Does swimming really not helpy you loose weight?

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  • ItStartsTodayNotTomorrow
    ItStartsTodayNotTomorrow Posts: 4
    Hi Rachel, I think swimming is a great exercise because your using a lot of muscles in your body and getting your heart rate up. I have read and been told that if you are swimming at a moderate rate you can burn anywhere from 400-500 calories per hour (on average everybody's body is different some may burn more calories and some may burn less). I actually have had a pretty good experience with mixing swimming in with cardio, I lost 11 pounds in a couple of weeks and have kept it off. I think any exercise where you get up and move around and get your heart rate up is better then not doing anything at all!
    Best of luck!
  • totem12
    totem12 Posts: 194 Member
    Best shape I've ever been in was a few years ago when I went swimming for 30 mins, 5 times a week.

    I slimmed down ridiculously quickly and developed a bit of 'muscle tone' after only a few weeks.

    Currently do 30 day shred and the like, they do work, but nowhere near as well for me!

    Swimming is deceptive, you engage a lot more muscles than you realise just to stay afloat, so even if you don't feel out of breath, you're definitely still working hard!
  • swimbody72
    swimbody72 Posts: 1
    Swimming can help you lose weight. But you have to have a plan and study the strokes. Become efficient in the water and you will learn to love swimming. I swim three times a week for 90 minutes. The have three main sets. Warmup, main and cool down. Warmup is almost always 1000m or yds. The main set is almost always anaerobic and lasts 45 to 50 mins. Not everyone swims at our intensity but out of 60 swimmers 3% carry some extra weight because of their eating habits. I could easily eat 3 hamburgers after swimming but I grab a protein shake and eat an egg white sandwich instead. I have to control myself all day. It's discipline for me as well. If you were to look at the bodies of the 50-70yo in our group you would be astonished. There is no exercise like swimming and you will never feel so alive. I've swam at masters meets and watched 100 yard old men and women swim 200m to 1000m against one another. Its beyond motivating. Find a master's group near you, and take part in something truly special. Most programs will show you how to be efficient from day one. Ask the faster swimmers for help. They will be more than eager to help you and you will have a new family to look forward to seeing every week. Good luck and feel free to ask me any questions.
  • Huffdogg
    Huffdogg Posts: 1,934 Member
    No exercise helps you lose weight. All exercise burns calories. All food contains calories. Whatever combination of intake vs. output gives you a deficit is going to help you lose weight.
  • bakingforlife
    bakingforlife Posts: 132 Member
    i have a freind that lost 60 pounds just swimming a hour most days .i would nt put all do donts into this swimming just do what you like and if swimming it then so be it .you like it then do it case closed
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member

    Not true at all. The amount of calories burned are related to your heartrate range. I have been a United States Masters swimmer for 13 years and my daily workouts are US Masters intense workouts. Yet, I am 40lbs overweight. I know this is directly related to the fact that I cannot do any other type of cardio or strength training exercise due to my RA. My cardio/stamina is phenomenal and like another poster said, I can swim for miles and miles without fatigue, yet I am still fat.

    Yes, swimming is a great exercise but in order to lose weight and burn calories, you must mix it up with other cardio activites, weight/strength training and always be mindful of calories in/calories out.


    Where to start.....

    1) there is not a linear relationship between heart rate and caloric expenditure, this is one of the reasons that most heart rate monitors tend to over estimate calories burned.

    2) the fact that you're 40lbs overweight has nothing to do with your choice of exercise and has everything to do with the amount of food you consume in relation to the calories expended. I run half-marathons and am overweight. Why? Because I like to eat.

    3) To lose weight consume fewer calories than you expend. You can lose weight without exercising and you can lose weight swimming or biking, or running or lifting weights or all of the above as long as you expend more calorie than you consume.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,973 Member
    Exercise is for fitness and health. Weight loss is dependent on how much you eat.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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