Swimming twice a week - enough?

xarra
xarra Posts: 128 Member
edited September 30 in Fitness and Exercise
I've decided on swimming for my excercise... About 25 minutes twice a week of trying-to-be-vigerous swimming... Combining this with a much better diet, is this enough to lose weight? Or should I include some other stuff?

Thanks!

Replies

  • helenmelon29
    helenmelon29 Posts: 787 Member
    I think you should try and do 3 x 30 mins exercise per week at least. (Im not sure though) but I would add another excerise session in somewhere if you can. x
  • joehempel
    joehempel Posts: 1,543 Member
    You should probably do other things a couple more days a week.

    If you stay on a strict diet with lower calories, you could lose weight with that...but I think you'll have more freedom if you do exercise a bit more.
  • trud72
    trud72 Posts: 1,912 Member
    as everyone else has said more you do more you burn!
  • xarra
    xarra Posts: 128 Member
    I need something free, that's low impact (big chest, plus tiny feet - high pressure on my feet equals 'ow') and I can do easily at home...

    I couid try an excercise DVD but they cost!
  • TheMrsBee
    TheMrsBee Posts: 226 Member
    Yeah i think you should exercise a bit more, maybe do a gym class and then a swim after? or do an aqua class and then swim after that? Good Luck
  • helenmelon29
    helenmelon29 Posts: 787 Member
    I need something free, that's low impact (big chest, plus tiny feet - high pressure on my feet equals 'ow') and I can do easily at home...

    I couid try an excercise DVD but they cost!

    What about walking? Go a couple of times per week for 30 mins? Free and easy? x
  • Robyn_T
    Robyn_T Posts: 540 Member
    For improved cardiac health plus weight loss, most days of the week you should aim for 30 min of exercises that raise your heart rate--swimming, walking, jogging, an exercise video, or even vigorous house work.
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    Doesn't swimming cost for each session? You can get a DVD for £5 and use it forever!

    Aim to do something at least 5 days a week. Walking at a pace that makes you out of breath is great. Also try body-weight resistance exercises - squats, lunges, push-ups, sit-ups etc. Good luck!
  • t_rog
    t_rog Posts: 363 Member
    Honestly, it all depends on your diet. If you're eating low enough calories on the days you aren't swimming, then yes you will lose weight. Like many others have said though, the more calories you burn the more you get to eat!(which is always a plus :) )
  • meggonkgonk
    meggonkgonk Posts: 2,066 Member
    As long as you are sticking to your MFP cal goals, you will lose. But as others have said, you get more freedom if you get moving more. Why not add in some walking? A lot of people set up a 10 min walk for every major meal they eat (so they get in 3, for a minimum of 30 min). It's not necessary, but it will likely make you feel much better :-)
  • BobsySpud
    BobsySpud Posts: 29 Member
    I agree with everyone else, you'll probably get better results by adding a little more exercise into the mix. There are a few really cheap dvd's available on amazon, which aren't bad. Try searching for Jessie Wallace and Hannah Watermans offerings, both under a fiver! Also, walking is a great way to keep fit, especially if you're fairly new to exercise! And finally, i can highly recommend the C25K programme, if you fancy having a go at running and want to challenge yourself! I've just finished this and ran 5km at the weekend. Nine weeks ago, i was hyperventilating after trying to run for one minute!
  • digby765
    digby765 Posts: 163
    Hello i read your board with interest.

    I'd say twice a week is a very good start, but as you start to feel fitter, you may naturally want to increase this or maybe combine it with another exercise, perhaps walking or cycling, if you're pool is close enough perhaps walk/cycle to and from it.

    Good luck with whatever you decide.
  • xarra
    xarra Posts: 128 Member
    I do cycle to worjk & back (about 20 minutes all together - but on the way it's all downhill!)...

    C25K I'd rather do in the gym, so probably not atm... :)
  • BobsySpud
    BobsySpud Posts: 29 Member
    Well, if you're on your bike anyway, i'd personally take a long route home and add in another 20 mins or so of cycling. As for c25k, we're lucky enough to live in beautiful part of the country with the new forest on our doorstep, so i do all my runs in the forest - but without such a scenic route on my doorstep i'd probably be like you and opt for treadmill over tarmac!
  • BobsySpud
    BobsySpud Posts: 29 Member
    ...
  • helenmelon29
    helenmelon29 Posts: 787 Member
    Well if you bike 5 days? a week to work and swim x 2 per week thats sounds good to me. x
  • beccalucy
    beccalucy Posts: 250 Member
    Biking and swimming sounds a good place to start! Why not get others involved and go for a long bike ride/walk in a scenic at weekends occasionally?
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