Swimming?

soldiergrl_101
soldiergrl_101 Posts: 2,205 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Does any one here swim for exercise? I am only on day 6 and what a difference, I feel like I can swim for hours. and I have already lost 6 inches in my waist. Whats your swimming routine, do you do weight training and other forms of cardio along with your swimming routine? I swim for about 60 minutes=600 cals and I alternate my stroke each lap.

Replies

  • S_Delbridge
    S_Delbridge Posts: 73
    I want to swim to exercise but guess I dont know what that would consist of .... any tips ? whats your routine
  • ferrahcn
    ferrahcn Posts: 65
    bump
  • Yogi_Carl
    Yogi_Carl Posts: 1,906 Member
    I do a combination of swimming, calisthenics, yoga, cycling and kettlebells and really loving it.
  • JeniferEverx3
    JeniferEverx3 Posts: 219 Member
    I haven't started yet, but I plan to replace my cardio (which right now consists of the elliptical and maybe soon the treadmill) with swimming. I have no plan as to HOW to do this, my thought was just to jump in and swim laps until I can't swim laps anymore. I think, like you mentioned, it will probably be beneficial to switch up strokes every so often. Does anyone have a routine for a swimming pool workout?
  • schnarfo
    schnarfo Posts: 764 Member
    I haven't started yet, but I plan to replace my cardio (which right now consists of the elliptical and maybe soon the treadmill) with swimming. I have no plan as to HOW to do this, my thought was just to jump in and swim laps until I can't swim laps anymore. I think, like you mentioned, it will probably be beneficial to switch up strokes every so often. Does anyone have a routine for a swimming pool workout?

    Put into google swimming training routines and hers a website that generates sets based on what you like o do
  • RunForChai
    RunForChai Posts: 238 Member
    Hi,
    I love swimming! For years I've been a runner, hiker, walker--and was afraid of deep water and couldn't swim.
    Last summer I began lessons--and now, at 56, I am a swimmer! Just in time to help me heal from a leg injury that prevents me from running, hiking and walking.
    I find that swimming is a good workout--I think MFP way underrates it as an exercise, giving me half of what it does for biking or running when it takes a lot of energy to swim. I also find that nothing has ever built up my arm muscles like swimming--I get tons of complements on my arms.

    **One thing bring along a snack for after swimming, I always slice an apple, pear or some peppers or even some cheese slices for after a workout otherwise the temptation to binge is huge.

    Swim!!
  • jweisshoff
    jweisshoff Posts: 74 Member
    I am doing a combo of swimming laps, water aerobics, walking, eliptical, and strength training. Added the swimming 2 weeks ago when my weight seemed to be slowing down....and weight loss has picked up since I added 2 days of that in during the week.
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    I swimming laps at our YMCA on Monday Wednesday and Friday.... I do 72 Laps = 2miles which takes me right at 105 minutes... I do 108 laps = 3 miles once every 3 to 4 weeks.... on Tuesday Thursday and Saturdays I do Weight lifting and take Sundays off... Saturdays after weights we like to go to the Metro park for a nature hike..... I do alternate my swimming as a swim as well.... Swimming is great exercise and is alot easier on my bad knee's..... :drinker:
  • Crochetluvr
    Crochetluvr Posts: 3,275 Member
    I only have access to a pool in the summer but I do water jogging and some calisthenics. Its fun, a great workout....and no sweat. :D
  • RamoZimm
    RamoZimm Posts: 95 Member
    Just did my first swim of the season today. The pool temp. is fairly cold, only 71, so I did interval training in the deep end to really get my heart rate going. I do laps to bring it down. During the winter, I do aerobic dvd's and always vary the routines. I plan to keep switching it up this summer to increase my chances of fat loss. I also do strength training 3 times a week. I'd be lost without it! Congrats on your amazing success with your swimming so far! That's beyond awesome!
  • iWaffle
    iWaffle Posts: 2,208 Member
    Does any one here swim for exercise? I am only on day 6 and what a difference, I feel like I can swim for hours.

    tumblr_mklsjoNFMd1rnqolfo1_400.gif
  • KateRunsColorado
    KateRunsColorado Posts: 407 Member
    Hi,
    I love swimming! For years I've been a runner, hiker, walker--and was afraid of deep water and couldn't swim.
    Last summer I began lessons--and now, at 56, I am a swimmer! Just in time to help me heal from a leg injury that prevents me from running, hiking and walking.
    I find that swimming is a good workout--I think MFP way underrates it as an exercise, giving me half of what it does for biking or running when it takes a lot of energy to swim. I also find that nothing has ever built up my arm muscles like swimming--I get tons of complements on my arms.

    **One thing bring along a snack for after swimming, I always slice an apple, pear or some peppers or even some cheese slices for after a workout otherwise the temptation to binge is huge.

    Swim!!

    I am also a runner and hiker and have thought about trying swimming, but I know nothing about proper technique! Maybe I should just swallow my pride and take lessons like you did (I feel silly now that I'm an adult!). I do think it would be a great cross training workout from my running though! You've got me seriously thinking about trying it!
  • SJ46
    SJ46 Posts: 407 Member
    I just learned to swim a month ago by taking lessons. My goal is to swim three days a week for 30-45 minutes depending on how much time I have. Right now I am working on shortening my rest time after swimming a length in the pool. After I am able to swim a few laps without stopping then I plan to find some workouts to do in the pool.

    ETA - Yes I do other things besides swim - weights (2-3x), yoga, various cardio classes, and personal training.
  • icimani
    icimani Posts: 1,454 Member
    I swim 3-4 times a week. I'm in the water for an hour, but I'm swimming laps for 20 minutes and generally burn about 140 cals in that 20 mins. The rest of the time is just gentle stretching, some foam barbell work, kicking, etc.

    I also do some resistance training 2-3 times a week, and cardio (treadmill and bicycle) 4-5 times a week.

    Throughout the week, I generally average 400-500 cals burned.
  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    I do water calisthenics. We do shallow water walking/ jogging for the first 1/2 the deep water work the second. We use the foam dumbbells and the first day I could not lift my arms to wash my hair when I got home. Unfortunately I can only fit in my schedule once a week.
  • Yogi_Carl
    Yogi_Carl Posts: 1,906 Member
    Hi,
    I love swimming! .....
    Last summer I began lessons--and now, at 56, I am a swimmer! .....
    Swim!!

    I am also a runner and hiker and have thought about trying swimming, but I know nothing about proper technique! Maybe I should just swallow my pride and take lessons like you did (I feel silly now that I'm an adult!)......You've got me seriously thinking about trying it!

    Please, please, never feel silly booking yourself in for swim lessons. Thiink of it as swim coaching. If you tell folks you are going to meet your swimming coach, boy will they be impresed!

    School was never a place where i was ever going to learn to swim so I was self-taught for years until just recently at 52, I realised my technique was all wrong because everyone was lapping me in the pool - even the slow ones!

    I have so far been to two swim coach sessions and my technique has improved so much and so soon into the process. I loved swimming before but now I am absolutely 100% a swimmer. I look for a pool everywhere I go now, visiting family and friends, going to meetings, on holiday etc - all adds to the variety. I've met some wonderful friendly people.
  • larsensue
    larsensue Posts: 461 Member
    I do water calisthenics. We do shallow water walking/ jogging for the first 1/2 the deep water work the second. We use the foam dumbbells and the first day I could not lift my arms to wash my hair when I got home. Unfortunately I can only fit in my schedule once a week.

    Same Here! wonderful workout!!! I detest land workouts now. I go 3-4 times per week at 45-60 minutes each workout. I take my 10 yr old with me and we do it together. Lots of fun and together time staying active. then I do Hip Hop Abs at home 2-3 days a week. I burn about 450cals per workout in the pool and about 250 doing the hip hop abs.
  • soldiergrl_101
    soldiergrl_101 Posts: 2,205 Member
    I want to swim to exercise but guess I dont know what that would consist of .... any tips ? whats your routine

    I was a runner but then after a bad cold that lasted a month I started getting really bad exercise enduced asthma, so I turned to the pool after reading. I couldnt swim forward for the life of me on day one, so I just did the back stroke and by the time I looked at the clock an hour passed. The next day I mixed it up freestyle forward and back stroke, now on day 6 I do the butterfly, breast stroke, back stroke, freestyle alternating laps for 60 minutes. My arms are looking great!!! Its funny to hear people at the pool ask, how long have you been swimming for and I am like 6 days lol! I learned everything about the strokes and form from you tube...google is your friend :)
  • SanteMulberry
    SanteMulberry Posts: 3,202 Member
    Hi,
    I love swimming! For years I've been a runner, hiker, walker--and was afraid of deep water and couldn't swim.
    Last summer I began lessons--and now, at 56, I am a swimmer! Just in time to help me heal from a leg injury that prevents me from running, hiking and walking.
    I find that swimming is a good workout--I think MFP way underrates it as an exercise, giving me half of what it does for biking or running when it takes a lot of energy to swim. I also find that nothing has ever built up my arm muscles like swimming--I get tons of complements on my arms.

    **One thing bring along a snack for after swimming, I always slice an apple, pear or some peppers or even some cheese slices for after a workout otherwise the temptation to binge is huge.

    Swim!!

    I am also a runner and hiker and have thought about trying swimming, but I know nothing about proper technique! Maybe I should just swallow my pride and take lessons like you did (I feel silly now that I'm an adult!). I do think it would be a great cross training workout from my running though! You've got me seriously thinking about trying it!

    Our public aqua center has a "Stroke Improvement For Adults" course. I'm thinking that most public pools offer something similar. So you don't have to be embarrassed. :smile:
  • DangerJim71
    DangerJim71 Posts: 361 Member
    I started swimming 6 months ago and couldn't do a lap so I got some lessons and kept working at it. I typically swim 4 times per week about 2-3000 yds and usually follow up with some running or cycling. Swimming has become my favorite part of my triathlon training. I am always amazed at how much I am sweating after I get out of the pool.

    I'd comment more but I really have to go... swimming. :D

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