Do I have to be a "real" swimmer for it to count?

I started at 272. It was difficult to have good form. I mostly did the back stroke and breast stroke because they were easier.

It's still difficult for me to swim freestyle for very long at one time, but I can feel my form improving every day I swim. I went from struggling to get 25 yds to being able to do almost 100 freestyle. Generally, I do 25 yds alternating back stroke, freestyle, breaststroke, freestyle. Today I swam 2500 yds. I didn't think that would ever happen! It was so difficult at first, I had to focus all my energy on jsut getting from one end to the other. I could never imagine being able to count laps while doing that, much less count laps, breathe with relative ease.

Do you have flippers or hand paddles? Those can help a lot with getting your form right.

Do what you can. Your abilities will improve faster than you imagine if you keep at it. You will get there if you keep going. You will get stronger as you lose and it will feel AMAZING!

I second the suggestion to do breaststroke and/or backstroke instead of freestyle at first. I found that I was able to do breaststroke a lot more easily than freestyle when I first started. I've been swimming 3-4 times a week for about 6 months now, I swim 2500 yards/1 hour without much problem. I built up to 1 hour of breaststroke with a few laps of freestyle, then substituted more and more freestyle laps in. I never much liked backstroke, so I tend to skip it. Pools will sometimes offer stroke clinics, so take advantage of those to get feedback and tips for improving your stroke. There are also a ton of youtube videos that are great for teaching. The other thing to do if you haven't already is to google lap swimming etiquette so you make sure you don't step on any toes at the pool.

You might also consider using a swimming snorkel when you do freestyle. A snorkel does allow you less air than breathing on your own, but it allows you to breathe constantly, so might help with your anxiety. If you use a snorkel, you'll also need a nose clip, at least at first.

If you keep swimming regularly and pushing yourself each time, you will get more and more confident and be able to swim for a much longer period of time. You can do it!

you could see if they do swimming lessons, to learn the correct technique if you want to learn other strokes correctly, although there's nothing wrong with sticking to breaststroke or backstroke. It all burns calories. the main thing is if you're logging calorie burns, they may be different for different strokes so log it as the stroke that you're doing. And it all counts!

I'm no good at putting my face in the water, so if I have the space to do it, I do backstroke. It seems to keep my back and neck nicely in line (unlike my bad version of breaststroke) so it doesn't hurt and I get up a bit more speed.

However, years ago I used to exercise at a quiet pool and I often used to just try to run or walk through through the water. You feel a bit of a fool, but it's good exercise!

Learn the swimming style called "total immersion".

It teaches you to balance in the water, and lots of the drills will be perfect for your fitness level.

Once you learn it you'll be able to swim slowly without your feet sinking.

Of course it counts, well done for persisting!

I heartily recommend top-up lessons. I was an OK swimmer but I'd picked up some horrible habits, and the swimming teacher managed to get me all in synch, which especially made the breathing easier.

Try slowing right down and trying to get through each length with fewer and fewer strokes, which will encourage a better, stronger style

I used to run out of time to breathe, but I switched to triathlon type breathing - two strokes face down and exhaling, breathe on the right, two strokes face down and exhaling, breathe on the left. It makes it much more leisurely.

Were you knackered at the end? I'd suggest you're fighting against more resistance than the people doing it right so I'd say it counts. If there is a slow lane then just stay in that one. The people laughing can take a long walk off a short pier.

Perhaps you could try a kick board? They are good for learning correct stroke by holding you in the proper position with head looking downwards and allowing a slower stroke rate. It's worth a try and would be a cheaper option than lessons for the time being :flowerforyou:

Definitely counts. But I word of caution from experience - I personally found the estimated swim calories way too high (based on measured vs predicted weight loss results when swimming was the only new thing introduced). So keep an eye on your progress after to start logging the swimming and scale back the logged burn if needed - especially if you do a lot of stop/start.

I'm not a great swimmer either but do like it. I figure that we probably burn more with our unique style of swimming than we would if we were gliding swan-like making less strokes per length!

I do find MFP gives far too generous a burn though. I calculate my burns through FitBit's site (you don't need to have a FitBit to use their site) and then log them here so that I can eat it all back without worrying.

Keep at it!