Do you Swim for Exercise? Advice needed

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Anyone else here like to swim for exercise? I love it i can swim constantly for 60-90min. But I have noticed that I see more benefit from my arms than my legs so i am looking for suggestions on how to improve my overall body workout. I am also curious how many days a week everyone here goes swimming and for how long, I would like to challenge myself but i am not sure what the next step should be?

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  • benol1
    benol1 Posts: 867 Member
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    Anyone else here like to swim for exercise? I love it i can swim constantly for 60-90min. But I have noticed that I see more benefit from my arms than my legs so i am looking for suggestions on how to improve my overall body workout. I am also curious how many days a week everyone here goes swimming and for how long, I would like to challenge myself but i am not sure what the next step should be?

    Yeah, I love swimming but generally do it during the warmer months. Definitely, its more of an upper body exercise. What worked for me in the past is concentrating more on technique and, in freestyle, kicking faster. The other thing to do is to alternate your swimming with cycling or running.
    kind regards,

    Ben
  • suzyfj8
    suzyfj8 Posts: 257 Member
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    I love to swim, I swim at once a week for an hour constantly, it is a good workout for my arms but because I run and cycle (4 times a week) it balances it out for me :)
  • Sarahlascelles
    Sarahlascelles Posts: 41 Member
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    Try doing some kick only lengths, either with a swimming float or without. Excellent for leg work and for improving general technique.
  • lauren3101
    lauren3101 Posts: 1,853 Member
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    I go 2 - 3 times a week, I swim for 30 mins, always have done, but I try and up the intensity every time I go.

    I walk a lot nearly every day so I find it kind of balances out.
  • darkon
    darkon Posts: 5,342 MFP Moderator
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    I used to swim 4/5 times a week.
    Swimming is good for all your body but at the end it will ALWAYS work way more on the upper side of your body (back/shoulders mainly).
    If i were you i would add a run to your routine.
  • ladymember
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    I do deep water jogging (wearing a swim belt) for 1-1/2 hours 4 x a week going back and forth in a swim lane.
    So my legs get more of a workout than my arms.
    I joined a fitness center so I can do it all year long.
  • soldiergrl_101
    soldiergrl_101 Posts: 2,206 Member
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    These are some good Ideas I think I might try a run today, I am not very good at running though
  • Sarahlascelles
    Sarahlascelles Posts: 41 Member
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    Also http://www.swimming.org/swimfit/ might have some ideas