I swimmed swimmingly just for you guys!!
While I finished up at work, I had two hunks of GH bread with Nuttzo that I brought in for the office to taste. Think it was a big hit! The bread + nut butter was the perrrrfect filling afternoon snack.
Once home, I packed up my lunch, answer>ed some emails and I was off by 5:15.
I think my daily bike rides to the gym are my favorite part of the day. I enjoy them SO MUCH! Today I smelled dried magnolia leaves, which reminded me of playing as a child, wood chips, and hose water smell. Mmmm! Playtime!
I arrived at the pool………
JUST IN TIME FOR SWIM TEAM TO KICK ME OUT!!!!!!!! ARGH!!!
The schedule must be out of date.
Thankfully they left one late in the lap pool and two in the kids pool open for adult swim and I was able to share a lane with a man. It was quite claustrophobic because I was up against a wall and kept hitting my arm on the handicap lift. My chest was actually cramping from having to keep my stroke so narrow.
But somehow [somehow] I managed to swim for 40 minutes!!!!!!! I just kept going – nice and steady with a few sprints in there. I have decided that swimming goes faster if I do NOT count my laps, so I just swam and the clock struck 30 before I knew it. I decided to do 2 more sets of 6 to total 40 minutes.
I rarely wear my heart rate monitor when I exercise these days, but today I decided to wear it into the pool.
- Time: 40 minutes
- Max HR: 130
- Avg HR: 109
- Kcals Burned: 170
Not too impressive, huh. You’d think you’d get more bang for your splash! My HR was in the 145’s when I was biking up hills to get there. But like yoga, I think the benefits of swimming go beyond the calorie burn so I’m still 100% keeping it in my rotation.
Shower –> Bike –> Matt rocks!
Spaghetti was on the table!
He grilled up some eggplant
Sauteed that with zucchini, Garlic Gold and herbs and added some Bertolli sauce to fill the gaps.
I LOVE EGGPLANT!
Served over a small portion of whole wheat penne
After dinner we watched 30 Rock (!) and GOSSIP GIRL!! OMGGGGGGGGGGG!! JUICY! I cannot believe the ending. Can’t believe it. Best show ever!!
I’m hoping to watch LOST from start to finish later this summer. I think I’ll like it (plot twists are my cup of java) and I’ve never seen it!
Might go have a bite of chocolate for dessert, then getting in bed for the first long night’s sleep I’ve had in ages!
Jessica @ The Process of Healing says
The spaghetti dish sounds gooood! And that surprises me that swimming doesn’t burn any more calories than that because it’s SO HARD!
I haven’t watched the GG finale yet… excitement!
Meg @ Be Fit Be Full says
The benefits of swimming absolutley go beyond the calorie burn. It is such a great form of exercise! I’ve read that swimming leads to the growth and strength of lean muscle and muscle growth means metabolism growth, which increases the ability to burn fat consistently. Of course I haven’t done extensive research though 🙂
So jealous of the dinner that Matt prepared! Perhaps he can give my husband a few lessons?
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
kath! i went to great harvest for the first time today:
http://theactorsdiet.wordpress.com/2010/05/18/lynn-great-harvest-is-grrrreat/
would never have gone if i hadn’t heard about so many times on your blog, so thank you!
Kath says
Wheee!
mal says
I LOVE EGGPLANT, TOO! 😉
Daniel says
Dinner looks great! I’m dying to get some eggplant when I finally get out of the dorms this Thursday. Do you salt yours and let it drain before cooking?
Kath says
Not usually
JessicaE says
I Love Lost! I think its funny you want to just start it when am freaking out that there are only two episodes left! Its great, but just expect to be confused a LOT of the time 😀
Kim says
On the swimming and HR issue, there’s some phenomenon that actually keeps your HR somewhere between 10-15 bpm slower in the pool than on land, so it’s definitely misleading. My recollection is that between the increased pressure that the water provides against your skin (which causes the blood flow to be more efficient), the temperature, and some automatic reflex that we all have around water, the heart rate stays quite a bit lower in water than on land. I used to do water aerobics and was always mystified as to why my heart rate was so much lower, even though my perceived rate of exertion was similarly high to other activities I did. The instructor told me about this and I remember googling it to confirm and learn more about it. As you can probably tell, it’s been a while since I last dusted off that random piece of knowledge. But, I’m sure with a quick search, you can read up on it, too! Good job hitting the swimming lanes tonight!
Kath says
Verrrrrry interesting!! I need to research this more!
Tay says
I’ve researched on this too, and read quite a bit! It’s super interesting. But heart rate, calorie burn, or whatever – swimming builds awesome muscles 😉
Anne says
Hi Kath–a good friend of mine introduced me to your blog and I really love it! I too am a Davidson grad (2000) and I am also very passionate about fitness and healthy living. I’m very excited to try some of your recipes! Thanks!
Anne
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
Eggplant is my #1 veg.
I haven’t seen Lost either (minus the first episode) and I am totally a start to finish (all in order) type of person. Maybe I’ll join ya!
Laura says
OMG gossip girl!!! chuck bass….i cant believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stacey@http://stacey-healthylife.blogspot.com/ says
Biking is kind of like running. It gives you the time and peacefulness to clear your mind and just go.
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
Yay for your awesome swim! Great job!
Cynthia (It All Changes) says
I love grilled egg plant! I need to make some soon. I hope to find one at the farmers market.
Food Makes Fun Fuel says
There’s something so rich about eggplant and marinara. I had it for lunch!
Jenny says
Glad you were able to get your swim on!
Kati says
Good luck with LOST! That is one confusing show! :>
Heather says
oh no sorry about the swim team!
Erin says
I’m so in love with eggplant recently. It’s always been something I enjoyed but I’ve made it in a couple dishes this week and loved it, especially in Moroccan-themed dishes.
Jenn (Jenn's Menu and Lifestyle Blog) says
It’s a cold, rainy day here so I was thinking about eggplant. That looks so good!! 🙂
Jenn
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
I watched the first 5 seasons of LOST last summer and I got hooked!
Sara @ myfancytuna.blogspot.com says
Those veggies look amazing! Eggplant is one of my favorites, although I ate it for the first time less than a year ago!! It was part of the first “real” dinner I cooked for my family, haha.
I definitely think you burned more calories during 40 minutes of swimming…there’s no way it was only 170!! Maybe I’m just saying that because my stomach is a black pit after I swim and I’m usually left exhausted after a good hour of intervals and sprints……who knows?
kaila says
OMG I LOVE LOST! i am watching it right now! so suspensful it is one of the most ingenious and unpredictable shows ever created you will absolutely looooooove it! you must watch it from the beginning though or you will be really confused lol 🙂 i highly recommend! please let me know what you think when you start watching it…its addicting
Babycakes says
Kath, I just started watching lost on Hulu about 2 weeks ago. I never had much of an interest but decided to watch the pilot episode to see what all the hype was about. Let me just say, OH. MY. GOD. Hands down, the best show ever. I’m completely obsessed. It’s definitely confusing but the plot twists are awesome. I literally can’t stop watching. Can’t wait to hear how you like it!!!!!
Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter says
I picked up my first loaf of GH bread today. I was thinking of you the entire time I was there. I’m so excited to devour it.
Kath says
Yay! Which flavor!?
Stacy Grows Healthy says
Great job in the pool! I know what you mean about counting the laps makes the time drag on.
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
That’s interesting– I would have thought you would have burned more calories with that long of a swim!
Yummy eggplant!
Erin says
Ooo great way to utilize eggplant! Good stuff!
Alycia @ Fit n Fresh says
that looks DELISH! i definitely need to be making this soon. thanks for sharing (:
Deva (Voracious Vorilee) says
I love eggplant in pasta sauce – sooooo good! It has such a good flavor with the tomatoey basily sauciness of the sauce 🙂
Lisa says
I hated sharing the pool! I just wanted one lame to swim laps…pools are over booked with activities in my opinion.
Morgan @ Life After Bagels says
I just started getting into swimming . . . I’ve been twice and I’m a horrible swimmer!
AND – last week went I went to the pool I arrived during an aquafit class . . . which was technically my fault because I didn’t look at the schedule. But I went on the bike for 20 minutes before the swim.
Sami says
Good title for this post! The past participle of swim confuses me all the time. . .It’s like swing,swung, swang.
J. says
http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/Calories-burned-in-30-minutes-of-leisure-and-routine-activities.htm
This says that you burn 600-660 cal an hour swimming.
Kath says
That chart says 180 kcal for someone 125 lbs for 30 minutes. Sounds pretty accurate to me since I was 170 for 40 minutes and am in good shape and a few less pounds.
I don’t believe 600 unless you’re sprinting the whole time!
marie says
OMG you would love LOST. It is the BEST show I have ever watched ever. I cannot believe it’s ending.
Kellie says
I would have a hard time not eating bread 24/7 if my husband worked at Great Harvest. There is nothing tastier than fresh bread.
Carrie (Love Healthy Living) says
Why oh why can’t I have a husband who cooks? 🙂
Megan says
Wow that meal looks delish! I think eggplant is such a great diverse vegetable that can substitute big things like meat and pasta in any dish.
Amber K says
I have to worst time convincing myself to swim and/or do yoga because of the low calorie burn. It is just so motivating to see me kicking high-gear with my heart rate humming. But you’re right, low-intensity exercise has benefits of its own!
Annie@stronghealthyfit says
I started watching LOST on DVD a few seasons into it and got completely sucked into it. I got caught up SO fast!! Great show. You’ll waste so much time watching it 🙂
Wei-Wei says
Matt seems to be very sweet lately! I wonder if he’s got a surprise for you…? 🙂
Katie says
Kath, glad you got to swim! Please be thankful that you can swim!
I have a disorder that affects my nerves and swimming is the only exercise I can do. Cant even do situps or anything else. When I first became disabled, I didn’t know what was going on and lamented not being able to run all the time, now I can’t even go grocery shopping. I have come to appreciate swimming and any exercise I can do so much and I hope everyone can do that too!
Kath says
Given that I’ve had such trouble with my foot and running, I am very appreciative of exercise! But you’re right, swimming should get more credit 🙂
Camille says
I’m not a giant pasta fan, but yours always looks so good that it makes me crave it 🙂
Lisa @ bakebikeblog says
YUMMY Dinner!
And I have been meaning to rent the seasons of lost on DVD too! I missed most of it on tv but it is a series that I think I would like 🙂
Anne @ Food Loving Polar Bear says
I’ve never watched LOST either, but my friends are raving about it.. maybe I should have a marathon this summer too?! 😀
Hannah says
I hope you DEFINITELY had some chocolate for dessert! Nothing helps having a good, happy sleep better than dark chocolate before bed (I should know, I do it every night :P)
Freya @ Brit Chick Runs says
Argh I STILL haven’t seen season2 of Gossip Girl!! Sounds like it’s going to get good…!!
Well done on the swim 🙂
Liz, RD says
Have you ever worn your heart rate monitor through a yoga class? I am so tempted out of curiosity but I feel like it might get in my way!
Kath says
I’ve worn it a few times and burn about 100 calories per 30 minutes, which sounds about right to me. But again, that’s just cardiovascular and the muscle building/after burn is probably more than that.
Sarah says
I’m glad you were able to get in your swim in!
I was able to complete a yoga practice last night, even though I did have to do it at home.
Yay for us!
Melissa Cari says
You and Matt really create the most delicious meals. Every recipe I’ve tried from your site has been a hit! I just created the blue cheese pasta recipe you created awhile back on the “30 ways in 30 days” site. It was SO GOOD. You can see my recipe here http://milesformarkets.com/2010/05/18/a-day-of-market-eats/ I can’t wait to try this eggplant dish!
Melissa Cari says
Oh and WATCH LOST. I’m actually a bit jealous that you have it to look forward to. I wish I could start all over! 🙂 Just make sure you can dedicate a good amount of time to it…as in, you might want to wait until winter because you may never want to leave the house! If you love plot twists, you’ll love lost.
Therese says
I think you and I have the same pot collection…
LOVE the idea with the eggplant and zucchini as pasta toppings! I think I shall steal the idea!
I LOVE Lost! I got my boyfriend into it last year and are just NOW caught up with only two episodes left (technically one now but we’ll watch it on Thursday). If you love plot twists, you’ll love Lost!
FoxFire says
Quick Question- how do you grill your eggplant???
We tried it last weekend and it tasted like either mushy charcoal or crispy charcoal! It was awful. I sliced it in 1/2 inch slices and drizzled with olive oil, then grilled until some were a bit too crispy and some a bit undone, and some looked perfect. They all tasted bad though.
Help!
🙂
Kath says
Sounds like your heat was just a bit too hot!
Lily @ Lily's Health Pad says
I re-watched the entire season of LOST last summer. There are a lot of episodes, but it can be done! You’ll like watching it all at once. Watching it on tv makes it difficult to keep up with the one week break between episodes. Once you start watching, you wont want to stop!!
Emilie says
Question: Have you ever read “The Kind Diet”? I am reading it now, mostly out of curiosity, and in the book most of the advice is pretty sound I find, until the part where it says ‘nightshade’ vegetables are really not that good for you. This came to my mind when I saw that you had some eggplant for dinner. The book explains that these vegetables interfere with the absorption of vitamins and minerals???? This really bummed me out as I LOVE tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, etc.
What is your take on this? (I’m asking obviously because I’m hoping it’s crap)
Kath says
I haven’t read The Kind Diet, but that sounds like bologna to me…
Christin says
LOST is hands-down the best show ever. It’s very relationship-centric, but with some mysticism, sci-fi, time, travel and some religious themes running throughout. Absolutely fascinating.
Plus, some really good looking guys – just as an added bonus. 🙂
After it’s over, I’m going to watch it all again. I’m sure there’s so much more I’ll pick up on the second time around.
There are also some interesting blogs centered around LOST. A google search will reveal, but I really enjoy Film Fodder, and Doc Jensen’s column on EW.
If you have the time to read them, that is. Which you probably don’t. But clearly I’m somewhat obsessed. 🙂
Allison K says
Lost is the BEST!
We started watching it on Netflix, and opted not to watch the final season on tv….
So we are watching it all again on DVD and then are going to watch the final season when it comes on DVD.
ashley says
Heart rate is lower in water due to the hydrostatic pressure of the water – the heart doesn’t have to pump as hard because the pressure exerted. Also due to the fact that the water helps regulate body temp so again the heart doesn’t have to work as hard, and also something about gas entering a liquid more easily under pressure, so oxygen enters the blood more easily while swimming. That’s why water exercise is so helpful for the obese population because they can begin an exercise program with a bit less strain on the heart. You should expect that your target heart rate will be 15-20 bpm less in water. I’m pregnant and even my resting heart rate has increased. I have loved swimming because my dr. tells me to keep my heart rate under 140 and I can do that better swimming than running.
Kath says
Cool. Do you think that means it’s less of a calorie burn because calorie burn and oxygen consumption are linearly related?
Stacie @ Imperfectly Healthy says
Gossip Girl was AWESOME!Lots of twists there at the end! Can’t wait until it comes back!
And I really think you’d like Lost! I watched the first 5 seasons on Netflix this year. I actually think it’s probably the best way to watch it since you won’t get so lost (ha!) with all the plots twists and such.
Natalie Rae says
You will LOVE Lost… promise!! I just watched seasons 1-5 a couple months ago on Netflix, and I was hooked from the first episode. When you watch without commercials or season breaks everything makes so much more sense and there is no waiting. I am planning on watching season 6 next fall with my fiance when he returns from Iraq- I can’t wait… I feel like such a dork loving Lost now but! it’s OK! 🙂
Brittney says
I LOVE Lost! It’s a great show, I think you’ll like it. You might want to get Matt to watch it with you, because it’s fun to have someone to analyze everything with along the way 🙂 I’m excited for Sunday’s finale! Can’t believe it’s almost over.
Sabina says
How were you sharing the lane? It sounds like you each took a side. If so, I’ll bet that was claustrophobic! Is it possible to swim up one side, down the other? This makes sharing a lane sooo much easier. or… maybe they’re just narrow lanes!
I need to get back into swimming. Your blog is pushing me to get to the pool! Thanks! 🙂
Kath says
I hate circle swimming!! I always catch up to the person in front of me. I prefer side-by-side.
Lorin says
OMG! The ending was crazy! Throughout the whole show it was some twist and turns that you could potentially see coming, but that ending, it came out of nowhere! Now we have to wait till Fall?! I watch Lost, it’s pretty good but some episodes kinda just go on and on. I’m excited for the series finale, ahh this sunday!
Lorin says
OMG! The Gossip Girl ending was crazy! Throughout the whole show it was some twist and turns that you could potentially see coming, but that ending, it came out of nowhere! Now we have to wait till Fall?! I watch Lost, it’s pretty good but some episodes kinda just go on and on. I’m excited for the series finale, ahh this sunday!
Lorin says
oops sorry for the double message
Mary says
HR and swimming. Yes, just add 10% to your HR and that is closer to what it should be for your workout. It’s not all about HR. It is perceived exertion. Oh, add some extra for swimming in choppy water with all those kids who zoom around. Keep swimming!