Just Keep Swimming

As soon as I felt strong enough, I wanted to get back to exercising. As mentioned in a previous post, I was quite into running and enjoyed going for runs by the Thames on my lunch break or on the treadmill if it was raining (yes, I'm a weather wuss). So whilst I was on holiday I decided to hit the gym and try a little run. To my disappointment I couldn't run well at all, and found the motion painful for my tummy. I think it must have been the jiggling up and down that caused pain, and obviously my tummy is still pretty sensitive. I was determined to not feel disheartened and give up on exercise, but to do some research on what exercises could work for me. I took to Google and began to read up! A lot of Crohn's sufferers mentioned yoga, Pilates, spinning but most mentioned swimming. With being on holiday and having access to a pool, I dived straight in!

I really enjoyed swimming and got into a pattern of going most evenings and swimming 20 lengths. I'd be lying if I said I couldn't feel it! My arms and legs ached the next day, but it felt so good to be exercising again the ache was worth it. For the first time since diagnosis, I felt like it was 1-0 to me and my Crohn's wasn't holding me back. 

When I got home I decided I wanted to keep the swimming up. Agreed it would be totally different swimming in an indoor pool in the UK, compared to outdoors in the Turkish sun, but I felt so positive about swimming that I knew I wanted to continue. My mum and sister decided to join the Brentwood Centre with me and we all signed up to swim of a morning before work. My mum and sister have been such great supporters, and have helped me through everything. My sister is definitely not a morning person!!! So I really appreciated her efforts to join me swimming before work, and it meant a lot to know she was putting herself out for me.  

So Wednesday this week was the first day going. The alarm went off at 06.30 and off we went. I felt so good for going and was really proud of myself too! The pool doesn't open till 07.30 on Thursdays and Fridays, which is a shame as that's too late for me to then make it in time for work, but it is open at 08.00 on a Saturday, so me and Ellie planned to go this Saturday. 

My first Saturday morning swim accomplished!!! I did 30 lengths of the 25metre pool and was out sipping my breakfast smoothie by 9am. It's the perfect way to start my day, and start my weekend. 

XOXO Crohnie Girl