Advantages of swimming?

Rachiepie6

swimming works out everything! it's one of the fasted and most effective workouts, and burns a butt load of calories

You only burn a butt load of calories if you are swimming for long periods and without much rest. The after burn from a run makes for a much better workout than the pool...unless you are Michael Phelps of course.

We get that you are pro running, but it is possible to burn a lot in swimming, it's also not just about the calories when it comes to swimming, you will get a 'better workout' from swimming if you have different aims and goals. You get a better tone in swimming (generally speaking) and it isn't as harsh on your body.

Swimming is great. Makes me feel like I'm weightless and sometimes I like to imagine I'm floating around in outer space when I'm under the water. :bigsmile:

It's also pretty much impossible to hurt yourself, which is a plus. Unless I suppose you're going all Hulk smash into it... >.>

Very possible to injure yourself in swimming, ways to prevent are warming up and cooling down properly including stretching, as well as proper technique and not going beyond your capabilities.

There is a slight issue I found .. swimming in cold water typically starts a massive hunger sensation for me. After swimming a mile I feel like i can eat a horse ... I found one way to stop the cravings is after a swim, sauna or steam room for 15 and then hot tub for 15.

Didn't know about the sauna bit, will give it a go when I'm not in a rush. But yes, swimming can make you very hungry and tired, compared to same cal's in a diff exercise!!

And I almost forgot, if you get tired from swimming and don't want to take a break or even do the breaststroke, then run the length of the pool with your body low so you have to push your arms through the water. do this a couple laps and you'll be tired.

Water running is a fantastic exercise, definitely recommend it, especially for injury recovery and if you are in the water because you don't want to impact your joints.

Thanks so much for all of your input! ok, so i'm hearing lots about "the right stroke". What exactly is the type of stroke that I want to be doing? I'm a beginner but took lessons as a kid

As a beginner who took lessons as a kid, I'd say start with your freestyle, work on technique etc, then backstroke then breaststroke as the timing can be quite difficult for some. pm if you want help with technique, i'm a swim coach and teacher, and a swimmer. Don't attempt butterfly if you don't know how to do it, that can really hurt your shoulders if you do it wrong.
There is no right stroke, do what feels comfortable and enjoyable for you to do.

I've always been a pool baby and I used to compete a lot with my swimming. But since finishing school I haven't been in a swimming pool =S (7 years!) I miss doing my races. I LOVED Back stroke, and Butterfly, freestyle was alright but I hated breast stroke and how I felt so slow in the water =S Is there a way to speed breast stroke up without shortening the stroke??

timing and strength. start your kick a splitsecond after you start your arms. make sure your arms don't go wider than your shoulders and that you kick with you feet going around to snap back together.

And lastly breathe under the arm on upper stroke every third stroke or a count of 1, 3, 5 or 7 strokes. this means you work both sides of your body equally.

If you are a beginner and need to: star with breathing every second stroke but aim to get to three. For a non sprinting pace I always swim with bilateral breathing (every three strokes) because otherwise you can get very very dizzy

I forgot to add. Make sure you stretch before, during (if you feel stiffness setting in) and after!!! Really important..:happy:

DEFINITELY STRETCH!!!

End spiel... lol pm if you have any questions :happy: