Swimmers Weigh In...

MrsWilsoncroft

Hi All

I thought I'd make a thread for us swimmers who are enjoying the exercise to lose weight and get fit :happy:

Well after starting swimming last week and going three times in the week I lost 2.8lbs and lost 3 inches from my waist which I was really pleased about.

Let me know how you have all got on too.

Love Stacey xxx

SnowAngel80

Hi Stacey!

I have been swimming 5 times in the last two weeks..I feel so energized yet tired when I am done! I have lost 5 lbs so far. I haven't measured my waist but I am on the last hole in my belt for the first time in 6 months so I think that it is working!

:-)
Betsy

MrsWilsoncroft

This week I have lost another 0.8 lbs so again I am very pleased :happy:

Well done on your weight loss hun, you are doing great xxx

PeloMichelle

Great Job!! You've inspired me to up my swimming from 2-3 days a week to 4.

You all are getting fantastic results-WTG!!!

riftknight

Hi there,

After spending the last eight years in school, behind a desk, I'm finally getting back into swimming as my primary form of exercise. I just started back yesterday and plan on swimming 5 days a week for about an hour - 1 1/2 hours each day.

tinkermommc

I swam to lose my first 40 lbs. Right now I'm running because it's hard to fit swimming in while the kids are home for the summer. But I'll be back in the pool come fall!!

SnowAngel80

This week I have lost another 0.8 lbs so again I am very pleased :happy:

Well done on your weight loss hun, you are doing great xxx

Thanks! Wonderful job on the weight loss!!

I swam my first mile last night! Not all at once, took some breaks but felt so wonderful for doing it! xx

nerdieprofessor

This week I have lost another 0.8 lbs so again I am very pleased :happy:

Well done on your weight loss hun, you are doing great xxx

Thanks! Wonderful job on the weight loss!!

I swam my first mile last night! Not all at once, took some breaks but felt so wonderful for doing it! xx

Hooray SnowAngel!

matthew_b

I'm swimming 3 times a week and doing aerobic class on the other two week nights. Two of my kids are on a rec league swim team so I'm at the pool three nights a week to pick them up anyway.

I've been swimming since May of last year, and being very serious about the laps since August. I started out having a hard time doing 10 laps. I did my first mile around October. I built up going farther and farther until I was able to go three miles around March. I've noticed a lot of up and down in my distance ability. It seems like I make jumps in my speed as my strength grows, and when it does I go way back on my distance before exhaustion hits. This last round in May I was able to get my sustained speed under 1 min per 50yd lap and when I do I went clear back to only being able to go 25 laps before I was dead. I'm now up to 50 laps at that pace.

I've lost 41 lbs since I started and I'm down 34 since joining MFP.

riftknight

I'm swimming 3 times a week and doing aerobic class on the other two week nights. Two of my kids are on a rec league swim team so I'm at the pool three nights a week to pick them up anyway.

I've been swimming since May of last year, and being very serious about the laps since August. I started out having a hard time doing 10 laps. I did my first mile around October. I built up going farther and farther until I was able to go three miles around March. I've noticed a lot of up and down in my distance ability. It seems like I make jumps in my speed as my strength grows, and when it does I go way back on my distance before exhaustion hits. This last round in May I was able to get my sustained speed under 1 min per 50yd lap and when I do I went clear back to only being able to go 25 laps before I was dead. I'm now up to 50 laps at that pace.

I've lost 41 lbs since I started and I'm down 34 since joining MFP.

Awesome Matt! To increase endurance and speed throw in some pulling sets and kicking sets between all-out swimming sets.

nerdieprofessor

Awesome Matt! Switching things up is a good idea. Do some fast short stuff, and some slower longer sets.

DPernet

I started swimming again 6 months ago. I'm now up to 5 times a week for an hour a time. So far I've lost nearly 60lbs and 7 inches off my waist. Don't think I'm ever going to stop!!

nerdieprofessor

We are away this week visiting family so no proper lap swimming for me this week. <whine> My sister does have a backyard pool at least.

I am swimming laps MWF in the outdoor long course pool this summer. I add 100 meters each time, at 2,500m now. I'm running a bit on T/H and biking just about every day, so not trying to overdo the swimming days (i.e. three days a week is enough for now.

Talazws

I started swimming about a month ago, once my semester ended and I had time to actually use the pool at school. I go about 3 times a week (only open four days a week), for about an hour. I haven't lost much as all, about 5 lbs in the past 2.5 months, and most of that before started swimming. However, I have noticed my core/midsection has gotten a lot stronger and firmer. I wish I was dropping pounds, though!

MrsWilsoncroft

Well done to everyone
I stayed the same at my weigh in on friday x

elisabeisme

The most important change for me is that adding swimming to my routine has allowed me to increase the number of days a week that I workout.

Before, my week was 1-2 strength days and 2-3 cardio days, or 4 days. My cardio was a combination of elliptical, treadmill, and stationary bike. The problem with that routine was that it was too leg-focused. Now, I've added 2-3 days of swimming which uses muscles more evenly and also uses significantly more arms, back and core than the other cardio. Now, I'm able to average 6 days a week of workout.

Before i joined MFP I had lost 17 lbs over 10 months. In the last 2 months, withnthis new schedule and MFP, I've lost 9 lbs. so the rate of loss has definitely increased. I was already trying to eat healthy, but I'm sure the diet tracking in MFP has improved things a lot in my diet so the change isn't entirely due to only the swimming.

All I can say is this combo is working for me!

melindaberg

I just started swimming two weeks ago. This is natural to me, I've been on a swim team and taught lessons. So far I really haven't lost much but this is only my second week. I'm loving the workouts. I surprised myself by being able to do a lap of butterfly today.

nerdieprofessor

Hooray for butterfly, melinda!

I did my longest swim of the summer on Tuesday. 2,600 meters in an hour. Slow but continuous!

Next week I'll try for 3,000 meters at some point, I think.

melindaberg

Congrats on the 2600. I did 3200 hard today it took mt 90 minutes. Keep up the great work.

lililo90

wow! 2.600m I´m trying to do the same distance in one hour. but i´m finding it a bit difficult. I start doing 600m warm up, then I stretch and then I do some butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle equally distributed to 2000m total. What do you guys think? Need some advice thanks!!

melindaberg

Do you use paddles at any point? Sometimes that can help you learn to speed your stroke up. Just keep at it and you'll get faster just by continuing to do it. I just got back to pool workouts after 10 years of trying to do land workouts. I realize why I never stuck with the land programs.

lililo90

Thank you Melinda! I´m going to use paddles more, by the way I´ve lost already 24lb swimming... 14 to go

riftknight

I acutally am against paddles for the same reason that I'm against flippers. 1) they alter your stroke. 2) they create a dependancy on the item.

celtic_ink

I swim almost every day after work. It has been a fantastic supplement to my other workouts.

matthew_b

We are away this week visiting family so no proper lap swimming for me this week. <whine> My sister does have a backyard pool at least.

I'm now researching where pools are when I travel. I'm not going to let myself make excuses because I know they will escalate one after the other. I think this will be easier once I've lost enough weight to take up jogging.

matthew_b

I acutally am against paddles for the same reason that I'm against flippers. 1) they alter your stroke. 2) they create a dependancy on the item.

My problems with cramps went away when I gave up flippers.

I've now gotten into good enough cardio condition that I find my legs and arms are being worked hard enough during swimming that I'm sore even without fins or paddles.

melindaberg

Paddles are meant to help improve your stroke. I only use the if I'm working on arms most of them time I swim without them. When people use them throughout their entire workout they do get too dependent on them.

riftknight

Paddles are meant to help improve your stroke. I only use the if I'm working on arms most of them time I swim without them. When people use them throughout their entire workout they do get too dependent on them.

I agree Melinda, except that most people don't use them correctly. It is one thing to have someone who is experienced and even trained in how to use paddles and/or gloves, and flippers. It is entirely something else to have anyone slap on some paddles and flippers and go. Most people I see who are swimming have issues with their kick that flippers only exagerate. And when you are using paddles, if you don't know what you are doing, they cause you to flatten out your hand and turn it to get the most benefit out of the paddle, instead of the paddle providing the most benefit to your stroke.

I'm not meaning to sound preachy, I just think that paddles and flippers should be used by people who already have an idea of how to improve their strokes, or under the supervision of a trainer who is properly instructing the swimmer on their use. Being a former competitive swimmer, a waterpolo player, a WSI and an LGI, and a swimming instructor, I have seen more problems created by people trying to self-improve their strokes with these than without paddles or flippers

nerdieprofessor

The last poster has a point. Such additional tools Locke fins, paddles, buoys, etc. should used properly and not overused. I don't use anything these days sine the fins aggravate my knees and the paddles but more stress on shoulders (yes, I have had several ortho surgeries). Such tools are useful for their intended purposes but can be detrimental without proper supervision by a knowledgable coach.

Good coaching is the best means for stoke technique improvement. Period.

mdmcmillen

I swim 2+ miles almost every day and the only aid I use is a FINIS swimmers snorkel. I am not trying to impress anyone, i'm trying to get a good workout. I can push myself much harder with this because I don't have to turn my head to breath. I swam 3 miles in 1hr 20min on 7/22. I don't think i'd be able to manage that time without it. Check it out, it's done amazing things for my cardio http://www.swimoutlet.com/product_p/1221.htm

Rory_123

I am going to start swimming next week when I get back from the long weekend vacation. Very excited! Is there any swim equivalent of C25K? I would like to follow some sort of program. I used to be on a swim team and teach lessons, but haven't been in a pool in years.