Do I have to be a "real" swimmer for it to count?

wowgirl30

So I am over 300 pounds and I have been swimming laps 3 times a week for about a month now. I can't for the life of me swim in proper form with my head down facing forward in the water. I have tried and tried only to end up swallowing water, stalling mid lengths and spazzing my way through laps and in the end didn't feel like I got in a good workout - just embarrassed and half drowned. I breathe too fast and heavy to get the timing right so I am turning my body with every stroke so that I can breathe continuously. I feel like I am just 'pretending" to swim. I just recently started logging it as exercise. Is there any real difference in the calories burned when you alternate head down/taking breaths vs not? Is there any benefit other than not having the "real" swimmers laugh at me? (I have already been referred to as "the whale" by young guys offended that I am taking up a lane space) I am not trying to compete with anyone or to go for speed efficiency, just trying to burn some calories in a way that doesn't hurt my back and knees!

Mr_Knight

Why not just do breaststroke until weight is down and fitness is up?

The primary determinants in how much you burn are going to be distance swum and bodyweight anyway.

anlu37

I started at 272. It was difficult to have good form. I mostly did the back stroke and breast stroke because they were easier.

It's still difficult for me to swim freestyle for very long at one time, but I can feel my form improving every day I swim. I went from struggling to get 25 yds to being able to do almost 100 freestyle. Generally, I do 25 yds alternating back stroke, freestyle, breaststroke, freestyle. Today I swam 2500 yds. I didn't think that would ever happen! It was so difficult at first, I had to focus all my energy on jsut getting from one end to the other. I could never imagine being able to count laps while doing that, much less count laps, breathe with relative ease.

Do you have flippers or hand paddles? Those can help a lot with getting your form right.

Do what you can. Your abilities will improve faster than you imagine if you keep at it. You will get there if you keep going. You will get stronger as you lose and it will feel AMAZING!

wowgirl30

no I don't have paddles or flippers. I just got goggles last week LOL. I will try doing more backstroke and such. Thanks for the suggestions

feesh510

I second the suggestion to do breaststroke and/or backstroke instead of freestyle at first. I found that I was able to do breaststroke a lot more easily than freestyle when I first started. I've been swimming 3-4 times a week for about 6 months now, I swim 2500 yards/1 hour without much problem. I built up to 1 hour of breaststroke with a few laps of freestyle, then substituted more and more freestyle laps in. I never much liked backstroke, so I tend to skip it. Pools will sometimes offer stroke clinics, so take advantage of those to get feedback and tips for improving your stroke. There are also a ton of youtube videos that are great for teaching. The other thing to do if you haven't already is to google lap swimming etiquette so you make sure you don't step on any toes at the pool.

You might also consider using a swimming snorkel when you do freestyle. A snorkel does allow you less air than breathing on your own, but it allows you to breathe constantly, so might help with your anxiety. If you use a snorkel, you'll also need a nose clip, at least at first.

If you keep swimming regularly and pushing yourself each time, you will get more and more confident and be able to swim for a much longer period of time. You can do it!

meerkat70

and yes, of course it counts!

neandermagnon

you could see if they do swimming lessons, to learn the correct technique if you want to learn other strokes correctly, although there's nothing wrong with sticking to breaststroke or backstroke. It all burns calories. the main thing is if you're logging calorie burns, they may be different for different strokes so log it as the stroke that you're doing. And it all counts!

wheezeybouncer

It counts. I still can't swim freestyle without swalling half the pool! Breast stroke I can keep up till I'm bored- usually between 30-60mins depending on the business of the pool, my breathing co-ordination and just coz I have no music!

Ignore the name callers. Although I would say, unless there's only about 3 of us swimming, our lanes tend to naturally fall into an anti-clockwise loop with the middle being left free for over taking if necessary

Enjoy the water!

Vailara

I'm no good at putting my face in the water, so if I have the space to do it, I do backstroke. It seems to keep my back and neck nicely in line (unlike my bad version of breaststroke) so it doesn't hurt and I get up a bit more speed.

However, years ago I used to exercise at a quiet pool and I often used to just try to run or walk through through the water. You feel a bit of a fool, but it's good exercise!

kyle4jem

The main thing is you've making an effort. Any exercise is better than none and anyone that suggests otherwise doesn't know what they're talking about.

pcastagner

Learn the swimming style called "total immersion".

It teaches you to balance in the water, and lots of the drills will be perfect for your fitness level.

Once you learn it you'll be able to swim slowly without your feet sinking.

lesley964

moving in the water is harder than moving through air as there is more resistance!! so yes it counts!! doesn't matter what technique you use! I can't believe the rudeness of some people...you pay your money to use the pool same as anyone else. I started swimming in the summer for the first time in years and couldn't even do 1 length without feeling like I was drowning, now i can do about 57 in sixty minutes!! and have lost 31lbs. I put most of that down to swimming. As for technique I have none either, I dont like water up my nose so I keep my head up and I am not good with my legs. You keep on doing what you are doing it will pay off !!

BerryH

Of course it counts, well done for persisting!

I heartily recommend top-up lessons. I was an OK swimmer but I'd picked up some horrible habits, and the swimming teacher managed to get me all in synch, which especially made the breathing easier.

Try slowing right down and trying to get through each length with fewer and fewer strokes, which will encourage a better, stronger style

I used to run out of time to breathe, but I switched to triathlon type breathing - two strokes face down and exhaling, breathe on the right, two strokes face down and exhaling, breathe on the left. It makes it much more leisurely.

p4ulmiller

Well done for taking the plunge (intentional pun!).

Of course it counts! It all counts.

What is most important though is for you to gain confidence in the water. Try breaststroke for example. Then when you feel up to it, get some swimming lessons to help you improve your form. Lessons aren't just for kids, you know.

darrensurrey

Were you knackered at the end? I'd suggest you're fighting against more resistance than the people doing it right so I'd say it counts. If there is a slow lane then just stay in that one. The people laughing can take a long walk off a short pier.

yogicarl

If you are moving through water, even slowly, and you are managing to time your breathing so you are not drowning - you are a "real" swimmer! Water and swimming is fab isn't it!

- and if you are breathing deeper when you are done or need a breather along the way, you are working hard enough to log those calories.

- possibly one of those few exercises where it is worth buying a water-proof Heart Rate Monitor to get an idea of your own personal calorie burn.

Froody2

Perhaps you could try a kick board? They are good for learning correct stroke by holding you in the proper position with head looking downwards and allowing a slower stroke rate. It's worth a try and would be a cheaper option than lessons for the time being :flowerforyou:

yogicarl

- having said that, I chose to have a few lessons. I had eight in all and about two lessons in I was swimming much better and smoother than ever before in my life. A good swim coach will see straight away where you are swimming wrong and where you can start to make little corrections that will make loads of difference.

For me it was a real investment and took far less time than it would have with me just trying to figure it out.

stumblinthrulife

Definitely counts. But I word of caution from experience - I personally found the estimated swim calories way too high (based on measured vs predicted weight loss results when swimming was the only new thing introduced). So keep an eye on your progress after to start logging the swimming and scale back the logged burn if needed - especially if you do a lot of stop/start.

wowgirl30

Thanks everyone for the advice and support. The pool I swim at doesn't have any instructors so I would have to find one to hire so it's something I have to save up for. I've been logging as light-moderate efforts and shaving some minutes off of how long I went. Sometimes I log it as water aerobics because it has a lower calorie burn. I try not to eat all the calories back but I've been sloppy with my food choices so I have lots of room for improvement both in and out of the pool.

WaterBunnie

I'm not a great swimmer either but do like it. I figure that we probably burn more with our unique style of swimming than we would if we were gliding swan-like making less strokes per length!

I do find MFP gives far too generous a burn though. I calculate my burns through FitBit's site (you don't need to have a FitBit to use their site) and then log them here so that I can eat it all back without worrying.

Keep at it!

pcastagner

Thanks everyone for the advice and support. The pool I swim at doesn't have any instructors so I would have to find one to hire so it's something I have to save up for. I've been logging as light-moderate efforts and shaving some minutes off of how long I went. Sometimes I log it as water aerobics because it has a lower calorie burn. I try not to eat all the calories back but I've been sloppy with my food choices so I have lots of room for improvement both in and out of the pool.

Start with the total immersion book. It's cheap.