Thank you for the tip :-)

mrsjatty

A week or so ago I was reading a thread in here, I can't find it again but wanted to say thank you to those that suggested this to another member. I have low blood pressure and find swimming the best exercise for me. I started about 7 weeks ago back in the pool after many years out. I started walking up and down my local Y pool that is 25 m. Slowly I started mixing in some breast stroke and the odd freestyle. Once a week I see the adult squad going through their paces and am resolved this will be me one day I kept trying more and more freestyle. Not overly successfully. I was breathing every 4 strokes to the left only. I always felt I could not right breathe and that was just how it was. Last week after reading advice to breathe every 3 strokes alternating left and right breathing to increase stamina. I can't belive the difference it is amazing, I have gone from struggling with 200m free to doing 500 comfortably, I still alternate one breast one free so am doing 1000m all up. Some advice and confidance to push myself has been the key. So thank you for the advice, I'm really happy and feel squad might come sooner than I thought but it is still at least 25kg away weight wise. After listening to a PT tell me swimming is not effective for weight loss because of buoyancy, I can't wait to prove him wrong, I am losing weight, getting fitter and feeling so much better in my head. Chlorine is becoming my drug of choice lol

juliet3455

Good job Amber My PT encouraged me to take up swimming due to its low impact on joints and great cardio/exercise benefits. Swimming has been very important for my success. Small incremental gains in technique will give you great increases in time/distance. Check into the 2015 Swim Goals ( http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10046279/2105-swim-goals/p1) read through the pages and then set yourself a goal or two for the year ( distance/lessons/technique etc) which helps in motivation and planning.

Its official You now qualify as "A Swimmer" with the comment "Chlorine is becoming my drug of choice lol ". But watch out for the dreaded "chlorine withdrawl" that happens when you miss your planned swim.

Macstraw

Great news, Amber!!!! As Juliet pointed out, swimming is a great exercise because it is so low impact on the joints. Other benefits include cardiovascular improvements & that it works all the muscle groups.....

Tamois

And of course it'll help with weightloss if you stay within your calorie allowance of course! Have you ever seen an olympic swimmer with a belly?! I'm just waiting to get back in the pool after knee arthroscopy, swimming is definitely the best exercise for low impact on the joints. Welcome to chlorine addicts not-so-anonymous!