swimming, food

[rootofnewt]

I managed to swim eight lengths today. I finished right as the lifeguards decided to remove the lap lane from the large pool, which was perfect. I prefer to swim there, as it's warmer than the lap pool. When there are classes with more than eight people or large groups attending family swim, the lifeguards remove the lap lane from the large pool.

Talked to a woman afterward whose an intuitive diagnostic and into spiritual means of treating CFIDS and fibro. I enjoyed chatting with her, but I doubt I'll call her. She's distinctly Christian and, while she doesn't have anything against pagans (provided they believe in a Creator and aren't actively working against such a being), I can tell she's into prayer and guided visualization and imagery. She wasn't pushy or anything, but her stuff isn't my cup of tea.

Anyhow, I now have spicy veggies that are in a sauce somewhere between a masala and a vindaloo... not sure what the difference is. And rice. Yum.

Comments

[pixiecrinkle.livejournal.com]

I checked out an organization book tonight from the library, in hopes of decluttering my house. Started doing the first checklist, of things like "do you hit the snooze alarm," "do you have piles of stuff," etc. Then I hit "do you have at least 15 minutes a day for Bible reading?"

I checked the book's title page, and it was published by a distinctly Christian publishing house. I decided to read on, substituting "yoga" for "Bible study." That only lasted a few more pages when I realized half the book explained how God was telling you to cut your clutter in various stories from the Bible.

Uh, yeah.

[prizmdonna.livejournal.com]

I'm always looking for new ways to make yummy veggies. If you feel like sharing, I'd love to hear more about your spicy veggies (why does that sound kinda naughty to me?). :-)

- donna

[krasota.livejournal.com]

I was improvising...

I heated a couple tablespoons oil (probably safflower or sunflower) in a pan, added a couple of dried chilies and four or five curry leaves. then I tossed in some fenugreek seeds (maybe a teaspoon), nearly a tablespoon of brown mustard seeds, along with coriander seed and ginger (both powdered) and garam masala and onions, when i remembered that i needed to let the mustard seeds pop before i added the onion... fortunately, i'd just plopped it in and it was on one side of the large skillet, mostly away from the other stuff. i kept it to the edge of the pan and moved the skillet so it was off center, eventually dolloping some turmeric (quarter teaspoon?), curry powder (a couple teaspoons), and minced garlic (two-three cloves' worth) on top of the onions. Eventually, my mustard seeds popped, and I mixed everything together. I should've added some kalonji seed (nigella seed, chernushki), but didn't think to.

i sauteed that briefly, then added some tomato paste (the italian kind, in a tube) and some pre-packaged tikka masala sauce (maybe 2/3 a cup? patak's brand)... added some salt (a half teaspoon--should've added more), mixed that all up and tossed in some frozen carrots and cauliflower (i picked out the snow peas, because i like them super crisp and un-curried) and two diced red potatoes (less than a pound, medium size). i added some akhni stock so that it was stew-like (maybe a cup or a cup and a half?), brought to a boil, then simmered on low until the potoates were done--about 45 minutes, maybe. meanwhile, i made some basmati rice (1 1/4 cups basmati rice, water to cover an inch, bring to a vigorous boil, stir, cover, turn off heat. let sit 25 minutes, then move and let sit another 10 minutes. do NOT lift lid until the 35 min is up. when 35 min is up, fluff with a fork.

we ate the veggies over the rice, with homemade cucumber raita mixed in.

quite yummy.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

by the way, happy birthday. :)

[jb98.livejournal.com]

Awesome on the 8 lengths. Do you rest between lengths? I managed to swim 2 lengths once without resting. I hope to work up to 4 lengths without resting by the end of April. If I can get to the gym regularly, I am sure I'll be able to do that.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

no, i don't rest between lengths, usually.

sometimes i take a few seconds and adjust my goggles, but that's it.

i'm trying to improve my lung capacity, though. i used to be able to swim a length underwater without breathing. i'd settle for breathing every three-four strokes on freestyle, rather than every two (every right stroke, i breathe). and i'm only kicking once per breath on breast stroke, whereas i'd like to be doing two-three kicks.

two of my laps today were backstroke, though. ;)

i try not to have *too* high of expectations. i don't expect i'll be doing a 100 of the butterfly anytime soon, even if i could handle it quite easily 12 years ago. ;) i know that i won't be a competitive swimmer again and i don't expect to be. i'm not going to swim a mile a night (after running several miles earlier in the day) anytime soon. someday, maybe. not now.

[jb98.livejournal.com]

I can swim about half a length without breathing, sometimes more. It's my heart rate that skyrockets and forces me to rest. I suspect that will moderate with practice. I'm going to join a Masters swim team when I can do 4 lengths without resting. I don't know if I'll ever compete with anyone other than myself. I've always loved swimming and never had the opportunity to learn proper technique before now. My son swam competitively for about 4 years and I lived vicariously through him. I juat googled Masters teams in C'ville and there are two, both with evening workout times. I figure by May I'll be ready, and evening works well for me. Heh, I should take my ass to the gym now instead of posting about it, lol.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

ACAC has a master's swim thing--it's posted on the bulletin board, started earler this month. i forget how the cycles run here.

my resting heart rate is 105bpm, thanks to CFIDS. i don't get the pounding heartbeat while swimming, though. that's something walking/hiking does, though. and i can get there if i spend too long in the hottub and my BP falls too low (it's already below normal).

[jkatj.livejournal.com]

I thought all you were supposed to do is one kick per stroke on the breast stroke? That's what they taught us in my hometown, anyway.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

In racing, you can easily kick 2-3 times per stroke, at least that was allowed when I was in swimming. It's the kick that provides the speed, not the stroke, which is just a convenient way of breathing. The kicking is done in streamline position.

[jkatj.livejournal.com]

Huh. Who knew. I was on a couple different swim teams, and that never came up. Maybe because they were middle school and below?

I don't think I ever got the kick right on the breast stroke, anyway. My hips seem to be jointed a bit funny, and I couldn't move the way they demonstrated the kick. Maybe that's why I was never taught to kick more than once, I was lucky to get any kicking in at all. :P