Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Do you enjoy swimming?

Nope. I've never been able to master a simple thing like treading water. My son, on the other hand, swims on his high school team 😉

I've always loved anything aquatic, including swimming. I wasn't competitive  enough to race, but I enjoyed distance swimming. To support my lower back injuries, I swam 2 miles 2 times per week in the pool, once doing a 4 mile swim for charity. This went on for 40 years, and in my 60's I added 800 metres of rescue strokes to maintain my life saving qualifications.

Unfortunately human bodies wear out, and all those shoulder rotations have contributed to worn rotator cuffs, with arthritis, cartilage and tendon wear causing both shoulders to be frozen. After 18 months out of the pool, my physio has me back swimming, limiting me to 1000 metres a session, hoping to recover some shoulder movement range. Hopefully I will be able to keep swimming all my life.

Hugs,

Allie

I picked up swimming for fitness and as an excuse to shave body hair.

I like it but wish I had sufficient girl mode to wear one piece when doing it.

I love swimming. :laugh:

I started at aa very young age because I had a crooked spine and the doctors suggested swimming. So there I started, at 12, swimming at least twice a week, then 3 times and then as much as I can. Spine problems disapeared, but I kept on swimming, I just can't live without water.

That helped me get my water and sea rescue certifications and get my first work as a lifeguard, and now I dive, surf and enjoy the water as much as possible.

I used to go swimming every so often at the local pool (the river that my city is beside is so shallow that if I go swimming at the beach, I have to literally walk half way out into the river before my 6'5" frame can swim without scrapping bottom.  Otherwise the water is just below my knees.  Unfortunately, half way out is also right in the boat lanes, so it's not safe!), however since the pool was shut down for Covid I haven't been back (Covid then after the restrictions were lifted the city decided to renovate and repair the pool for about a year).  Plus my illness, I haven't gone in about 5-6 years.  Plus with my Bariatric surgery in the next few months, I'm waiting to buy a woman's bathing suit until after my surgery and lost my weight.

Swimming is one of the best things you can do. Back in the mists of time I would regularly swim a couple of Km's several times a week. And when joining the Royal Navy.. obviously it was a requirement. After losing the use of my legs a long time ago, I figured that was something I would never likely do again. But never say never. I am sort of swimming a few times a week now, thanks to my local pool. It's not how I learned as a kid... but I am at home in the water, and I am making it work.

Yes I love it. If you never learned how... you are missing out on one of the absolute best forms of exercise you can ever do. Not to mention it brings a certain kind of peace, just being in the water.

Hi Everyone

Here are two stories about my love for swimming.

Swimming story number 1 (https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,248375.msg2273441.html#msg2273441)

Swimming story number 2 (https://www.susans.org/index.php/topic,247190.msg2266599.html#msg2266599)

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator

If you want to get in shape but never learned how to swim... do it. You won't regret it.

Quote from: Anne_lifetrip on September 03, 2025, 01:45:22 AMI love swimming. :laugh:

I started at aa very young age because I had a crooked spine and the doctors suggested swimming. So there I started, at 12, swimming at least twice a week, then 3 times and then as much as I can. Spine problems disapeared, but I kept on swimming, I just can't live without water.

That helped me get my water and sea rescue certifications and get my first work as a lifeguard, and now I dive, surf and enjoy the water as much as possible.

I am glad you enjoy swimming.

I've never liked swimming. I got stuck swimming all four years of high school, and hated it, I'm a terrible swimmer, too.

The only sport I was good at[unless you count pool and fishing]. Loved it as a kid until our swimming  baths were demolished. I was too nervous  to  swim in the sea.
Wouldn't  dare go to a swimming  pool today

Quote from: Sephirah on October 03, 2025, 06:33:36 PMSwimming is one of the best things you can do. Back in the mists of time I would regularly swim a couple of Km's several times a week. And when joining the Royal Navy.. obviously it was a requirement. After losing the use of my legs a long time ago, I figured that was something I would never likely do again. But never say never. I am sort of swimming a few times a week now, thanks to my local pool. It's not how I learned as a kid... but I am at home in the water, and I am making it work.

Yes I love it. If you never learned how... you are missing out on one of the absolute best forms of exercise you can ever do. Not to mention it brings a certain kind of peace, just being in the water.

At this point, I'm also considering the time line with my surgery, since even clothing  in general I've only picked up the odd thing, because it's looking like my surgery might be in December or January (maybe February), so I don't want to spend all that money on clothes that I'm only going to wear for a short period of time.

However, as a kid, I hated the deep end of the pool.  However, as I grew, I grew out of that and now I like swimming in the deep end.  Plus every so often I like going to the Kanata Wave Pool and swimming when they make the waves.

Quote from: big kim on October 04, 2025, 02:17:22 AMThe only sport I was good at[unless you count pool and fishing]. Loved it as a kid until our swimming  baths were demolished. I was too nervous  to  swim in the sea.
Wouldn't  dare go to a swimming  pool today

The sea is a whole different kettle of fish, so to speak. I know many, many people who could do endless laps in a swimming pool, but the idea of the open ocean scared the bejeezus out of them. Even people who joined the navy thinking it would be the exact same thing only... bigger. It's a very real fear. The fear is what's underneath you, or above you. It's a fear of the unknown. Which is one of the primordial human fears. Too many "Jaws" movies, for a lot of folks. And for some, just that vast expanse of water is overwhelming. For others it's seeing gigantic waves. It's okay while you have boundaries. And thinking you have an edge you can reach. And doesn't have weather, lol.

I will say... seeing rain on the ocean is a kind of magical thing. Without the wind it's enchanting. The giant waves from a storm force gale... not so much. Which is why I spent my naval career under them, lol. But I get that fear very much.

What's stopping you today, Kim?

Quote from: Sephirah on October 16, 2025, 05:02:56 PMThe sea is a whole different kettle of fish, so to speak. I know many, many people who could do endless laps in a swimming pool, but the idea of the open ocean scared the bejeezus out of them. Even people who joined the navy thinking it would be the exact same thing only... bigger. It's a very real fear. The fear is what's underneath you, or above you. It's a fear of the unknown. Which is one of the primordial human fears. Too many "Jaws" movies, for a lot of folks. And for some, just that vast expanse of water is overwhelming. For others it's seeing gigantic waves. It's okay while you have boundaries. And thinking you have an edge you can reach. And doesn't have weather, lol.

I will say... seeing rain on the ocean is a kind of magical thing. Without the wind it's enchanting. The giant waves from a storm force gale... not so much. Which is why I spent my naval career under them, lol. But I get that fear very much.

What's stopping you today, Kim?

Not passing.  I'm 6'2" big build broad shoulders square face. Also the current  hostility  to trans women.

I liked when I was a kid. Have not done it in years.

I have a bikini. Wish there was someplace I'd dare wear it.

Quote from: big kim on October 17, 2025, 02:59:06 AMNot passing.  I'm 6'2" big build broad shoulders square face. Also the current  hostility  to trans women.

Quote from: Tig58072 on October 18, 2025, 03:10:58 PMI liked when I was a kid. Have not done it in years.

I have a bikini. Wish there was someplace I'd dare wear it.

Yeah I thought the same. But people literally don't care as much as you think they do. They are too busy being self-conscious themselves. Don't let that stop you doing something you enjoy. Confidence comes from inside. It really does. If you aren't hung up on something then no one else will be. I know it's hard, and a giant leap of faith, but it can really pay to do something you don't think you can do. Loads of women are over 6 feet these days, Kim. And I promise you that most people at a swimming pool aren't focused on what you look like. Once you get in the water, it doesn't even matter. If anything there's a grudging respect that you're there to work out. Because a very small number of people bother these days.

See it as a challenge. To prove to yourself that you can do something you didn't think you could. And after, when it goes fine, look at what happened and what, actually, you were worried about.

I am glad that so many enjoy being in the water.


Have any of you been in a natural hot springs?

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on October 19, 2025, 08:39:17 PMI am glad that so many enjoy being in the water.


Have any of you been in a natural hot springs?

Once, while doing cold weather training in Iceland. It's... weird. It kind of broke my brain.

Quote from: ChrissyRyan on October 19, 2025, 08:39:17 PMI am glad that so many enjoy being in the water.


Have any of you been in a natural hot springs?

Many times. I enjoy it.

In the city of Hot Springs, SD, there are seven "mineral springs", each with its own unique combination of minerals. At Evans Plunge, they use the hot springs to supply the water for their pools and spas. The area has been popular throughout history as a place to go for healing. The local VA hospital and Old Soldiers Home there would bring veterans to Evan's Plunge for therapy.

Sadly, the owners hit some hard times financially just before COVID, and put it up for sale. The city of Hot Springs passed a funding bill and purchased it to keep it open.

https://www.evansplunge.com/