Crazy!
I do NOT collect rocks, sea shells, nor Aunt Jemima bottles to spray paint silver and display in my living room window.
NOR have I crocheted an apron for a dish-soap container friend bottle.
I do NOT wear a pair of scissors on a string around my neck for convenience, nor do I have a pair of panty hose tied from the chain pull of my bedroom light switch to my bedpost.
HOWEVER…
I HAVE been accused of being special.
One day a neighbor called to ask if I wanted to join her, and a few of her friends for a swim in the canal pictured above.
Being special, and NOT impulsive, I respond, `Let me think about it.´
It takes this FLORIDA girl
fifteen minutes to get her navel wet as she slowly enters a tropical swimming pool in August.
The current temperatures in Norway are below freezing, and the thought of ice bathing sounds GRUESOME!
Regardless,
Everything I do is planned out, rationalized, and carefully researched.
I KNOW!
Special.
AND I have discovered…
if one Googles long enough,
the answer you are searching for
WILL be found.
According to the 46th website I clicked,
ICE BATHING increases circulation, REDUCES CELLULITE, and strengthens the immune system.
I call my neighbor back proclaiming, `I´m in!´
For several months, we have been swimming every Thursday morning at seven.
We giggle like school girls.
And every week is a learning experience.
The darkness of a Norwegian winter is more intimidating than the cold.
We have learned headlights are helpful.
Did you know your feet will freeze fast to the ground in below freezing temps?
Yep, best bring an extra towel to stand on while drying off.
After swimming, when you begin to dress, gloves are the first thing to put on,
followed by socks.
Forget underwear,
you will suffer from frost bite over silly details.
In fact, my elder and wiser Wack-a-do compadres agree a swimsuit is a COMPLETE waste of time.
They swear you could freeze to death trying to get the frozen thing off afterwards, and suggest you save time by jumping straight into your wool clothing from skinny dipping without toweling off.
The droplets are frozen solid by the time you crab crawl up the bank to your pile of layers anyway.
The animated expression on my face says it all!
I am CRAZY SPECIAL.
Lesson learned this week: ALWAYS wear make-up!
Until now, MAKE-UP at 7:00 am in the dark when ice swimming did not seem necessary!?!
But newspaper reporters have shown up twice!
Annoying the hell out of the MAKE-UPLESS and the girls that would rather swim naked!!!
By the way…
Remember Ally McBeal and her theme song?
I believe this is MY theme song, click to listen:
Waylon Jennings- I´ve Always Been Crazy
Comments are closed.
Of course it burns cellulite – you’re shivering the whole time! You look awesome in that bathing suit BTW, I’m always suffering from pudgy tummy! ow long do you swim for?
The water is currently 32F. The only reason it isn’t frozen is because of the current. We swim like crazy and go nowhere, which increases the giggles. In this temp, I manage a max of 1 minute. So much fun!
Craziness! My husband said that a a friend he had from Norway used to do the same thing! I bet it is fun, though, once you survive the first couple of times!
OMG April!
It is so much fun! I have had ONE day that was too cold. Actually the water was fine, 3C that day, but it was -11C plus a wind chill in the air when we got out. (Wind is rare in Lillehammer)
Only my fingers bothered me, but they were so cold I couldn´t zip my jacket. When I got home, my poor fingers hurt so bad for about 10 minutes as they defrosted. This was when I learned gloves go on before ANY other item of clothing!!!
It hasn´t been that cold since, but rumor has it the Frost Goddess is about to get ugly!?!
I´m sorry but I just don´t see any cellulite on your perfect body which would lead to the necessity of swimming in freezing cold water…..BUT with that said, looks like you´re having a blast and the social part of this CRAZINESS must be the absolute best part of it all. And no offense either but girls who swim in freezing waters at 7AM in NORWAY shouldn´t give a flip whether they have make up on or not…you´re too tough for that!!!
)) Have a great weekend Crazy girl!!!
Amy!
I can feel a tingling sensation in my rear end and thighs for several hours after our dip, and am convinced this is increased circulation. I think this adds to the high of the insanity. It could simply be my butt thawing out:)
Whatever it is, we sure are having fun! Great to hear from you!
—-You Are One Hot Chick.
you look as if you are having a Blast!
WOW. I’d NEVER do that in Lake Superior…but some nuts do
Xxxx Kisssssssssssss
Kim,
This is so unlike me. I have honestly complained that swimming pools in both Florida and Spain are too cold in August! I have learned not to think about it, and simply throw myself out there. The post dip high is so energizing. Amazing what I get done on Thursdays! However, the fact that my ass looks less like an orange peel is what really gets me out there! And yes, I have not laughed like this in years!!!! Giggle therapy rocks!
Wow. I would have never, EVER, agreed to do that. But, dude. If it would make my cellulite disappear? I might actually give it a try.
Becky,
My rear end tingles for hours after our dip. It may simply be thawing out, but I am convinced I have reduced cellulite, over the past several months! But the best part is, we have so much fun!!!!!
Kim you are crazy & beautiful from the inside out.
This is a really wonderful story.
Terry
Thanks Terry. I love hearing from you. Any ice swimmers in your area? I highly suggest you join them! So much fun!!!!
Hugs my friend.
Kim…in men it causes major shrinkage.
Perhaps this explains why not one guy has asked to join us!?! But I’m thinking….who cares!!!!!? Life is short. Live!!!!!
Thanks for taking the time to comment Gaterbeerdude. I look forward to hearing from you again soon homeboy!
A true VIKING!! Hah!
Are you going to watch Brille tomorrow? Perhaps liveblog together? What do U think?
Planning to watch, if time permits!
Why have we not done that??????? the reduction of cellulite alone is worth it….not to mention the sheer fun, increase in metabolism and the WINE we would drink afterword!!!!! Can NOT WAIT for my next visit!!!!!
Don´t forget your swim shoes on your next trip over Darlo!!!!!
Looking forward!!!!!
I LOVE that you are doing this! I want to try!!! And I’ve always been curious about how one gets out of the water afterwards!
If you EVER find yourself in Lillehammer at 7am on a Thursday…..JOIN US!!!!
We have a dock where we swim. When you step off the dock, you are knee deep, so it isn´t difficult to step out of the water. You DO have to be sure footed because as you know water on snow turns slippery fast. But it is VERY do-able:)
Every day is a learning experience. Today I learned if I don´t unzip my jacket entirely when taking it off, and step out of it instead of the normal manner, it is easier to get it back on with frozen fingers!!!
Ah life gets better with each passing day!
Everything about this post is AMAZING!!!
“…reduces cellulite.” I’m in.
By the way special people don’t need makeup. You look great!
I love when you check in Metch! Thanks for stopping by. Eliane and I both are holding our breath for April´s release of season 2 of Shitty Fabulous Lives!!! We are HOOKED!
Klem! (hugs på Norsk)
Kimberly
I can see what it does for you! If I do it for a few months I would expect to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger when he was younger (I am an old married man, but I can fantasize!)
Dear Jon,
I have NOT laughed this much, nor had this much fun pushing my own insane boundaries since leaving the states. I have finally found my groove. It took eight very long years!!! Now, get out there Arnold, and find whatever it takes to start living again!
Klem, (hugs på Norsk)
Kimberly
This made me happy to read – good for you, Kimberly! I think I have just recently discovered my grove as well: walking. Not quite as adventurous, but after a 2 hr walk I am a changed person!
oops. MY GROOVE. I guess I have found my “grove” as well – up there in those mountains!
And for the record, Jon, you kill me. Let’s all go for it and then post pictures of the superheroes we become! Hah!
Ut på tur aldrig sur!!!!!
Klem,
K