What to expect as a beginner to swimming?

NovemberJune

I am planning to start swimming, hopefully a few times per week.

I shouldn't be so nervous! I was on the swim team in high school! ... Well that was years ago and only my freshman year. I checked the pool out today and saw people of all sizes and fitness levels, so that was encouraging.

I'm afraid I will get in the water and not know what to do! Is it like riding a bike? Will it come back to me?

Also, should I expect the workout to be super hard for me, or do you think it will be challenging but not killer since I've been exercising for over a year, just no swimming ? I'm planning to just swim for 30 minutes for my first workout. I wonder if I'll be exhausted after just 5 minutes though. :laugh:

The good news is I actually have a suit that I feel comfortable in! Swim shorts and all! :happy:

Thanks :0)

MzMandi1025

For me, getting back in the pool was like riding a bike. I haven't been much of a swimmer these last few years, but this year, I've really made more of an effort to start swimming laps. If you want to kind of ease back into swimming, you can get these little kick boards at Walmart, some are like $4. I would hold that out in front of me & just kick myself from one side of the pool to the other. It definately takes a lot of out you. I'm usually pretty beat after 30 min. & that's not really after a whole lot of vigorous swimming, that's pacing myself.

twinmomtwice4

It'll definitely come back to you! I've been swimming once a week as the weather's warming up. It's such a great workout! You'll probably be pretty exhausted at first until your build your stamina back up again.

When I get tired of doing laps, I usually just do some type of water aerobics while my heart rate comes down a little bit!

Have fun!!!

TrinaCanDoThis

I'm afraid to take lessons! LOL! I really want to learn too! Good luck!

Moxie42

I recently started swimming again after not swimming for about 10 years- before that, in HS, I was on teams as well. It really is like a bike in the sense you'll know what to do once you're in the water and doing it. Maybe your form won't be perfect but you'll remember how to do the strokes and it will still be effective.

I definitely can't swim like I used to (yet). I used to be able to swim a mile without stopping- I could get in a zone and go on and on. When I first started swimming again, the first time I stopped every lap, every once in a while doing two laps without stopping. After a week I was able to do 4 laps (100 yards). But I swam for 30 minutes each time, trying not to stop for more than 5-10 seconds each time I paused.

It was frustrating at first because it made me realize just how out of shape I've let myself become but at the same time it's motivating and gives me a goal to strive for- especially since I know what I'm capable of (unlike running which I have never ever been able to do well). Plus the feeling of it getting a little easier each time is great! It lets me that know it's working and I'm getting back into shape.

natvanessa

I love swimming and I'm so happy for you that you're going to try it (again)!

I don't have many pools in the city I live in, so it's something I can't do often. But when I do go swimming, it is def like riding a bike again.

I would suggest taking it easy the first couple of workouts though to get you back in the swing. Maybe stop and take a few breaths every couple of laps. That's what I did, but always get right back into it immediately.

It's also just so fun and stress-relieving. Such a refreshing (haha) way to do something completely different than your average cardio/weights, right?

Good luck! This reminds me to look again for a pool in my area. Summer is coming up!

One more thing, my favorite olympic sport is swimming and I am SO excited for the olympics coming up! Maybe they will inspire you too. My fave is Ryan Lochte

terbee

I have started and stopped and re-started swimming several times over the years, and the main thing I always notice after I go back to the pool after a long break is that my neck muscles are really sore the next day! Way more than my arms! I usually swim the backstroke so that may be part of it. After 2, maybe 3 swims the neck ache goes away and it's pretty smooth sailing from there, just have to push through it!

For me, when I re-start swimming, 20-30 minutes in the pool will feel exhausting, but I ramp it up to 50-60 minute sessions of laps over the course of a month or two. I usually set a lap number - say start with 30 - then do 30 for a week, bump to 40 for a week, bump to 50 for a week, etc. This is when I swim 2-3 times a week.

NovemberJune

Thanks so much you all for all the great replies!!! :-)