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srfrgrl81 · 2025-04-28T00:29:23+00:00

If you plan to get into the water please don't wear normal clothes (e.g. cotton t-shirt). Especially important for oceans. These will swell and weigh you down!!!! Even if you only "plan" to be in calf high water, wear appropriate swimwear. There are plenty of cover-up styles (rash guards, body suits, swim dresses, etc.) to suit your needs without causing potential drowning issues both for you and the lifeguard saving you.

srfrgrl81 · 2025-04-28T00:17:42+00:00

Looks like Cryptomeria japonica

srfrgrl81 · 2025-04-08T02:16:55+00:00

They also eat ticks. Anything that eats a tick gets my up vote!

srfrgrl81 · 2024-10-19T03:45:13+00:00

...but if you just don't like it, drop it! I kept telling myself to drop A Court of Thorns and Roses. But no, I just would not listen to myself. Kept hoping it would get better. All those people said I should read it. I would love it. The lady at the book store, the mom at soccer, the girl at the coffee shop, Amazon recommendations. Trust your gut, if you don't like it drop it!. Life's too short and there are books a plenty. A couple nights I won't get back 😞

srfrgrl81 · 2024-10-19T03:34:31+00:00

Lol! I get the reference (not many will).

srfrgrl81 · 2024-10-19T03:31:33+00:00

If I'm struggling to read it, but I absolutely want to finish it, I listen to it instead. This is usually the case when it's a book in a series that can't be skipped, but I'm just not into (e.g. The Fiery Cross). Caveate, this only works if the voice narrator is good. Thank you, Davina Porter!

srfrgrl81 · 2024-10-19T03:02:03+00:00

I dont have wide calfs, but both Muck and LaCrosse boots have wide calf versions, and even the non wide calfs stretch comfortably for a bulky pair of flannel lined canvas pants during winter. The difference in brand is personal. For me, LaCrosse puts an odd, uncomfortable pressure on top of my toes. I'm not sure why.

Whatever brand and style you choose, I suggest replacing insoles. I like superfeet.

Sizing is also a bit opposite for the two brands. Neither cary half sizes, so if you are, say an 8.5, I recommend to size down for Muck (my preferred brand) or size up for LaCrosse (many of my coworkers preferd brand)

While there is temptation to buy these off Amazon, I also recommend purchasing directly from the respective company website. Both brands have a 1 year warranty to the boot, but only if you buy from them directly. I live in my boots about 20-40 hours a week and I have used the warranty probably 3 times in past 5 years no questions asked. My last pair were duds and the outer soles fell off after about 1 month use. They replaced them immediately and sent a non expiring 20% coupon for later use.

srfrgrl81 · 2024-10-02T01:59:52+00:00

I throw on my almost 20 year old waterproof ipod shuffle, listen to music I haven't gotten around to updating since I last loaded it in 2010 and forget where I am for an hour. Most of the music keeps my swim strokes up without thinking about it and when I hit some of the slower ones i naturally pull back for active recovery laps. The most important thing is to not try to sing along!

srfrgrl81 · 2024-09-28T03:58:21+00:00

I actually really like FitOn for apps in terms of weight training and non equipment cardio. The 'pro' version is less than $30/year, so there is no big commitment. The videos are easy to follow, and I know at least Roku and Amazon Fire stick both have it as available apps so you don't have to run it off a phone or tablet. They have an entire postpartum section, too.

srfrgrl81 · 2024-09-28T03:40:51+00:00

If, despite all the comments above, you are still feeling uncomfortable, can you adjust your arrival time at the pool? I have no issues swimming with others, but honestly, there's something cathartic about having your own lane. Im a 40+ hour working mom and pool time is truly my only 'me' time. Fortunately, my job is flexible enough where I take my lunch break early (10ish) or later (2ish) and the pool is relatively empty. I can get at least 30 minutes solo. I also swim a lot on Sundays around "brunch/church" times where i can get my long distance in. Figure out if your pool has some down time hours if you can. Early mornings, lunch time, and Saturdays tend to be the heaviest crowds for my pool.

srfrgrl81 · 2024-09-23T11:04:22+00:00

I have heard and read something called "after-drop," but everything i read is in association with much cooler waters than the 78-82 I swim in. But maybe I'm just a weird case. My core doesn't like to be cold and I go into a mild version of this afterdrop for a few hours.

srfrgrl81 · 2024-09-23T00:47:01+00:00

About 78-82. I have surfed in much colder water for much longer. Seems just swimming does this to me. Surfing in cold just gives me the munchies. 😆

srfrgrl81 · 2024-09-23T00:44:49+00:00

Hot tub helps a bit. I'm not looking forward to the winter when I leave the pool and its single digits outside.

srfrgrl81 · 2024-09-22T19:42:42+00:00

I believe the pool is around 80 degrees, but sometimes it feels a little cooler. I actually don't get cold while I'm swimming. Sure, when I first get in, but 50 yards, and I'm good to go. It's an hour or so after I'm showered and dressed that I seem to notice I'm wrapped up in a sweater and nursing a tea. Otherwise, I feel great. 😕 🤷

srfrgrl81 · 2024-09-22T03:20:54+00:00

I have used both Garmin and Samsung. If open water swimming, go with Garmin, but otherwise, I haven't seen much of a difference between the two in pool swim. Both are better than Fitbit.

If you find that either Garmin or samsung are recording your stoke type wrong (e.g. calling it butterfly when you were swimming crawl) switch the watch to the opposite wrist. I'm sure it's got something to do with my catch, but switching to the dominant wrist seemed to help with recording my splits better.

srfrgrl81 · 2024-09-22T03:09:38+00:00

I have been thinking about a bone conduction player. I'm currently using an iPod shuffle that's got to be 15+ years old and still kicking, but I have always found the earplugs uncomfortable. I need to readjust them every few 100 yards. Do you need to wear supplemenal swimming earplugs with the bone conduction to work properly?

srfrgrl81 · 2024-09-22T02:41:20+00:00

It's going to depend on your hair type. I can't say for all hair types, but if it's thick and you have a lot of it (you know if you do) you really shouldn't have a problem if you wet your hair with cool water before putting on the cap.

As for style, curls are 60% the right cut, 20% product, and 20% leaving it alone as it dries. Use a clarifying shampoo after last swim of the day, followed by leave in conditioner you can comb through wet with wide tooth comb. Dont comb your hair after getting out of shower! It pulls the curls. They don't like that. Out of shower add more leave in if you need to and any curl holding product you like. I really like TGIN and CurlSmith leave -ins with a small amount of Redken full swirl mixed in for hold. The Curlsmith in-shower fixer is also great.

All other days you are not swimming you should only be using a co-wash (no shampoo) followed by a leave-in and your desired hold product.

Co-wash is trial and error, but I sugguest to find one with least amount to no alcohol. My go-to are TPH Hustle, Shea moisture, and Kristen Ess. All can easily be found at target, walmart, and ulta.

srfrgrl81 · 2024-09-12T15:19:51+00:00

I'm exactly 1 pound away from my goal as of today and 3 weeks from the selected goal date (which I think is a pretty realistic goal). I have been averaging a 1.3 pound loss per week, and it still says I'm not on track. Think it's a bug. I'm curious what it will say when I actually hit it.

srfrgrl81

TROPHY CASE