3 tips for a better swim

My freestyle swim stroke looked good, my dad told me the other day in the pool as he observed my skills. It just wasn't very strong. My breathing was not ideal either. My kick? Not bad, but he had a tip for how I might improve it.

Here, three dad-generated tips I received on how to become a better swimmer.

Bring arms high out of the water with each stroke, hands cupped, and reaching a bit across the body (right arm reaches to the left; left to the right) as they scoop into the water. My arms were low, I was hitting the water with the side of my head, and I was not reaching across.
Breath on a four-count (because I need to breathe to the right only). Stroke, stroke, stroke, breath to the right. Repeat. I was breathing on a two-count, thinking it was necessary in order to get enough air. Not so.
Kick with the hip, not below the knee.

My new stroke powers me better, my breathing allows me more speed -- not so much time spent turning my head and gulping air -- and my kick propels me with more force. I feel stronger, quicker, and more skilled. Dara Torres I will never be. But a better swimmer, I am.

Comments

Baby eggplant: Healthy and delicious

Substantial enough to substitute for meat in a meal, eggplant is chock-full of phytonutrients as well as being rich in many vitamins and minerals. Other than in pasta dishes, I haven't cooked much with eggplant in the past. I don't know why... I think it's wonderfully tasty. Baby eggplants are in season right now, so it's the perfect time to try out some new recipes. Shape Magazine shares a few ideas for trying out this tasty and nutritious food. I love their idea for sauteeing diced baby eggplant, zucchini, and tomatoes in olive oil and then baking in the eggplant skin. I think I'll substitute the tomatoes for summer squash. (I'm not a tomato fan... which is too bad because they're so rich in lycopene.) How about you? Do you have any favorite eggplant recipes to share?

How to Start Healthy Eating

If you currently do not eat a healthy diet, it can be difficult to start such a plan. However, healthy eating is important for maintaining bodily function and living a disease-free life. If you struggle with healthy eating, than you know that breaking unhealthy habits can be the most difficult part of the process. However, if you truly want to live the best lifestyle possible, it is important to follow tips in order to start eating a more healthy diet. A good beginning step when you want to start eating more healthily is to rid you home of all founds that do not into healthy categories. Keep junk foods and beverages out of your house so that you will not be tempted to snack during the day. If you’re worried about getting hungry, keep healthy snacks like carrot sticks, yogurt, fresh fruit, or whole-wheat crackers on hand. If you find that you just cannot bear to toss out the sweets, try keeping something tiny on hand, like chocolate chips. Eating a few of these won’t ruin your diet but

Healthy Eating at a Restaurant: Is it Possible?

If you and your family love to eat at restaurants, you may think that this lifestyle is not good for a healthy diet. In many cases, you would be correct. However, you can still enjoy restaurants occasionally and maintain your healthy diet. Its all about making good food choices, which starts with learning about the nutrition you need to stay happy, physically healthy, mentally stable, and active. When you pick up the menu, start by skipping over the drink section. Although you may be tempted to enjoy a beer or mixed beverage with your dinner, these usually have many empty calories, which is not good for your body. The exception to this rule when it comes to alcohol is wine, especially red wine, which can be fine if you have a single glass and can actually help prevent heart disease for some patients. Also skip over the appetizer menu, unless it’s to over a side salad. The appetizers at restaurants are usually high-fat foods that are not meant to fill you up and can in fact make you cra

HealthyWeek

Search This Blog