Having Trouble with Swimming ):

[Usagi]

I have the Finis Wave, and I got it some time at the beginning of the summer. I swam fine with it, in and out of my fabric tail, in my boyfriend's (his name is Alex, for future reference) pool. I wasn't even the least bit in shape. Now I've started going to the gym and swimming in my monofin there, but I don't get very far before I start to panic. Either I feel out of breath or like my legs are going to fall off. Here's what I was thinking:

-could it be that I was working myself too hard too frequently, and was wearing myself out?

-I go really early in the morning and swim before I work out. Maybe my lungs don't expand or whatever to their fullest capacity because I haven't been moving around much. (it's also really cold in the mornings and I have asthma, if that makes any difference)

-my monofin has gotten kind of bent. Could that have an effect on how well I swim with it?

-I didn't realize until a couple weeks ago that I had been using it with the little plastic inserts still in the foot pockets. I took them out and ever since then, the strap on one foot keeps sliding off. I'm gonna put them back in the next time I go to see if it makes a difference.

Has anyone else had trouble with switching pools?

My dad said there might be more pressure in the gym pool because they have the filter going constantly, and the filter at the Alex's house was hardly ever on.

Alex said maybe I feel uncomfortable because there's so many people around, and it's affecting how I swim. I was never a strong swimmer to begin with, which is why I've been practicing. Any tips or advice or similar stories?

[Bellasea]

The out of breathe-ness could be because of the chlorine at the pool, especially if it is an indoor pool. I know that I have a hard time breathing at the local aquatic center's indoor pool.

[Usagi]

Yeah I've been told that they use a LOT of chlorine..I couldn't see a thing! Haha

[Mermaid Allie]

Do you use goggles? Because whenever I don't use them I'm always way slower. And I I have to come up for air more... Weird

[Elle]

you could try practice slow breathing and forced breathing.
inhale and exhale slowly. then try on the exhale to purse your lips and force the air out (but still doing that reasonably slowly). forcing the air out like that is a technique that's used on patients with chronic breathing problems who can panic when they find themselves short of short of breath very easily.
Maybe this will help calm you down when you become anxious. ?

[Thalassa]

I find when I'm swimming for fun I can do it longer than when I'm trying to swim laps or work out with it. It's weird, and I don't know why it happens, but...*shrugs*

[Mermaid Tasia]

I was JUST talking about the same thing earlier today- breathing at a pool vs. the lake. I have asthma as well so I COMPLETELY get what you mean. I have found I think it is DEFINITELY from the chlorine. When I swam in a salt water pool, I had no issues. The indoor pool, LOTS of issues, and the Lake, I actually swim against the current very well with out getting out of breath. Focus more on the way you swim and less on how much you come up for air because once you are away from that much chlorine, you are fine!

[Lotus]

Sounds to me like it could be a combination of things- very warm water can wear you out quicker than colder water. That's why competition pools are on the cold side. Also, swimming early in the morning could be a problem if you're going on either an empty stomach or if you are too full. Try drinking a big glass of room temp water and eating something little like toast and an apple or something just to kind of get your body going. Also, stretch before you hop in the pool. It'll help get your circulation going and relax you if you're feeling a little weird with other people around. The chlorine could also be a big issue- health clubs and other highly used public pools tend to be really heavily chlorinated, and people with breathing issues and some skin conditions have a really tough time with it. I don't think the bend in your mono would pose too much trouble unless it's really really warped. Waves and rapids are pretty flexible, so it should be fine in motion. The foot insert thing could be another culprit- if you've been swimming with it in the fin for a while, the muscles in your legs have become used to it. Sometimes even small changes can throw off the way you are swimming, which can lead to easy fatigue and soreness. If the insert worked for you, stick with it.
I hope you figure out what's up, I'd hate for you to get frustrated mermaiding over this! I'm sure it'll work itself out tho.

[Mermaid Tasia]

I would also like to ask if anyone has any tips for a sliding monofin. I have the Youth Finis Wave, and swim socks, and my completely tightened strap still slides off my ankles. Does anyone know if adding a fabric tail over this will help it or make it worse? If I go any smaller I would be trying to work with a tiny kids fin, and that won't do for me. I am an US size 6 and about 5'3" so the kids fin would look a little silly.

[AniaR]

you could be actually have a reaction to chlorine in terms of breathing. In terms of pain, you may need to change your diet to accommodate your fitness! My partner works out all the time and started getting migraines. Turned out he wasn't getting enough of certain minerals. So he started taking meal supplements. I had the same thing happen to me!

[Echidna]

Concerning freediving (and tailswimming is a form of light freediving), asthma is one of the things that make it very hard.
Chlorine is exacerbating the problem.
I'd try to find a place without chlorine to swim.

And take it very slowly, don't overexert yourself.
Panic can indicate you are not getting enough oxygen.

[Bernardo]

Glad to know that you are into these things well what i feel is you can be a bit uncomfortable while doing that may be because of that you are having these issue with you,Just build confidence in you rest depends on your physicality i hope all goes well.