Swimming and weight loss

polarb41

Hi all,
I have myfitnesspal app and log everything. I have a 1200 calorie a day limit. I swim everyday, an average of 1 mile at my local gym which gives me the extra calories which is nice, but.... I watch everything I eat and I am not losing any weight. I started at 13 stone 4 pounds in June, got down to 12 stone 12 pounds as at today's date but my weight has not moved since early July. Anyone got any advice or possibly know what is happening. I want to be 11 stone but it is turning out to be a real battle. ????

maddymama

You may want to eat above the 1200 if you are exercising. If you are eating only 1200 calories and burning 300 exercising, then you are netting 900, not 1200. Your body may be holding onto everything you put into it for energy.

Try to up your calories a bit for a week or two and see what happens.

polarb41

Thank you maddymama

Sorry if I confused you, I do more often than not go to my calorific limit for the day, taking the extras from exercise as a treat but making sure it is a good treat, this is why I am so baffled as I do not think I am making my body go into starvation mode by under eating.

katherineedwards13

another thing to consider is that swimming is great, but you can plateau just like any other exercise. I swam in college and I have found that I have been losing weight with what I am doing now, but I know once I plateau, which will be soon, that I will need to mix up my workouts. The best thing to do is to start doing some interval work. it's the same as with running, do some sprints, rest and do some more....you don't need to do full on workouts at first, but the varied speed will help you build different muscles and lose weight. Kiefer, http://www.kiefer.com/stroke--free---and-speed--pages-511.php, puts together some pretty simple workouts. you won't need to do the entire thing, but chose some of the sets (I tend to opt for sets of 50 or 75 yds) and mix up your routine!

good luck and keep swimming!

polarb41

Thank you kathrineedwa, I will take your advise on board and have a look at the workouts you have kindly,recommended. I do have to confess that I was running and rowing and doing all sorts and did not enjoy any of it, I have always enjoyed swimming and that is why I made it my exercise of,choice but I suppose that if I plateau then yes I will have to look at doing something else for a while. I do find it hard as well to do this on my own, my partner has no weight issues, he just runs three times a week and mainly eats what he wants, you can off off people you know! Lol.

jcpmoore

One thing to know about swimming- the closer you get to your goal the less you will lose. Your body benefits from a higher body fat content while swimming. The buoyancy is improved by it. My swim instructor in college always told us that if you're trying to lose those last pounds that swimming won't cut it. Not sure how close you are, but that could be helpful.

OTOH, that information IS over 20 years old. I can't be certain it hasn't been overwritten by now.

Hope it helps.