Is swimming as good as they say?

grandlinegirl
grandlinegirl Posts: 49 Member
edited November 9 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm starting swimming today and I'm excited. I have a bad ankle and I think this is the best workout I can get. I've heard nothing but good things about swimming and how it works every part of the body, and how many calories you can burn...

Is it REALLY as good as they say?

MFP says swimming laps freestyle (light/moderate), you burn about 800 calories in an hour. Seriously?! That seems crazy!

Also, I need somewhere to confess this: I am super nervous about swimming. I haven't been in a bathing suit for about 18-19 years. I've always been overweight and even as a child I refused to wear them. The thought of someone seeing me in a bathing suit is mortifying! But I'm going to do it. I need to do it. Good luck me...

Replies

  • dbmata
    dbmata Posts: 12,950 Member
    depends, you get out of it what you put into it. PIddle around, no.

    Burn it hard, you could reach a level where if you stayed at that level of output you could burn 800 calories in an hour. MFP is grossly inaccurate.
  • contingencyplan
    contingencyplan Posts: 3,639 Member
    edited January 2015
    Yes, it is, although as with most any sport/athletic activity, it carries a strong risk for injury when you take it to a level that competitive athletes do. Rotator cuff injuries are extremely common in competitive swimmers.

    800 calories per hour is a little bit optimistic when you're talking light/moderate intensity. The intensity would have to be ramped up a bit for that.
  • drabbits3
    drabbits3 Posts: 140 Member
    oh honey--embrace the swimming. it's the best. I am a terrible, nervous swimmer but I love it. I am 44 and only started swimming 5 years ago. before that, couldn't swim a stroke. I started doing laps at the Y with a kick board and found out I love it. Now I can swim a mile. it takes me forEVER but who cares?! don't worry about what you look like- no one cares--get in that pool. I find it very meditative-I count laps up and down. No one is talking to you, your brain quiets down-I love it. Let me know how you do--I hope you love it too! your whole body will feel different--stretches everything out and it is an excellent whole body work out.
  • Horsejumper1
    Horsejumper1 Posts: 25 Member
    Yes it is! Swimming shapes you like no other sport I've done. It improved my posture, developed my shoulders and back, and is great cardio. It is also amazing for the core and girdles you right up. Dont worry about how you look in a suit - just do it!
  • grandlinegirl
    grandlinegirl Posts: 49 Member
    drabbits3 wrote: »
    oh honey--embrace the swimming. it's the best. I am a terrible, nervous swimmer but I love it. I am 44 and only started swimming 5 years ago. before that, couldn't swim a stroke. I started doing laps at the Y with a kick board and found out I love it. Now I can swim a mile. it takes me forEVER but who cares?! don't worry about what you look like- no one cares--get in that pool. I find it very meditative-I count laps up and down. No one is talking to you, your brain quiets down-I love it. Let me know how you do--I hope you love it too! your whole body will feel different--stretches everything out and it is an excellent whole body work out.

    Thanks for the reply. It really made me feel better. It'll take me a while to get up to a good pace, but that's okay. I'm planning to go before/after classes at school. I think it'll also help me out with the stress of school!
  • grandlinegirl
    grandlinegirl Posts: 49 Member
    contingencyplan wrote: »
    Yes, it is, although as with most any sport/athletic activity, it carries a strong risk for injury when you take it to a level that competitive athletes do. Rotator cuff injuries are extremely common in competitive swimmers.

    800 calories per hour is a little bit optimistic when you're talking light/moderate intensity. The intensity would have to be ramped up a bit for that.

    Hey, I'm good with like 2-300 calories! lol. I just thought it seemed crazy to burn 800 calories in an hour.

  • grandlinegirl
    grandlinegirl Posts: 49 Member
    Horsejumper1 wrote: »
    Yes it is! Swimming shapes you like no other sport I've done. It improved my posture, developed my shoulders and back, and is great cardio. It is also amazing for the core and girdles you right up. Dont worry about how you look in a suit - just do it!

    This made me way more excited! haha. Just the thought that I'm going to be out doing something makes me feel way better about myself. I've been a lazy lump for too long.
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