Swimming to build muscle

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phreekles
phreekles Posts: 216 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Has anyone had success burning fat/ building muscle with swimming? I'm reaching my goal weight and I now want to focus on tightening my body. I currently cycle around 5 miles a day to work and walk the dog but I want add some strength training and thought I could try swimming.

I have tried weight training / strength training workouts but I just can't enjoy them but I have always loved swimming and feel I can really push myself with it.

Any before/ after pics would be great too!
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Replies

  • grantdumas7
    grantdumas7 Posts: 802 Member
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    Swimming is an excellent exercise but you are not going to build muscle with it.
  • peeaanuut
    peeaanuut Posts: 359 Member
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    you will build strength and stamina, not much bulking from swimming.
  • phreekles
    phreekles Posts: 216 Member
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    I don't want to get bulky - I just want to become sleeker ..... To be honest I mostly want a flat tummy!
  • peeaanuut
    peeaanuut Posts: 359 Member
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    swimming can help there. Make sure that you are keeping your abs tight during the laps. it will eventually tone up.
  • malk2651
    malk2651 Posts: 55 Member
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    Swimming is a cardio exercise. However as you stated you don't like doing weights, so do something you like.
  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,951 Member
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    Swimming will build great swimming centric muscles, but will not really strengthen you functionally for anything much other than swimming, or moving in a dense, neutrally buoyant environment.

    It's not weight lifting, and swimmers lift weights.
  • grantdumas7
    grantdumas7 Posts: 802 Member
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    I don't want to get bulky - I just want to become sleeker ..... To be honest I mostly want a flat tummy!
    Are you eating a caloric surplus? Are you or is someone injecting you with testosterone?
    If not, you are not going to get bulky. Besides you are cycling 5 miles per day
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
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    Swimming is an excellent exercise but you are not going to build muscle with it.

    agreed.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
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    I don't want to get bulky - I just want to become sleeker ..... To be honest I mostly want a flat tummy!

    Then lower your goal weight.
  • jacksonpt
    jacksonpt Posts: 10,413 Member
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    I don't want to get bulky - I just want to become sleeker ..... To be honest I mostly want a flat tummy!
    Are you eating a caloric surplus? Are you or is someone injecting you with testosterone?
    If not, you are not going to get bulky. Besides you are cycling 5 miles per day

    Cycling 5 miles per day will have no bearing on one's ability to gain muscle.
  • grantdumas7
    grantdumas7 Posts: 802 Member
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    I don't want to get bulky - I just want to become sleeker ..... To be honest I mostly want a flat tummy!
    Are you eating a caloric surplus? Are you or is someone injecting you with testosterone?
    If not, you are not going to get bulky. Besides you are cycling 5 miles per day

    Cycling 5 miles per day will have no bearing on one's ability to gain muscle.
    I agree. Just saying if she is eating a caloric deficit, her cycling would burn even more calories making bulking impossible
  • phreekles
    phreekles Posts: 216 Member
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    Well, I think I'm gonna give swimming a try for a month and see what difference it makes - if not I'll have to find another way. Thanks for the advice!
  • arghbowl
    arghbowl Posts: 1,179 Member
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    ehhhh ehhh eh eh ehhhh ehh ehh eh.

    That was dolphin speak for "no."
  • FrnkLft
    FrnkLft Posts: 1,821 Member
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    swimming can help there. Make sure that you are keeping your abs tight during the laps. it will eventually tone up.

    "Toning" a muscle or region is bull****. You can look toned, but you cannot "tone" or "tighten" anything.

    To look toned, build the muscle by overloading it, and reduce your BF% so it shows. That's it.

    Swimming can help you here, if it's assisting you in creating a caloric deficit. It can also help you build strength, and probably only a little muscle if you're very untrained. You should look into weight lifting if you want to grow your muscle efficiently.
  • gelendestrasse
    gelendestrasse Posts: 204
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    jeez, when I think of all the time I spent in the pool. Now I don't have access....

    Swimming will tighten your core and will build long muscle. It's good for stamina. You're not going to bulk up, you'll be more "sleek" instead of having bulging muscles. If you alternate swimming with lifting you'll be in great shape.

    If you can get to a pool I say have at it. I wish I still could.
  • FrnkLft
    FrnkLft Posts: 1,821 Member
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    jeez, when I think of all the time I spent in the pool. Now I don't have access....

    Swimming will tighten your core and will build long muscle. It's good for stamina. You're not going to bulk up, you'll be more "sleek" instead of having bulging muscles. If you alternate swimming with lifting you'll be in great shape.

    If you can get to a pool I say have at it. I wish I still could.

    *cough*bs*cough*

    Why do people give advice when they don't know the first thing about fitness and exercise?
  • buzzcockgirl
    buzzcockgirl Posts: 260 Member
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    Swimming is AWESOME! I do it all the time... heading to pool now! When I started my weightloss last May, I was just doing cardio (aerobics, running) and when I plateaued, I added in swimming. Weight started coming off, and over the course of the next 6 months, swimming on average of 3 days a week- I lost a lot more weight, and my arms and legs started to get muscle definition. I can't say it's done a ton for my stomach, but overall, it is one of the best exercises you can do. It's aerobic as well as resistance all at the same time. Plus, you stay nice and cool- and I always feel 'long and lean' in the pool. LOVE IT! (you can look at my 1 year/sucess story I posted back in May of this year and see my swimming pics-- I did a Swim-A-Mile benefit last Oct for Breast Cancer awareness... LOVED IT!!)

    Good luck- now go get wet!! :smile:
  • SteelersFan7
    SteelersFan7 Posts: 217 Member
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    Hi there. I swim 5 days a week for anywhere from 20-35 minutes. I average anywhere between 1/2- 1 mile daily. Swimming is both cardio and resistance training. If you spend 30 minutes in a pool doing a combination of 4 different strokes you will hit just about every muscle group (and that advice came straight from my college anatomy teacher who also advises on weight loss and exercise). The fun thing about swimming is it becomes a lot like running, you find that you're always striving for faster times and better form. Additionally, there are plenty of aids that you can also benefit from using. I use fins and webbed gloves to create more resistance and improve form. I can tell you that my shoulders, biceps and triceps have definitely gotten stronger. My arms have slimmed down slightly. Admittedly, I haven't paid the best attention to diet for a while, so I can't say I've been losing weight as a result of swimming. But, as I'm starting to get back on track with it, I'm hoping that it all comes together. Hope this response helps.
    Good luck with your swims!
  • merecard
    merecard Posts: 56 Member
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    I think it would really depend on what type of swimming you are doing.
    You will always be pushing the water as resistance.
    If you want to increase your resistance then try using the resistance gloves for swimming. I use them and can notice it in my upper arm and the back of the arm. You have to remember that there is different resistance levels. hands slicing through is the least, fist is more and open palm is the most resistance.
    I swim on my lunch (laps with resistance gloves on)
    and then I do an aqua Fitness Class with resistance weights and exercises.
    I do not lift regular weights in a regular gym because of a knee injury and I have had great results with the swimming. Swimming is a very high calorie burner in a very minimal amount of time.
    But look into the different items that are available for swimmers, using these make a huge difference in the amount of calories you will burn and where you will bet your definition and tone.
    Good luck and have fun!
  • RGv2
    RGv2 Posts: 5,789 Member
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    Swimming will tighten your core and will build long muscle. It's good for stamina. You're not going to bulk up, you'll be more "sleek" instead of having bulging muscles. If you alternate swimming with lifting you'll be in great shape.

    If you can get to a pool I say have at it. I wish I still could.

    :huh:

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