort of motivation to stay in shape. It used to be running until recently. My asthma seems to be interfering with my running (something with the climate here), so during the Olympics I got the motivation to start swimming again.

I've always loved swimming because i love being in the water so much. I think I must have been a fish in another lifetime. My mom had me in the water as soon as I was old enough to float. My first home was at Lake Quivira, Kansas so being by a lake, it was only natural that everyone knew how to swim. So after I was born my mom started me out with the mother/infant swim lessons where the mom and the kid are both participating ... and i went on from there. My mom says I always loved being in the water even as a baby. No surprise there since I still love being in the water even if I'm not doing anything, whether it's a lake, swimming pool, ocean, or being on a boat.

Yesterday's workout
Now Playing: rain outside my windows
Topic: Workouts
Wednesday 9/29
800 free
4 x 100 I.M. order
4 x 400 free
200 back
500 kick

Wow, first time I've ever swam 100 fly in my entire life, believe it or not. It sucked but I did it. Someday I'd like to be able to swim the 100 fly at a meet.

Not sure if I'll be able to go to the meet on October 10th. I just got my bank statement yesterday and my check bounced. (sigh) I'm praying that they will try to run my check through the bank again, or that perhaps they will accept late payment. This will be my first meet since high school and I'm just dying to go! The meet is in Evergreen, a small town that I haven't ever been to so I've been really looking forward to a fun road trip too. Couldn't hurt to try to call or email them, right?