Am I too fat to go swimming?

_EndGame_
_EndGame_ Posts: 770 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
OK, so something I've not done since I was like 13 or something, is swimming. I used to love swimming as a kid, but as the years went by, and the weight piled on, it's something I never ever dreamt of doing, until now.

I signed up to a gym today, have the induction on Thursday evening, and the gym membership I paid for comes with unlimited access to the swimming baths, and it got me thinking - Am I too fat to go swimming?

I know I shouldn't care what other people think, and yes, other people probably don't care about me being there, they're too busy doing their thing to concern themselves over the "fat guy" but I can't help feeling self conscious about it.

Anybody else out there had/have the same problem? Anybody else face their fear of the going swimming?
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Replies

  • I_Will_End_You
    I_Will_End_You Posts: 4,397 Member
    No, do it. Swimming is great, low impact exercise for someone who has a lot of excess weight on them.
  • catmanor
    catmanor Posts: 85 Member
    Omigosh swimming will be so good for you!!! especially if you are carrying a bit more weight - no pressure on your joints in the pool!!

    The other people at the pool will have their own issues they are dealing with so forget about them and do this FOR YOU!

    Swimming laps is a great all body work out.. even aqua jogging or aqua aerobics.. You can so do this!!!
  • snazzyjazzy21
    snazzyjazzy21 Posts: 1,298 Member
    There will always be *kitten* who will think someone is too fat to be doing something but I say go for it. Swimming is an awesome workout, and low impact makes it a nice change from other cardio.
  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    No, swimming is awesome. If you're self conscious wear a t-shirt with your shorts.
  • histora
    histora Posts: 287 Member
    Initially yes, because the gym I attend during the school year is typically used by men and women in the various collegiate sports teams. ie they are all quite fit and young and make me feel twice as large.

    I just kept telling myself that I paid for my membership, I have every right to be there, and that I can't healthy unless I try.

    One of the girls stopped by last spring semester as I sweated my hiney off on the treadmill to tell me to keep going because I rocked. For a moment I was extremely self-conscious, and then I felt empowered.

    Don't give in. Go. You will love it!
  • ritchiedrama
    ritchiedrama Posts: 1,304 Member
    I used to hate swimming when I was fat, but I still went, end of the day you'll never see those people again so doesn't really matter.
  • _EndGame_
    _EndGame_ Posts: 770 Member
    @ herblackwings - I was actually considering wearing a shirt, just not sure if it will make me stand out even more!

    I do a lot of cardio at home, but my house is kind of cluttered with exercise equipment, so I decided to purchase a gym membership with the money I get from selling off the equipment!

    Thanks for the encouragement people, I guess that's why I made the post, encouragement goes a long way!
  • dlittlebear
    dlittlebear Posts: 10 Member
    No, swimming is awesome. If you're self conscious wear a t-shirt with your shorts.

    I do this! I also have an abdominal scar so double whammy for being self conscious. Though I love to be in a pool, so exhausted after feels great.
  • Mgregory723
    Mgregory723 Posts: 529 Member
    I'm 297 lbs and I love to swim. It helps me with my bad knee's, back, my breathing (I have asthma) and gives me time to myself and my thoughts. Not to mention I have lost weight doing so! I say go for it, enjoy!!! :flowerforyou:
  • LuckyFur
    LuckyFur Posts: 96
    No.

    Since your body is made primarily of fat you're more likely to float which will make drowning difficult.

    Don't wear a shirt or anything like that. Swim with confidence. Your not the first overweight person to be in a bathing suit. No one will care.
  • mirrinias
    mirrinias Posts: 80 Member
    Absolutely not! Any effort to exercise is seen as positive. I'd make sure you review the 'unspoken' rules of swimming at a gym, such as sharing lanes and whatnot, but otherwise GO FOR IT. If it's too hard to swim continuously right now, just walk in the water, a lot of gyms have weights you can use too. It's low impact so it's easy on your joints until you get your weight down. And it's hard work but it doesn't feel that way until later.
  • MelMoly
    MelMoly Posts: 1,303 Member
    get to swimming! :)
  • herblackwings39
    herblackwings39 Posts: 3,930 Member
    @ herblackwings - I was actually considering wearing a shirt, just not sure if it will make me stand out even more!

    I do a lot of cardio at home, but my house is kind of cluttered with exercise equipment, so I decided to purchase a gym membership with the money I get from selling off the equipment!

    Thanks for the encouragement people, I guess that's why I made the post, encouragement goes a long way!

    When I still lived near a YMCA I saw lots of guys who swam in a t-shirt and shorts regardless of weight. I seriously doubt anybody will comment on it. They probably won't even really notice since most of the time people lead busy lives and need to do their think then move on to the next life event.
  • TriShamelessly
    TriShamelessly Posts: 905 Member
    If you can get in the pool, then you should go swimming. As a regular at several pools, there is typically a wide range of body types and abilities. So there is no need to feel anxious. And since most folks are wrapped up in what they're doing, they're unlikely to even notice you in the first instance. So, go, enjoy, and swim until your hearts content!
  • sassymanatee
    sassymanatee Posts: 102 Member
    Swimming is the perfect exercise! Do it!! I used to be self conscious too until one day I saw a burn victim at the water park and realized if she can strut with confidence then I have no excuse. I still find myself worrying my leg jiggles are gross, but then I have to tell myself "If I'm not as sexy as them then at least I make them feel good about themselves."
  • jjlange1
    jjlange1 Posts: 9 Member
    First-- who the hell cares what you look like? You are havnig fun and that is all that matters.

    Secondly - are you talking about swimming for exercise or what people call swimming and they mean laying around a pool deck or jumping in the waves? Either way, the "too fat" answer is "no"...however....

    If you are talking about swimming (the actual exercvise of laps and distance) this is one sport where excess fat makes no difference and can even help. It is all about hydrodynamics and technique. I learned how to swim a few years ago (from a book no less) to be able to do triathons. I got to masters swim workouts now. There are people that are REALLY overweight that just blow the fins off everyone! Look at distance swimmers that cross the English channel and they have to put on excess weight to do it because of the cold water.

    Swimming is ALL technique and if done properly is easy on the LEG joints but can tear up your shoulders if not done properly. Once you get the technique together, you can go for 60 - 90 minutes easily and do really great workouts.

    Best to you and see you in the lanes!
  • Kamikazeflutterby
    Kamikazeflutterby Posts: 770 Member
    There is no such thing as too fat to swim. Hell, there's an aquazumba class populated almost exclusively by morbidly obese retirees at my community center, and the "worst" anyone has ever said is "good for them! They've found a starting place, they will be healthier and more badass."

    And no one looks dignified at any weight doing aquazumba. No one.
  • TriShamelessly
    TriShamelessly Posts: 905 Member
    @ herblackwings - I was actually considering wearing a shirt, just not sure if it will make me stand out even more!

    I do a lot of cardio at home, but my house is kind of cluttered with exercise equipment, so I decided to purchase a gym membership with the money I get from selling off the equipment!

    Thanks for the encouragement people, I guess that's why I made the post, encouragement goes a long way!

    Follow-up. I went from barely being able to swim two laps (4 lengths) without feeling like I was going to die back in January to swimming nearly a mile (1500 meters) straight during triathlons this summer. The entire time I have worn my heart rate monitor beneath a rash guard shirt. So wear what you feel comfortable in. As I said before, no one is even likely to give you a second glance since they are doing their thing too.
  • _EndGame_
    _EndGame_ Posts: 770 Member
    First-- who the hell cares what you look like? You are havnig fun and that is all that matters.

    Secondly - are you talking about swimming for exercise or what people call swimming and they mean laying around a pool deck or jumping in the waves? Either way, the "too fat" answer is "no"...however....

    If you are talking about swimming (the actual exercvise of laps and distance) this is one sport where excess fat makes no difference and can even help. It is all about hydrodynamics and technique. I learned how to swim a few years ago (from a book no less) to be able to do triathons. I got to masters swim workouts now. There are people that are REALLY overweight that just blow the fins off everyone! Look at distance swimmers that cross the English channel and they have to put on excess weight to do it because of the cold water.

    Swimming is ALL technique and if done properly is easy on the LEG joints but can tear up your shoulders if not done properly. Once you get the technique together, you can go for 60 - 90 minutes easily and do really great workouts.

    Best to you and see you in the lanes!

    The main reason for wanting to swim is weight loss. I just want to get in for an hour each time I go to the gym (which I'm going to try and do 3 - 4 times a week)

    I usually aim to do at least 30 minutes of cardio each day, I figured if I can get an hour of swimming in each day it will make a HUGE difference to the amount of calories burned.

    Someone mentioned using their HRM in the swimming baths, I have a Polar FT4 HRM, would that work in water? Don't think I have the user manual anymore!
  • jayliospecky
    jayliospecky Posts: 25,022 Member
    Absolutely not!

    I loved swimming as a kid and as I got older and chubbier I got more and more self-conscious. I eventually avoided swimming and bathing suits at all costs. At some point as an adult I decided I didn't want to be one of the people sitting on the side of the pool, watching the people who were actually having fun. Yes, I still feel self-conscious at times, but most of the time I'm enjoying the heck out of myself.

    Whether you want to swim for weight loss or just for fun, don't let the fear of what others think stop you.
  • janupshaw
    janupshaw Posts: 205 Member
    I think most people will be thinking "Good for you!" if they think anything at all. Go swim, you paid your membership just like they did.
  • 56aleatha
    56aleatha Posts: 1
    Never! I started swimming again a month ago. I weighed 240. Hadn't done laps in over 20 years. Started slow and now I'm up to a mile (33 laps). Working on getting to 2 miles. Feels fabulous! And I didn't give a damn who saw me or who cared. I strutted my stuff baby! Now I weigh 215. :bigsmile:
  • JustLindaLou
    JustLindaLou Posts: 376 Member
    wear a speedo! strut in there like you own the place! ;)

    seriously, I do not think you should be overly concerned about it, just get in there and do your thing. Perhaps a tank top rather than a t-shirt if you wish. (and remember that a white or light-colored shirt will be virtually see-thru when it gets wet, so you may want a darker one). I'm betting you will quickly decide you don't need the shirt. Once you're in the water, you're just doing your thing and you won't be so self-conscious.

    Do it for YOU and no worries what anyone else is thinking, most people who are at the gym are serious about their own fitness and will be rooting for you on your journey. Anyone who isn't well, shallow shmallow does their opinion matter?

    All the best to you!
  • JanMarie2BHealthy
    JanMarie2BHealthy Posts: 159
    Follow the rules - walk don't run *lol* - and your pool experience should be wonderful. You will meet the "regulars", have some chit-chat and after a number of days you should feel right at home and be much more comfortable. Go for it !!
  • JanMarie2BHealthy
    JanMarie2BHealthy Posts: 159
    wear a speedo! strut in there like you own the place! ;)

    ,,,,,,,All the best to you!

    Oh now I have the giggles *LOL* , however, don't forget plenty of gold chains around your neck....
  • WinwillLose
    WinwillLose Posts: 101
    Swim all you want!! It's great for you and low impact, I was so scared when I took my first kettle bell class with all the buff bodies in there! I couldn't even do some of the stretches because my belly was in the way. Now I'm a regular, and I love when someone starts the class or shows up after being gone for 6 months and says I inspired them. That they remember me from a year or two ago. Do your thing!! Find what you like and go for it. :smile:
  • Jennvandemark
    Jennvandemark Posts: 179 Member
    I swim 5 times a week and promise no one is looking at you. Use a kick board or free style when ever you want. I used to be so scared folks were judging me but they are to busy swimming to bother with me. Get yourself a waterproof mp3 player and get lost in the water. :)
  • MissAubreyA
    MissAubreyA Posts: 13
    Am I too fat to go swimming?

    I used to feel like I was way too fat to be in a bathing suit around people. I'm much smaller now, but I am always inspired when I see larger people in the pool at the gym. Or really anywhere at the gym.

    It makes my day to see someone working hard for something they want. Especially since I know how vulnerable I felt when it was me. So when you go (and I hope you will), know that if people do look at you, many of them are probably cheering you on.
  • lindacollins78
    lindacollins78 Posts: 44 Member
    Swimming is great! Where a t-shirt or something if your worried about image. That's what I do.
  • nxd10
    nxd10 Posts: 4,570 Member
    It's the best exercise for overweight people because it supports your weight.

    I went back to swimming this summer and jog in the pool or just bounce up and down. I did aquacise after my kids were born.

    You're in the water and it covers up your body so no one can see it.

    And I spent all summer at a public pool with some really big people in bathing suits and it was FINE. Really FINE. The only thing the (young obnoxious skinny) kids said about any adult was about older men who wore speedo suits (TMI). My 400 pound brother-in-law loves the pool because it's the only place he feels comfortable.

    Just do it.

    If you're more comfortable, get a swim shirt to cover up. But go. It feels really good.

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