Bouyancy: Hope may float. Me? Not so much...

My pool goes below my minimum swim temp (80F) from about Nov-April although we keep it 'open' year round.  I have friends who will swim in Feb/Mar from Canada, but I'm a Floridian. What can I say. 
 
A funny thing happened when I ventured into the water this spring.    I actually have to work to stay afloat.  Since October, I know I've changed by body composition a lot, but I hadn't realized how much.  I jump into the deep end of my pool and go to the bottom, and I actually have to swim back up like when I was a kid.  It's a really odd sensation after 3 decades of 'positive bouyancy.' 

I'm a strong swimmer -- I swam competitively for a decade until I realized at about 15 that I was 5'2" and always going to be 5'2". I had just forgotten that you actually have to tread water to stay afloat when you're not carrying around much extra fat.   I actually feel like I can get a workout in the pool, now.  For years, between being so 'floaty' and being an efficient swimmer, It didn't do a whole lot for me.  I could kind of cruise without having to work too hard.



 

 I don't swim!

I "Prevent Drowning with Slight Forward Momentum"

I had the same issue just recently and I was shocked that I could sink!!!  First time in 20 years that happened!! 

I grew up with a pool in my backyard and come from a family of competitive swimmers and divers. I always loved to swim and considered myself a strong swimmer. Last weekend I was visiting my parents and I told my mom that I don't think I was ever such a great swimmer, I was just buoyant. OMG! swimming is WORK now... I never knew...

80* Pool water minimum??? That is like swimming in piss! lol... Fat floats really well, so as we lose it, we sink. Get a good kick in the water to help with that. In 6 months I want to rename you "Flipper".... Git er Dun!!!