Strengthening upper body in the pool
UncreativeMe123
Posts: 52 Member
Hello all!
I am a beginner swimmer (started taking lessons 3 months ago, and have increased from twice a week to three times a week recently). I am alternating between freestyle and backstroke during my workout for about 30 min, and then practicing components of breaststroke (I'm having trouble with that....) for 5-10 minutes.
After several months I am still experiencing very quick muscle fatigue, though I do notice I am getting stronger and can complete more laps than before without stopping in the middle of the pool (though I do still have to stop half the time during freestyle), though I ALWAYS have to stop to rest between laps. For the most part, aside from the occasional bad breathe timing, my issue is muscle fatigue.
My question is, would you swimmers recommend that I continue as is, and keep building strength with the full swim movement, or should I incorporate a pull buoy workout maybe once a week as part of my routine to focus on the upper body? My concern is that a pull buoy workout will over fatigue me and make me useless the other days
Thanks!
I am a beginner swimmer (started taking lessons 3 months ago, and have increased from twice a week to three times a week recently). I am alternating between freestyle and backstroke during my workout for about 30 min, and then practicing components of breaststroke (I'm having trouble with that....) for 5-10 minutes.
After several months I am still experiencing very quick muscle fatigue, though I do notice I am getting stronger and can complete more laps than before without stopping in the middle of the pool (though I do still have to stop half the time during freestyle), though I ALWAYS have to stop to rest between laps. For the most part, aside from the occasional bad breathe timing, my issue is muscle fatigue.
My question is, would you swimmers recommend that I continue as is, and keep building strength with the full swim movement, or should I incorporate a pull buoy workout maybe once a week as part of my routine to focus on the upper body? My concern is that a pull buoy workout will over fatigue me and make me useless the other days
Thanks!
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just start with one or to lengths with pull boi to start...or invest in some hand fins 0
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Any of it will help, the more you swim the stronger you get & the more endurance you will develop - it just takes time. Like anything else, the more time you can commit to it the quicker the endurance will build. Take a longer term view, you're in this for the long haul & you will be able to do more. Working with equipment like kickboards & pull buoys will strengthen particular areas of your body & your stroke, if you feel the fatigue is an arms/upper body issue pull buoys will help. What helped me build my endurance was concentrating on pushing just a little further each swim - even that further distance is literally just a few yards. You'll be surprised at how quickly you can build that endurance if you concentrate on going just a little more each time - my thought process at first was "just a few more strokes", then it became "1 more length", then it became "100 more yards", etc. until I got to where I wanted to be. The cool thing is that the endurance will build exponentially, by that I mean it doesn't grow by the same amount each time you push it. It may be a few yards or strokes the first couple of times, then it becomes that extra length, then it becomes that extra set, etc. - the key is to stick with it & be consistent in getting your work in.....0
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And an office fitness center
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Good point, Gutzy - dry land work will definitely help with strength.....0
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Any of it will help, the more you swim the stronger you get & the more endurance you will develop - it just takes time. Like anything else, the more time you can commit to it the quicker the endurance will build. Take a longer term view, you're in this for the long haul & you will be able to do more. Working with equipment like kickboards & pull buoys will strengthen particular areas of your body & your stroke, if you feel the fatigue is an arms/upper body issue pull buoys will help. What helped me build my endurance was concentrating on pushing just a little further each swim - even that further distance is literally just a few yards. You'll be surprised at how quickly you can build that endurance if you concentrate on going just a little more each time - my thought process at first was "just a few more strokes", then it became "1 more length", then it became "100 more yards", etc. until I got to where I wanted to be. The cool thing is that the endurance will build exponentially, by that I mean it doesn't grow by the same amount each time you push it. It may be a few yards or strokes the first couple of times, then it becomes that extra length, then it becomes that extra set, etc. - the key is to stick with it & be consistent in getting your work in.....
I like this attitude, I am going to start with incorporating this equipment free for a bit, and see if I need anything further later on. I don't want to unnecessarily complicate things right now
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Thanks guys for your suggestions! I am going to just try to swim for longer, once I can do that I might try hand paddles. I have a bad back, and my swim instructor said that using a buoy (or the tyr hydrofoil ankle floats, since I hate buoys) could be too hard on my back, so to use the hand paddles instead for more upper body resistance. I really wanted to try to ankle floats though since people mentioned they work your core more too...but such is life 0
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It just takes time, I know it can be tough to be patient but take the long term view & you will get there. Just keep adding what you can, keeping in mind that it will not happen overnight, & you'll be surprised by how quickly you're feeling stronger.....0
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Just order pads and a pull buoy. The pads I have are way to large. Got some mid size.0
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