SWIMMING CAPS - WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR ME!

I know anyone can write an article on any subject but what fascinates me is how a person that isn’t a true swimmer can tell you the true difference in swim caps. Yes, we can research a topic; until you actually wear each type of cap and test them out yourself, your first hand information can not be expressed.

Many of my clients have asked me over the years, “What cap is better to wear in the water?” I will give you the 411 on the three types of swimming caps (Latex, Silicone and Lycra) that are most widely used by swimmers.

Latex Caps

-          Made of rubber- Not for Latex Allergic swimmers

-          Less Expensive

-          Fits tightly/Stretches

-          Protects hair from damaging pool chemicals

-          Pulls your hair out

-          Easily ripped or damaged

Silicone Caps

-          Made of soft material

-          Moderate price

-          Slick so it must fit tightly

-          Protects hair from damaging pool chemicals

-          Unlikely to pull out your hair

-          More durable

Lycra Caps

-          Made of fabric- Bathing suit material

-          Most expensive

-          Looser fit/more comfortable

-          Hair will get wet- exposed to pool chemicals

-          Longer lifespan- Tearing is very rare/wear out before ripping.

I have worn all of the above caps throughout my swimming career. My thoughts on all three are as follows:

1)   Latex Caps- Don’t like Latex Caps at all!  You may ask, why such a strong opinion. All I can remember about wearing Latex Caps is my hair was pulled out all the time!  Thumbs down to this cap. Sorry Latex Cap industry. Hopefully I don’t end up like Oprah when she talked out against beef and ended up in Texas on trial. Naaaa. I’m no Oprah…..at least not yet!

2)   Silicone Caps- I like silicone caps because they don’t pull out your hair and they do keep your hair from the exposure to pool chemicals. But if you read my blog, “OH MY HAIR”, you will be informed about the two hair care companies I recommend to all my swimmers so the pool chemicals don't hurt your hair.

3)   Lycra Caps- I wear only Lycra Caps.  Even though it does not keep my hair dry, the hair care products I recommend in my blog, “OH MY HAIR”, makes me not really be bothered. I have relaxed and medium length hair, swim often and the chemicals have not damaged my hair.

So you can see all three caps are made of different materials, act differently to the hair and perform differently in the water. Your preference, price point and comfort will determine what swimming cap works best for you. Hope this helps with your swim cap questions.

See you in water!

http://www.swimswimswimisay.com/

WHERE'S THE GREASE

OK. Now that you stopped shaking your head or laughing your probably wondering what am I talking about; I will explain. Well for all of us that swim, dry skin is a problem that haunts everyone on a daily basis. For Caucasians, dry skin is a problem but due to their complexion, no one can really can tell by looking unless you examine their skin up close. Now take a person with melanin in their skin, all you have to do is look and you see the dryness. Nothing ever has to be spoken, just look. The words "ashy skin" just pops in the person's head and linger in their thoughts like the smell of brussel sprouts being cooked and that scent just never goes away. Sorry I hate brussel sprouts and that smell. Yuk!!!!

All kidding aside, I have been asked by many what do I use after a long day of teaching or swimming to help my skin not look and feel so dry. I actually use 3 different products with very different price points. Let me say I have used everyone of these products and I truly feel they work the best. Imagine, I've always been told I have such soft skin and I do. But what puzzled me more was when a man would complement me about my skin in my head I would think " what kind women's skin have you been feeling-SANDPAPER?"

The first is a product made by Kiehl's called Creme de Corps. I was fortunate to have a friend, Bernie,  purchase a very nice gift for me for my 40th birthday with many products in this very large box. Thinking back that was the best gift, thanks Bernie. Kiehl's has some of the best products for all types of skin, hair, men, women, children and now pets. The cost is higher than most other moisturizers but the Creme de Corps is fabulous and last forever. The largest bottle with a pump cost $70/33.8 oz. A little goes a long way and as I stated before this product last a long time. No perfume smell and soft to the touch. This one is my favorite. If you purchase products from Kiehl's, they will ask you what other products would you like to try. They will give you samples so you can try new things out and see if you like it before purchasing a larger sized item. Great marketing! I like to use Creme de Corps after my evening shower but I also keep a sample size in my hand bag.

My second recommendation is a product I also used off and on for years, Cetaphil. This product is recommended by Dermatologist and Pediatricians. It may not have the bells and whistles of the other two products I discuss but it works. This product seems to lock in /seal in the moisture. Cetaphil has a full line of lotions, creams, cleansers etc. Just visit their web site and read about each product and how they are to work. For example, Cetaphil Cream is very similar to the Lotion except the Cream prevents the recurrence of dryness and is a long lasting moisturizer. I actually keep a large lotion in my locker at the hospital because after a long day of washing my hands, I need something to make my hands not feel like sandpaper. I found Cetaphil 16 oz lotion at Target for @ $8.99. Great product for a great price.

The third product to make my list is any Shea Souffle by Carol's Daughter. The 16oz jar retails for @ $30.  The product is smooth, thick, soft to the touch and very light. It penetrates the skin well without leaving you all greased up. Carol's Daughter offers a number of scents such as Ocean, Almond Cookie, Estasy and Groove. What's also great about this product is that Lisa Price, the founder of Carol's Daughter, is always coming out with new products and retiring some of the others. This keeps you loving her Shea Souffles because you can't get bored and their is always something new to try. I also feel this product, plus any of her other products for hair, feet, hands, etc. are well worth the money spent.
I hope this helps you navigate the vast world of moisturizers. These are my recommendations that have worked for me. Experiment and see what keeps your skin all moist and baby soft.

See you in the Water.
http://www.swimswimswimisay.com/

Drowning and Wrist Pool Alarms

With the recent drowning of a 3 year old boy on Long Island, where I grew up, only makes every parent, child sitter or grandparent more aware of the dangers that are around us in the safety of our home environment. First my sympathy goes out to this family and all the families who have lost someone to drowning. A swimming pool is a great compliment to any home or community to be used by friends and family but unfortunately, a real danger surrounds this great body of water that all of us know on a hot summer day is the best way to cool off. To often we hear there was a gate around a pool but the child still got in. Children are quick and smarter than we think. In the blink of an eye, they are by your side and gone the next second.

As a swimming instructor for tots, children and adults, I believe in addition to all the safety equipment/safety tips for back yard pools, there is one additional item missing for the added safety of a small child- WRIST POOL ALARMS. I will be honest, have I ever used one-No- but think about it; it makes sense. The other alarms on the market are devices that detect a break in the water surface but birds and the wind can trigger it. This device is a wrist band that comfortably locks around your child’s wrist. A loud alarm sounds when your child’s wrist band is immersed in water.

For @ $157-$250, how can any responsible parent or pool owner that has small children around ignore this simple yet life saving device. Let’s be honest with each other, ALL of us have spent more on something that didn’t even last. A life is worth so much more than this small investment in the safety of a small person. Do your research and find a system that works for you, your family and guest. Green Turtle/Turtle Pool Alarm is one devise I am aware that offers the safety features needed.

Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death among children so why wouldn’t anyone invest not to have to deal with a tragedy that is no one’s fault!

In closing, I say to all who have had a tragedy of drowning shatter their life, it was not your fault. Guilt and blaming will not change the action but speaking out about water safety, life jackets and swimming instructions will help another family avoid the sadness your family has been dealing with.  If out of this tragedy you can save one life than the death of your loved one will not be in vain.

http://www.swimswimswimisay.com/

Make a Splash Foundation "MAKES A SPLASH" in NYC

What a great way to end an amazing week. The Make a Splash Foundation  made its final stop on their year long  tour in NYC on Friday, Novenber 19th. For those of you who are not familiar with the Make a Splash Foundation, I will briefly explain their role in minority swimming and the reduction in the drowning rates.

The Make a Splash Foundation is a "arm " of the USA Swimming Foundation dedicated to decreasing the drowning rates of children and specifically minorities. The statistics and most of the research done  informed us of how tragic and deadly drowning is to the minority population. The Make a Splash Foundation is dedicated to reducing the staggering numbers by helping to raise awareness and raise money to provide low cost or free swimming instruction to many urban and high minority areas through partnerships with local Make a Splash providers (swim swim swim I  SAY is a local provider).

Heading this initiative is Cullen Jones, the Gold Medal Olympic African-American Swimming, who almost drowned at a very young age. Cullen spoke very candidly about his experiences as being the only African-American swimmer most of the time in the pool and his quest to achieve his dream. Though Cullen Jones is the figure at the head this ship, many other individuals are also involved in this project. Past Olympians that I remember watching win medals as a young girl are also lending their support. Let me stress the community of past swimmers of notoriety, who are Caucasian, are equally as concerned about these drowning rates. If you ever doubted it for a minute, watching and hearing the emotion from them proved that race, color or socio-economic background was the last thing on any of their minds. Being the only female, minority owned swimming company located in Upper Manhattan/Harlem in the room on Friday morning, makes me a very good judge of their dedication and commitment. To hear Rowdy Gaines and Mel Stewart speak passionately about their concerns proves their involvement, along with Cullen Jones, is true to their hearts. Imagine these Olympians getting into the water with kids that do not know how to swim and running clinics to teach them the basics of swimming and water safety.

I would like take a moment and speak about Rowdy Gaines. He introduced a video of a mother, Wanda Butts and the unfortunate story of the drowning involving her son, Josh. Rowdy expressed how he has seen the video many times and he still can not hold back an emotional feeling when watching the video. Wanda Butts turned her life changing experience into a positive force and founded, The Josh Project, in Toledo, Ohio, to help provide swimming instruction and safety lessons to children who do not know how to swim. I ask everyone before you leave this blog, please take a moment to go to the above web site, and read about her efforts in making a change. I had the pleasure of speaking with Wanda Butts this evening and let me convey what Wanda and I spoke about - "Josh did not die in vain because of all of our efforts." The Make a Splash Foundation is helping Wanda make sure in conjunction with her own efforts that Josh will be remembered and that he did not die in vain.

I sit here on a Sunday evening after teaching swimming this morning, and just want to thank the Make a Splash Foundation, USA Swimming Foundation, and The Josh Project for their dedication to making a difference in the reduction of drowning victims. As a local partner of the Make a Splash Foundation and a swimmer myself, swim swim swim I SAY hopes one day most of the content of this blog pertaining to drowning will no longer be fact and primarily part of our past. I urge all to visit the Make a Splash web site and make any donation to further the cause to end the drowning rates of children and minorities.

See you in the water!
http://www.swimswimswimisay.com/