Do people lose weight via swimming?

reerazzle

Curious if anyone has successfully lost weight with diet and swimming. I am swimming about 4 times a week for 45 minutes straight each time and am seeing limited success.

pastryari

If you're in a deficit, you should lose weight.

If you open your diary, people may be able to help you.

How tall are you, how much do you weigh, how many calories are you consuming, etc. is the kind of of info needed.

beenisafe

Same hear. I am also swimming 3-4 times each week for a hour or just over an hour. I have not lost much weight but have noticed that my jeans are looser.
I am also curious to know if anyone else has lost weight by swimming and dieting alone.

mikeatmichael

I got down to my lowest weight in 20 years by swimming. I was swimming a mile in about 35 minutes 3-5 times a week and lost 15 lbs. over the course of a year or two. I stopped swimming for about a year and gained it all back.

For the last two months I've been trying to swim a mile 2-3 times a week and riding a stationary bike or running the other days. If you're patient and look at this as a lifetime commitment and not a quick way to lose weight you'll get there and be healthier for the way you did it too.

dawnna76

I swim two days a week and I think that while it wouldn't help me dropping pounds, it does sculpt the upper body and you drop inches. I swim on my rest days and my shoulders and back are much stronger and leaner because of it.

One great side effect of swimming for me has been it has taught me to be a better runner. I learned how to better regulate my breathing by swimming laps and that same regulating demes to play when running. My cardiovascular has improved because of it

benol1

Curious if anyone has successfully lost weight with diet and swimming. I am swimming about 4 times a week for 45 minutes straight each time and am seeing limited success.

Its an amazing exercise. About eighteen years ago I attended an olympic pool nearly every day. I was swimming about 25km a week and at least two days a week I swam 5,000 metres - I was doing that for over a year and it had an incredible effect.
These days the local aquatic centre charges like a wounded bull and so I only get to go maybe once or twice a week.
Keep it up!
kind regards,

Ben

Huffdogg

It's one of the only aerobic exercises that provides a full-body (especially if you are flip turning) resistance effect along with the cardiovascular training.

If you are seeing limited results, it's probably a problem on the intake side or you are overestimating calorie burn.

cleback

Love swimming! When I was in school, swimming regularly kept me lean. Now I mostly run due to the fact it's a quicker workout and easier to fit into your day. However, I do fit swimming 1-2x/week. Although I don't quite get my heart rate as high swimming as during a run, I always feel a good burn in my shoulders, arms, and legs. Probably more of a resistance workout than running.

Of more relevance to your question, there was a recent fitness post about hunger and swimming. Some people mentioned that swimming in cold waters can stimulate an appetite. I've never heard of it before today, but it might be something to look into.

In general, exercise + deficit= weight loss. Good luck!

Scott15Fit

It's one of the only aerobic exercises that provides a full-body (especially if you are flip turning) resistance effect along with the cardiovascular training.

If you are seeing limited results, it's probably a problem on the intake side or you are overestimating calorie burn.

Very true. After you've been swimming a while at the same pace you won't be expending as much energy, same with any cardio activity that you do at the same pace over a long period of time. Just not as many HRM's work in water so it's harder to measure. If you want greater results increase your intensity by doing things like sprints which is the equivalent of intervals when running. If your happier doing a leisurely swim then start reducing the calorie burn estimation.

Edit: Because I suck at grammar

ZyheeMoongazer

Calorie Deficit is the only way to lose weight. What cardio exercises you are doing doesn't matter if you are eating over your TDEE.

Xiaolongbao

Calorie Deficit is the only way to lose weight. What cardio exercises you are doing doesn't matter if you are eating over your TDEE.

Yep. I love swimming. Swim 1500m between 4 and 7 times a week at a decent pace. But you know what, I did that when I was fat too...

Swimming has many positive benefits but like any exercise it can only help you to lose weight if you are burning more than you're eating. And the burn for swimming is less than for most other exercises because it's not weight bearing.

elyseology

I do swimming for my fitness and have not been losing weight. I invested in a heart rate monitor (polar ft4), turns out I wasn't working NEARLY as hard as I thought I was. Those ridiculous calories MFP had been giving me for my swim workout had been completely wrong. Now I make sure I keep my heart rate in between the zone and log the calories burned that my Polar reads out. I highly suggest you invest as well, best decision I ever made!!

Caguppie

i've also have some nice results with swimming, but it might help to change up your swim routine or add some other kind of exercise.

Macstraw

I've lost 25 lbs. since the beginning of the year only swimming & walking. On my distance days I'm up to 6500 yards, on the days I do shorter, more intense sets I'm doing 5000 yards. I'm down about 1 1/2 pants sizes & my clothes are fitting me much more loosely. I haven't felt this strong in years, I don't get winded walking & my core is much stronger. Remember, it's not just the amount of time you spend swimming - it's how hard you hit it. Swimming an hour leisurely will not net you anywhere near the results that hitting it harder will, it's the same as the difference between a casual stroll & a fast walk or run. Like anything else, you get out of it what you put into it.....

seanezekiel

Actuallythe burm from swimming is higher then almost any other exercise.

Macstraw

Bottom line - instead of worrying about HRM's, whether the calories listed are correct, etc. just eat less than you used to & move more than you used to. you WILL lose weight. Remember, none of us got to where we are (for good or bad) overnight & the changes will not come overnight. Instead of trying to lose the most weight in the shortest amount of time shoot for lifestyle changes that will stay in place. The process doesn't need to be cumbersome & stressful, slowly incorporate the changes you want & wait patiently for results that will last permanently......

Pinkylee77

Of course swimming burns calories Look at Michael Felps he ate almost 12,000 calories a day when in training. also the more fit you are the lower your heart rate will be. But I have never found heart rate was a good judge of exercise. Prior to my heart surgery my heart rate was around 150 and when I did anything it would race. My weight did not go down after my heart surgery my heart rate is mostly in the 50-70 range and I am much more fit and able to burn calories without the racing heart. Just keep moving and you will burn calories.

phjorg

people lose weight by eating less food than they expend in living/activity.

swimming or not swimming has nothing to do with this fact.

phjorg

I do swimming for my fitness and have not been losing weight. I invested in a heart rate monitor (polar ft4), turns out I wasn't working NEARLY as hard as I thought I was. Those ridiculous calories MFP had been giving me for my swim workout had been completely wrong. Now I make sure I keep my heart rate in between the zone and log the calories burned that my Polar reads out. I highly suggest you invest as well, best decision I ever made!!

that zone is a useless indicator of anything. push yourself hard and aim to improve every workout.

Yogi_Carl

You naturally suck in your diaphragm and core slightly all the time you are swimming, which helps to give a slimmer appearance in additon to helping towards weight loss by increasing calorie deficit while helping to maintain muscle generally.

That's my opinion and my findings for my own progress path; others may hold different opinions.

Macstraw

people lose weight by eating less food than they expend in living/activity.

swimming or not swimming has nothing to do with this fact.

Well, it does in that it expends more calories than not swimming. Any exercise that is more than what you've been doing is a plus, & any exercise you do will help increase the calorie deficit needed to lose weight.....

Macstraw

I do swimming for my fitness and have not been losing weight. I invested in a heart rate monitor (polar ft4), turns out I wasn't working NEARLY as hard as I thought I was. Those ridiculous calories MFP had been giving me for my swim workout had been completely wrong. Now I make sure I keep my heart rate in between the zone and log the calories burned that my Polar reads out. I highly suggest you invest as well, best decision I ever made!!

that zone is a useless indicator of anything. push yourself hard and aim to improve every workout.

^ This. We get too caught up in #'s & gadgets. Just get out there & move, whether it's swimming, running, jumping rope, rowing. ANY activity will require energy & make your body burn calories. Combine that with controlling what you eat & you will lose weight. Save money, save time & save stress by not worrying about gadgets & what their readings mean. One thing I've noticed in my time on MFP is that for every person who says how you should do things to lose weight, what tools you should use, what #'s are important there is somebody else who makes just as credible an argument for the other point of view (see all the threads on whether to eat back exercise calories, starvation mode, lifting vs. cardio, etc.). Just get out there & do what works for you..........

SanteMulberry

I do swimming for my fitness and have not been losing weight. I invested in a heart rate monitor (polar ft4), turns out I wasn't working NEARLY as hard as I thought I was. Those ridiculous calories MFP had been giving me for my swim workout had been completely wrong. Now I make sure I keep my heart rate in between the zone and log the calories burned that my Polar reads out. I highly suggest you invest as well, best decision I ever made!!

Yep. If you are not breathing somewhat heavily, you are not burning many calories. I've lost 20 pounds since I started "aquatic exercise" in August of last year, and have completely changed shape (almost 10 inches off my waist!) One thing I notice about the lap swimmers is that many of them don't even breathe heavy at all. They just swim at a very leisurely pace. The other thing is that I hear some of them talking in the change room and going out for coffee and doughnuts with their friends after they swim. I think they have been told that they will lose weight from swimming , but we all know that without watching what you eat, you might be more fit but you probably won't lose body fat.

allysonvb

I don't know if it's been discussed, but you have to get your heart rate up during swimming to lose weight, leisurely swimming will not have nearly the affect. Also, vary the stroke you do, the number of times you stroke before breathing, etc. do some long course sets and some sprints. The theory of muscle confusion applies here, too. I was a swimmer through college, and I was a distance swimmer, so I can get in te water and swim a mile no problem. For me, I'd have to do some sprint sets and drills to feel the burn. You may be the same.

Hadabetter

I don't know if it's been discussed, but you have to get your heart rate up during swimming to lose weight, leisurely swimming will not have nearly the affect. Also, vary the stroke you do, the number of times you stroke before breathing, etc. do some long course sets and some sprints. The theory of muscle confusion applies here, too. I was a swimmer through college, and I was a distance swimmer, so I can get in te water and swim a mile no problem. For me, I'd have to do some sprint sets and drills to feel the burn. You may be the same.

Muscles don't get confused.

baptiste565

the bad thing with swimming is that the better u get is the more efficient u get and thus less cals burned. but its a total body exercise.

allysonvb

I don't know if it's been discussed, but you have to get your heart rate up during swimming to lose weight, leisurely swimming will not have nearly the affect. Also, vary the stroke you do, the number of times you stroke before breathing, etc. do some long course sets and some sprints. The theory of muscle confusion applies here, too. I was a swimmer through college, and I was a distance swimmer, so I can get in te water and swim a mile no problem. For me, I'd have to do some sprint sets and drills to feel the burn. You may be the same.

Muscles don't get confused.

No, you're right, they don't. I just meant vary te exercises so you are hitting many muscle groups instead of the same ones over and over!

SanteMulberry

the bad thing with swimming is that the better u get is the more efficient u get and thus less cals burned. but its a total body exercise.

What I do is keep pushing harder and faster as I get more fit. The best thing is to go for breathing heavy--it is an easy thing to keep track of, doesn't require any fancy hardware and is a pretty good marker of whether or not you are getting a good workout. Some of the people in my aquacize group will rest between sets of moves and I keep going. I fill in with other moves because I want to work as hard as I can. Seems to work for me.

CudyBug

I lost 50 lbs before getting pregnant and it was all from walking, calorie counting and leisurely swimming with my children. I didn't do laps I mostly walked the current pool with them or made sure if I was standing still I was still moving.

NaomiJFoster

Here's another question for the swimmers.

I love swimming, I love being in the water. But I don't have the stamina to swim for 30 solid minutes. I can do 10 minutes. Then I'm physically exhausted, and mentally losing my concentration. So I usually do 10 minutes, then sit and read my book, then 10 minutes, then read, then 10 more minutes. It still adds up to 30, obviously. But is it still an effective workout? Should I push myself to go longer, or is this just fine? It's not the only cardio or strength I get, but I like to do it once or twice a week in the spring/summer.

ScottishMrs

Yes, people lose weight via swimming because it's a burn. That's how my SIL keeps her weight down. Also, when I lived in residence there was a girl there who had been a competitive swimmer in highschool and stopped swimming when she got to university. She gained 40lbs in first year because she still ate like a swimmer but didn't swim anymore. Proof that it definitely burns well if you work hard!