Lap Swimming?

teicu1

I used to do indoor distance lap swimming--40 pounds and 15 years ago, and before a THR. I used to do a mile in 50 minutes back then. I’m going to try it again in the near future. I’ll be surprised if I can do better than half a mile in an hour right now.

Anybody here do distance lap swimming as a regular part of their exercise regimen?

snowflake954

I've been swimming for over 20 yrs--3 times a week. I think you'll find it'll all come back to you rather quickly. have fun.

JennyHsavage

I used to be a great swimmer but somehow lost it... I can't do a lap without gasping for air... I can run for 5-8 miles no problem and would cycle for hours on end 30-50 miles but a lap kills me. Has to be breathing technique. Please if u have any tips pass em on x good luck

teicu1

"snowflake954 wrote: »

I think you'll find it'll all come back to you rather quickly. have fun.

Here’s hoping! Just got a new pair of goggles, but I literally haven’t even been into a pool in ~15 years.

snowflake954

JennyHsavage wrote: »

I used to be a great swimmer but somehow lost it... I can't do a lap without gasping for air... I can run for 5-8 miles no problem and would cycle for hours on end 30-50 miles but a lap kills me. Has to be breathing technique. Please if u have any tips pass em on x good luck

If you're having breathing problems stop at the end of every lap and do 10 respirations--breath in, and then exhale under water. This will regulate your breathing rhythm. After a while, you won't need it anymore.

Alisonswim46

This might be helpful! 0 to 1650!

http://ruthkazez.com/swimming/ZeroTo1mile.html

zdyb23456

I did a little bit of lap swimming many moons ago (12-13 years ago). My daughter joined the swim team so I am at practice twice a week. I watch the lap swimmers doing it for exercise and I keep thinking I need to try it again...

fitqueenbess

I started swimming regularly a couple of years ago, usually about 1200 meters, 1600 if I have time and no foot cramps. Just today I practiced doing flip turns after studying some youtube videos. It wasn't pretty...

zdyb23456

fitqueenbess wrote: »

I started swimming regularly a couple of years ago, usually about 1200 meters, 1600 if I have time and no foot cramps. Just today I practiced doing flip turns after studying some youtube videos. It wasn't pretty...

I remember getting a lot of water up my nose before getting the hang of it!

lorrpb

I swim laps about 1/2mile 2x week. I'd be happy to get it down to 1/2 hour.

snowflake954

zdyb23456 wrote: »

I did a little bit of lap swimming many moons ago (12-13 years ago). My daughter joined the swim team so I am at practice twice a week. I watch the lap swimmers doing it for exercise and I keep thinking I need to try it again...

This is originaly why I started--watching my kids doing laps in the pool. It was so beautiful. Also, my husband is a long time swimmer, and so I was the only one out (I only got as far as dog paddling in middle school). I decided 21 yrs ago to take lessons. Now I swim laps, not too bad for an old lady of 62.

MoveitlikeManda

I started swimming the end of last year, my first session KILLED me, I couldnt breathe and by the time I was dried and dressed I was aching everywhere, couldnt even lift my arms above my head without wincing lol

second session i was not aching after and my breathing was not as bad...didnt need to take my inhailer.

by my third session I had doubled what i swam in my first session in the same time frame, was out of breath when i got out of the pool but was ok and had no aches, even managed a 45min walk home.

due to me being poorly and the kids taking it in turns Iv not been since Christmas, I really need to get back in to it because I was really enjoying

I posted asking about the aching etc and was told keep at it and it will get better the more I swim, which was true, so my advise is do what you can and you will gradually be able to do more x

beerfoamy

I swim laps in the morning Monday to Friday. Sets me up nicely for the day!

Generally try and hit 80 - 2km. Takes around 40mins depending on other people in the lane and their etiquette!
Once a week try for 3km - but depends if I can get myself up 15mins earlier!
Only did mile (64) this morning as something is painful around my left shoulder blade. Think posture at work needs changing

But love swimming as exercise and have just got a tracker so am trying to up my speeds with some faster sets. Is fun.

mir1104

Triathlete here, two swims a week plus one open water in season, around 3.5-3.8km a session.

beerfoamy wrote: »

something is painful around my left shoulder blade. Think posture at work needs changing

That's often because you aren't rotating while doing freestlye. It helps me to swim a few laps with a pullbuoy so I only have to mind my rotation and stroke.

beerfoamy

mir1104 wrote: »

Triathlete here, two swims a week plus one open water in season, around 3.5-3.8km a session.

beerfoamy wrote: »

something is painful around my left shoulder blade. Think posture at work needs changing

That's often because you aren't rotating while doing freestlye. It helps me to swim a few laps with a pullbuoy so I only have to mind my rotation and stroke.

ah cool - I didn't think you had to rotate, I learnt by being told to keep rotation to a minimum to avoid getting in the way of water as much - will give the rotation a go, have tried before and is just tricky to get the hang of equally both sides!

gakmt

I try to do a mile every evening M-F. Do not always get all five in because of the work thing. However, 3 years ago when I started i could swim 12 lengths of the pool. Months later my first mile was an hour and forty minutes. Now I am down to 36-40 minutes for my breaststroke mile.

JennyRATL

Question for you all...how do you estimate calories burned while swimming? I've done Google searches on this, but haven't found anything solid. I have a 1st gen Apple Watch so my tracker is no good to me in the water!

beerfoamy

http://www.swimmingcalculator.com/swim_calories_calculator.php

I use that - feel that with distance and time and weight it is fairly accurate? as it would be working out the speed you are working at

JennyRATL

Perfect, thanks! I've been wanting to incorporate some swimming into my routine!

CantonRC

I swim around four times a week. I have been swimming for twenty years. I have been doing more sprints lately and have not been concerned with distance. I feel I get a better workout going against the clock instead of the odometer.

teicu1

beerfoamy wrote: »

http://www.swimmingcalculator.com/swim_calories_calculator.php I use that - feel that with distance and time and weight it is fairly accurate? as it would be working out the speed you are working at

Thanks for that link. That looks like a good calculator and a helpful record-keeping system.

GrumpyHeadmistress

I do 2km 4-5 times a week. Doing breaststroke it takes me about 44-48 mins with a little 2mins break in the middle. Gradually working my way up to 3km.

mir1104

beerfoamy wrote: »

ah cool - I didn't think you had to rotate, I learnt by being told to keep rotation to a minimum to avoid getting in the way of water as much - will give the rotation a go, have tried before and is just tricky to get the hang of equally both sides!

I think I have heard all possible opinions on rotation! When I restarted swimming, upon taking over triathlon and a looong break from my teenage swimming days, I didn't rotate at all because that was how I was instructed to do in the first place. First thing that happened my shoulder (old but healed injury) blew up.
Then I was told methods have changed and you should rotate. So I started...and I'll admit the shoulder problem fixed itself.

I have studied the programs of Swimsmooth and Total immersion, one of the two (the latter maybe) goes as far as saying enhancing rotation will make you faster, which does not work with me...but one thing is sure, if you rotate you are pushing more with your lat muscles than your shoulder, which is the culprit because lats are pretty big and can take the effort while the rotator cuff cannot.

JennyRATL wrote: »

Question for you all...how do you estimate calories burned while swimming?

I have a garmin watch that tracks my workouts, but I think the caloric estimation is quite inaccurate since I don't have the fancy waterproof heart rate band.

beerfoamy

mir1104 wrote: »

beerfoamy wrote: »

ah cool - I didn't think you had to rotate, I learnt by being told to keep rotation to a minimum to avoid getting in the way of water as much - will give the rotation a go, have tried before and is just tricky to get the hang of equally both sides!

I think I have heard all possible opinions on rotation! When I restarted swimming, upon taking over triathlon and a looong break from my teenage swimming days, I didn't rotate at all because that was how I was instructed to do in the first place. First thing that happened my shoulder (old but healed injury) blew up.
Then I was told methods have changed and you should rotate. So I started...and I'll admit the shoulder problem fixed itself.

I have studied the programs of Swimsmooth and Total immersion, one of the two (the latter maybe) goes as far as saying enhancing rotation will make you faster, which does not work with me...but one thing is sure, if you rotate you are pushing more with your lat muscles than your shoulder, which is the culprit because lats are pretty big and can take the effort while the rotator cuff cannot.

this is why I am leaning towards it being desk orientated rather than swimming - have been swimming 5 days a week for nearly 3 years now, same style etc
but will try it tomorrow see how it feels, I did notice last time I tried, I could feel the lat pull nicely.

lorrpb

MFP exercise log has swimming calories.

CAPaley

I have been swimming 3x/week for about 17 years now about 45 minutes/80 laps each session. I swim mainly breaststroke because years ago when I had tendonitis in my right shoulder my sports medicine doctor said that it would be better for me as it's a more balanced stroke. Now the same shoulder pain is back. I love swimming but it sucks knowing that after the swim I'm going to hurt later on. Also I have run out of benefits for the year already to pay for more treatment.

A few months ago I purchased a Polar A360 fitness tracker that I can wear in the pool. I have found that this tracker says I burn far fewer calories than the MFP app gives me credit for based on the amount of time that I am swimming.

nuffer

I restarted swimming two years ago after a nearly 40 year break when I was on a youth swim team. When I re-started, I struggled to tie two laps together. I found the 0 to 1650 program mentioned above and just kept going from there. Now I regularly swim for an hour and the challenge is to increase distance in the limited pool time available. I try to get in at least 3 days/week and also search out pools when I travel. Much prefer swimming outdoors and am fortunate to have an option in my neighborhood that's open year-round.

About 18 months ago I got a Garmin Swim watch and I don't have to think about counting laps/distance. Now the swim is as much about mental health as physical activity -- I can just zone and crank out the laps, albeit slowly. It's the best

fitqueenbess

@zdyb23456 - Yes, I totally got water up my nose when I tried those flip turns! Glad to know it gets better. The flips were messy but kind of fun, and it added interest to my swim. Plus, i'm trying to get a little faster, so the efficient turns should help.

I'm sticking with only swimming two or three days a week to avoid injury. I might workout twice a day, but i hardly ever repeat any one exercise on consecutive days. I mix it up: Yoga, swimming, hiking, spinning, body pump, walking - I'm a sampler of many activities but master of none - oh well, just as long as I stay injury free.

Annual Exception: Snow skiing - just returned from skiing 6 days in a row.

fitqueenbess

Oh yeah - regarding the calories - MFP gives me 311 calories for a 45 minute easy lap swim; I wish but no way! I enter the time but cut the calories burned in half.

martie1123

I swim laps, freestyle/crawl, 1 mile about 50 minutes..i use zoomers swim fins.
I HAVE to have my swim radio- tunes make me swim faster.

Pippin

I swim one km (sometimes more) and then do 5-10 minutes of eggbeater three times a week. I have some back and knee issues so being in the water is great. Nice to see so many swimmers on here.