Swimming?

Misty_Rage
Misty_Rage Posts: 20 Member
edited December 20 in Fitness and Exercise
I have started to try to lose weight with swimming. Has anyone out there done this?

I am reading articles and having people tell me that you cannot lose weight with swimming. Unfortunately I have bad knees and need the low impact.

Right now I am alternating 10 laps, 10 laps with just my arms, and 10 laps of running (using the resistance).

I am sore as all get out, and I have watched the scale starting to drop.

Im just wondering if I am going to really going to get anywhere, so... Any other weight loss success stories from swimmers?
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Replies

  • TylerJ76
    TylerJ76 Posts: 4,375 Member
    Of course you will lose weight as long as you are eating correctly

    You are burning calories.
    Anyone who says that you can't lose weight swimming, as obviously never tried to swim laps for any period of time.
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Anyone who says that you can't lose weight swimming, as obviously never tried to swim laps for any period of time.

    ^^ This

    Swimming is great, no-impact exercise. Keep in mind, however, that exercise contributes to fitness; weight loss happens at the dinner table.
  • Trail_Addict
    Trail_Addict Posts: 1,340 Member
    The biggest issue with swimming, is it's very difficult to track your calorie burn. Intensity and overall swim time play a part in your burn. It's not like being on the treadmill where you can walk steadily for 30 minutes for a predictable burn. Personally, I think MFP drastically OVERestimates the calorie burn. When I swim, I use 3 different online calculators that ask for a standard 100yd time, and take the average from them. Even that is just a rough guess.

    Go for it though. It gets you HR up, and works those muscles, and can be a helluva workout if you put in the effort.
  • blytheandbonnie
    blytheandbonnie Posts: 3,275 Member
    That's my exercise of choice. It's all I really enjoy so it's what I picked. As you can see from my ticker, I have lost 30 pounds. I've gone down 1-3 sizes (depending on the brand). I walk sometimes too, if I can't get to the pool, but swimmingis the majority of my work outs. I've added using swim fins and a kickboard to my swim for part of it. That sure works the legs out, too. Swimming burns a lot of calories. Do what you enjoy and you will keep doing it. That is how you will get fit. :happy:
  • medaglia_06
    medaglia_06 Posts: 282 Member
    Swimming is a great form of exercise! Have you tried low impact aquafit as well? You can go at your own pace and that should help too :happy:
  • akvreeland
    akvreeland Posts: 27
    I swim with a Masters team, and sometimes wear my HR monitor...and burn anywhere from 600-750 calories per 90 mins depending on what we are doing. Just to give you an idea of the calorie burn.
  • RollinDawg
    RollinDawg Posts: 235 Member
    Have you ever seen a fat guy on a swim team? Yes, you can lose weight swimming.
  • Emmabulliemum
    Emmabulliemum Posts: 294 Member
    Until last week I have been doing a hour a week of Zumba, I started Jillian Michaels 30 day shred and bang! my knee got twisted. No high impact for at least 7 weeks, I had started swimming and my doctor said it is a great way to exercise and lose weight ( along with a healthy diet) without putting undew strain on your joints so I'm in your camp Swimming is GOOD :@)
  • lizsmith1976
    lizsmith1976 Posts: 497 Member
    I just started swimming a month ago (avid biker/runner, starting triathlons...), and I tell you, it BEATS me up! And I am in great shape! It is hard work, it gets my heart rate up, it works my arms, shoulders, and core for sure. When I am done I am tired and starving :) There is no way that you couldn't lose weight doing this. I agree that it is much more difficult to track calories burned, so you may need to make some adjustments if you stop losing weight or start losing too much. Good luck and have fun! It is great and low impact, and if it works for you, keep at it!
  • jonnyman41
    jonnyman41 Posts: 1,032 Member
    I alternate with faster laps, on my back or front crawl with breast stroke. The faster laps really get my heart going but I cant keep up that for longer so breast stroke gives me the chance to cool down a little but not stop. I figure it is a little like interval training in that way plus the breast stroke will also be toning my bingo wings!
  • robclif4d
    robclif4d Posts: 5
    "Swimming is great, no-impact exercise. Keep in mind, however, that exercise contributes to fitness; weight loss happens at the dinner table."

    Well said.
  • SoCalWoman
    SoCalWoman Posts: 2,384 Member
    I swim with a Masters team, and sometimes wear my HR monitor...and burn anywhere from 600-750 calories per 90 mins depending on what we are doing. Just to give you an idea of the calorie burn.
    What hrm do you use? I have a polar ft4 and i lose my heart rate signal as soon as i go under water.
  • super_monty
    super_monty Posts: 419 Member
    You certainly can lose weight with swimming but it takes longer. There is a guy in my gym who has lost a stone by swimming only.

    And aqua fit classes are kind on the joints.
  • HollywoodDJ
    HollywoodDJ Posts: 296
    I have been swimming one to two days per week and I have lost 27 lbs in 12 weeks. I have also been walking a few times but I know the swimming has helped...Again....eat correctly too and this will help!
  • Trail_Addict
    Trail_Addict Posts: 1,340 Member
    I swim with a Masters team, and sometimes wear my HR monitor...and burn anywhere from 600-750 calories per 90 mins depending on what we are doing. Just to give you an idea of the calorie burn.
    What hrm do you use? I have a polar ft4 and i lose my heart rate signal as soon as i go under water.

    The FT4 & FT7 are supposed to be good in water.... until you dig through Polar's website where they contradict themselves, saying they won't work. I have the FT7 and can't keep the strap from sliding down my chest, no matter how tight I make it.
  • akvreeland
    akvreeland Posts: 27
    What hrm do you use? I have a polar ft4 and i lose my heart rate signal as soon as i go under water.

    P4...I use hot (HOT) water to get the strap wet, start the watch before I get in the pool, once I am in the water it usually takes a lap or two for it to pick up my heart rate again. Hope that helps.
  • SoCalWoman
    SoCalWoman Posts: 2,384 Member
    What hrm do you use? I have a polar ft4 and i lose my heart rate signal as soon as i go under water.

    P4...I use hot (HOT) water to get the strap wet, start the watch before I get in the pool, once I am in the water it usually takes a lap or two for it to pick up my heart rate again. Hope that helps.

    hey thanks..I will try that.
  • sassydebbie67
    sassydebbie67 Posts: 76
    Swimming & walking is how i started loseing weight well along with MFP...
    I know workout with DVDs and still walk and swim..
    Good Luck to ya!!
  • smbkrn
    smbkrn Posts: 30 Member
    I have an FT7 and swim with it quite frequently. I also have trouble keeping with the strap reading my heart rate until I get my HR above 120 then it seems to work a lot better. I also have to tighten the strap quite a bit so I maintain good contact throughout my swim.
  • SoCalWoman
    SoCalWoman Posts: 2,384 Member
    I have an FT7 and swim with it quite frequently. I also have trouble keeping with the strap reading my heart rate until I get my HR above 120 then it seems to work a lot better. I also have to tighten the strap quite a bit so I maintain good contact throughout my swim.

    thanks to you as well. I will give it another go. appreciate it.
  • MrsAgi
    MrsAgi Posts: 338 Member
    Swimming is, in many ways, the ideal exercise for the very overweight, and a great exercise for everyone else:) It is very low/zero impact (depending on stroke used), your blood pressure lowers as soon as you are 1/3 immersed in water (some weird evolution throwback thing apparently) and there is little embarrassement factor as no-one can see you properly once you're in the water.....

    I wear my HRM to swim - it's only a cheapish Polar F4, but perfectly waterproof. I've found MFP was pretty accurate for my swim burns, I average around 200cals per half hour.....

    For some ideas of how to swim toi lose weight/get fitter/tone up (whatever you're aiming for) you can look at http://www.swimming.org/swimfit/about-swimfit/
  • Kissybiz
    Kissybiz Posts: 361 Member
    I swim about once a week, as well as power walk/swim in the ocean on weekends, and it's an awesome workout. If you want to add muscle, you need to strength train, but for low impact cardio, swimming is the best. I also walk, cycle and do various cardio and strength training in the gym (I have bad knees too), and so far I've lost nearly 50 lbs just since December. It's all about moving and burning more calories than you consume.
  • CookieCrumble
    CookieCrumble Posts: 221 Member
    The biggest issue with swimming, is it's very difficult to track your calorie burn. Intensity and overall swim time play a part in your burn. It's not like being on the treadmill where you can walk steadily for 30 minutes for a predictable burn. Personally, I think MFP drastically OVERestimates the calorie burn. When I swim, I use 3 different online calculators that ask for a standard 100yd time, and take the average from them. Even that is just a rough guess.

    Go for it though. It gets you HR up, and works those muscles, and can be a helluva workout if you put in the effort.

    This is very true. Get a heart rate monitor, OP. I wear one in the gym and in the pool - you get an accurate reading. Swimming DOESN'T burn mega calories and MFP really DOES overestimate it. I swam only yesterday and my calorie burn for 80 mins (slowly) was about 270 calories. MFP calculated it at over 1500.
  • mcpherson4
    mcpherson4 Posts: 287 Member
    I am noticing a difference and it DOES burn calories. Try treading for a really good work out, as well. You will be huffing. I also take time out and hold on the wall of the pool with my back against the wall and raise and lower my legs(heels touching, knees touching) with just my stomach muscles. My abs bark at this. Best of luck and happy swimming.
  • ashreynolds09
    ashreynolds09 Posts: 257 Member
    Have you ever seen a fat guy on a swim team? Yes, you can lose weight swimming.

    Okay this makes me laugh because in high school our men's team was about 80% 'fat guys' and those guys made up our best relays. We were a very good team as well.
  • jennkain97
    jennkain97 Posts: 290 Member
    The biggest issue with swimming, is it's very difficult to track your calorie burn. Intensity and overall swim time play a part in your burn. It's not like being on the treadmill where you can walk steadily for 30 minutes for a predictable burn. Personally, I think MFP drastically OVERestimates the calorie burn. When I swim, I use 3 different online calculators that ask for a standard 100yd time, and take the average from them. Even that is just a rough guess.

    Go for it though. It gets you HR up, and works those muscles, and can be a helluva workout if you put in the effort.

    not arguing, as i really haven't done much swimming recently, but wouldn't a water resistant HRM be effective at tracking calorie burn from swimming? i was considering getting one myself for just this purpose, as i do swim a lot on vacations and such where a pool is available. have you tried one?
  • 12skipafew99100
    12skipafew99100 Posts: 1,669 Member
    Also try pool "push ups". Put your hands on the edge of the pool, where your butt would be if you were sitting on the edge with your feet dangling in. Push yourself up with your arms all the way out of the pool until your arms are straight. Then let yourself go back into the water all the way under. Repeat. Good work out for the upper body. Watch out that you do not hit your nose on the edge. We did these in high school for warm ups. As you get stronger you will be able to do more and more of these.
  • kunibob
    kunibob Posts: 608 Member
    Don't let anyone tell you that you can't lose weight with swimming. I'm an ex-competitive swimmer, and I was always, without exception, 10-15 lb lighter in the main competition season (multiple workouts a day) than the off season (a few times a week), and when I quit, my weight started to skyrocket. That being said, just how much you can lose depends how good you are at it. If you don't have the endurance/technique to go for very long or at a very high intensity, you aren't going to burn as many calories as someone who can swim for hours each week at a good clip. The old ladies doing their gentle, slower-than-a-turtle breaststroke (IN MY FAST LANE :mad: ) are barely burning anything at all.

    Fair warning: I haven't yet found an exercise that makes me hungrier than swimming does. An hour in the pool, and I WILL try to eat absolutely anything set in front of me. I find my appetite boost from other exercises to be much more manageable.
  • Misty_Rage
    Misty_Rage Posts: 20 Member


    Fair warning: I haven't yet found an exercise that makes me hungrier than swimming does. An hour in the pool, and I WILL try to eat absolutely anything set in front of me. I find my appetite boost from other exercises to be much more manageable.

    I have already found this to be true. Im saving breakfast until after my swim, sometimes lunch depending on how long I am at the pool. I usually try to get out there early to protect my fair skin from the worst of the summer sun.

    I swam longer today than I had been most days, and consumed less calories than I have been allotted and am not hungry today.

    I have a theory that instead of hunger its actually thirst. I think its simple attempt at balancing the 100% water with the water in your body. We often ignore thirst and hunger is the body's next attempt at getting fluids. So I have been drinking a TON of water! I hope that helps curb the hunger.

    Thanks for all the replies and the success stories! I will keep it up. Its also not the only form of exercise I am doing.

    Feel free to add me as a friend.
  • SoCalWoman
    SoCalWoman Posts: 2,384 Member
    ya know..thirst is a great point. It's easy to think you're not thirsty when you're in the pool. I always leave a water bottle at the end of my lane and also drink another after I'm done. It helps.
    I'm still hungry as hell though. Crazy how this sport does that more than any other...and I play/do lots.

    I'm a swimming believer though. I learned how to swim before I learned how to walk. It's never failed me. Keep it up...and enjoy! :happy:
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