Swimming as strength training?

thereshegoesagain

I swim about a mile and a half 4 times a week. My arms get a serious workout and I'm curious if I can count this as strength training as well as cardio. On 2 days a week when I can't swim, I lift hand weights at home. It's all working, I'm down over 60 lbs so far, so this is just to answer my curiosity. Thanks in advance!

hill8570

No more than a runner would count running as strength training for the legs. So, no.

thereshegoesagain

That makes sense, thanks.

thereshegoesagain

Although, when swimming there's resistance. In running there isn't.

Virkati

I asked Dr. Google

The answer depends on you. Swimming can be aerobic, anaerobic, or both. So you are really the only one who can decide. But, for most of us, swimming would be considered a cardio exercise and we'd leave it there.

hill8570

thereshegoesagain wrote: »

Although, when swimming there's resistance. In running there isn't.

There's resistance in running (even on the flats..hill running even more so). Or biking. Or just standing (try it if you've been bedridden for a while).

Where I would generally draw the line between strength training and cardio is by asking "is there a significant progressive loading component?". Any of the activities I just mentioned (as well as swimming) are generally difficult to progressively load. Although there are always grey areas (circuit training being one of them).

Not to say that swimming won't increase your upper body strength. It certainly will. But the strength increases level off relatively quickly.

thereshegoesagain

Ok thank you. My curiosity is satisfied.

surfteam1689

I've never seen a FAT professional swimmer. Keep it up! It tones every muscle in your body and improves your lung capacity. Oxygen burns fat. ;-)