One of the activities I was really looking forward to on our 50 day cruise was being able to enjoy the two pools and hot tubs on the 15th deck of our ship. For those who knew me as a kid, you might well ask : “ What happened to her? She never liked to be in water more than thigh high.” Some thought it was because I didn’t want to get my hair wet but in reality, it was getting my face wet and water in my ears that caused me so much anxiety. I thought “how would one swim without getting one’s head at least partially submersed.” Well there is an answer to that question but it came to me long after my childhood and a lot of ridicule.
This is how it happened.
We were planning our cruise vacation and I was concerned about weight gain given the quantity and quality of food and drink we would be tempted to consume. My angst coincided with a visit to a medical specialist for ME/CFS. When I voiced my concern about finding an exercise that would mitigate the possible over consumption of calories on board the ship, she immediately came up with a suggestion.
“ I think I have a solution for you. The best exercise for you is to walk in water that is deep”. I was hoping she had said “walking on water” as I was not too keen on being in water over my head. “What you need to do is find a life jacket that will hold you upright in the water. Almost any type will do. It will allow you to walk in the water with very little impact on your body. Start out slowly and gradually increase the length of your workout.”
Wow, that actually sounded like fun but could I pull it off……..? My enthusiasm prompted me to purchase a life jacket, one that would fit in my already overstuffed suitcase. I chose an inflatable jacket that I thought would be perfect.
After boarding the ship and settling into our stateroom, I decided it was time to try out this nouveau exercise. I had nowhere to practice beforehand so the ship’s pool would be the venue for my first attempt at walking in water. It was with much excitement that I unfolded the jacket and began to inflate the front compartments that would keep me upright and floating. My effort to fill the flotation device nearly brought me to a state of unconsciousness. However I soon managed to breathe normally again and I was able to fit it on, pull up the zipper and wrap and tie the straps per instructions. I had straps leftover that were a metre long but I had no idea where they were supposed to go so I just tied them around my waist. I was ready for my new adventure.
I just knew this piece of equipment (later known as “piece of sh%$#*(_+ t) was going to elevate my experience in the water to a whole new level.
With great anticipation I carefully lowered myself into the pool and let go of the handrails on the ladder. To my horror, I suddenly found myself in the opposite position that was recommended……my bottom was up in the air and my head was submersed face down in the water. I was pretty sure this was not the position in which I supposed to be. Fortunately most of the passengers were still unpacking or had hit the bars so the pool was almost empty of observers of this fiasco. The bad news was that I had to figure out how to get myself out of this situation. There was no lifeguard to come to my rescue. Fortunately panic is a great precursor to adrenaline so I managed, I don’t know how, to extricate myself from my “life saver”. (If you are under 50 in age you won’t know that term.) I think undoing the zipper might have been my saving grace. How could this have happened and look at my hair!!!!!
As soon as I was upright, it was time to figure out what happened. The only inflatable panels were in the front of the jacket….nothing in the back. That should have been my first clue.
The current configuration sure wasn’t working so perhaps the flotation panels should be on the back…..So I switched the jacket around and my husband kindly zipped me up, a much appreciated solution. (I could tell he was trying really hard not to laugh!) Because the zipper was now in the back instead of the front, an extra pair of hands was required to zip it up. Wearing the jacket backwards, to my surprise, worked to get my head out of the water but I still couldn’t get my backside into a downward position so that I could float and walk at the same time. At this point, I began to wonder if my doctor had ever tried this exercise. The deflated jacket made it home but it has remained abandoned in the back of a closet. I think it will disappear during the spring house cleaning and purge. I hate throwing things out but that jacket’s days are numbered.
Since the fiasco with the flotation device, I have found that I can float and walk on (whoops I meant “in”) water entirely on my own. I have analyzed the situation and now realize why I can float around the pool as if I were sitting in a chair. Arm movements provide the propulsion to move me . Also it is a question of balance but mostly ballast that keeps me afloat. And, goodness knows, I have plenty of ballast which, at the moment, seems to be in the right places (below the waist) for floating……… Lately, though, I have acquired some new curves and all of them are in the wrong places which is something I’m going to have to work on. I’ll keep you posted.
Lynda
Carina Nebula 12″x 16″ $200 includes tax and shipping
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