Swimming experiences for fitness and weight loss

amber_beaney
amber_beaney Posts: 54 Member
edited November 20 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi everyone, I wonder if anyone has experience in swimming to achieve weightloss?

I seem to have reached a weightloss plateau, I have started swimming 3 times a week and have been within my calorie limit for two weeks and my weight hasn't budged! I have heard that swimming is no good for weightloss, which I find confusing as it supposedly burns alot of calories?

Anyway, if you have used swimming as your main exercise to achieve weightloss please could you let me know your experiences? Did you do other forms of exercise too? Did the weight come off more slowly etc? Thanks in advance for your help :)

Amber

Replies

  • kwtilbury
    kwtilbury Posts: 1,234 Member
    Is your mouth open while you swim? It could be water weight.

    Of course swimming, like any calorie burning activity, will contribute to weight loss. Someone can correct me, but I'm pretty sure swimming laps burns more calories per hour on average than running. If your weight is steady, you're at a caloric balance. Swim more or consume fewer calories.
  • FitOldMomma
    FitOldMomma Posts: 790 Member
    Swimming is my main exercise and I've lost a tad under 80 pounds since March 2014. I swim laps (1350 meters) 3 times per week. I also do deep water resistance with hand buoys and water aerobic exercises for one hour after those laps. So, I'm in the pool for about 6-7 hours per week. I do some walking, but not a lot. I wear a Fitbit and endeavor to get my 10,000 steps per day. I occasionally ride my bike, but not on any scheduled plan.
    The weight loss has slowed down significantly, but that is because I don't want to lower my daily calorie intake...I like to eat, lol. Also, I've developed a lot of lean muscle in my arms and legs and incredible stamina. I really need to increase my laps and the intensity because I don't get my heart rate up like I did when I started this.
    I LOVE swimming for fitness.
  • cuckoo_jenibeth
    cuckoo_jenibeth Posts: 1,434 Member
    OK, I will have been on MFP for 1 year as of next week. I had a goal of losing 75# and dropping to a size 14. I have lost 80# and wear a size 8. And I am still going strong!
    From last June - December, I attended aquacise 2 times per week as my only form of exercise (50# lost in that time frame). In January I started to teach a Watergym™ class 3 mornings a week, which I did through May and will resume again in August (I work for the school district and my class is comprised of only faculty). I now am back to Aquacise 2/week.
    I know that swimming accelerated my weight loss, but it also helped me build a lot of muscles and strength.
    If you enjoy swimming then you will stick with it better than an exercise that you feel "obligated" to perform. Do what works best for you!
  • cliffodom1
    cliffodom1 Posts: 57 Member
    kwtilbury wrote: »
    Is your mouth open while you swim? It could be water weight.

    LOL

  • gdyment
    gdyment Posts: 299 Member
    Swimming CAN be really good, but you must work HARD. You can burn almost nothing by leisurely gliding from end to end, or you can be killing it at max heart-rate feeling like you might die and burn more. But since the water is supporting your weight, it takes more effort.

    For me, I estimate about 100 cals for every 500m but I think even that's being generous.
  • dwills1507
    dwills1507 Posts: 14 Member
    I just started swimming this week for a workout. What do you do in the pool and for how long? Also where do you swim?
  • IsaackGMOON
    IsaackGMOON Posts: 3,358 Member
    edited June 2015
    amber_beaney wrote: »
    Hi everyone, I wonder if anyone has experience in swimming to achieve weightloss?

    I seem to have reached a weightloss plateau, I have started swimming 3 times a week and have been within my calorie limit for two weeks and my weight hasn't budged! I have heard that swimming is no good for weightloss, which I find confusing as it supposedly burns alot of calories?

    Anyway, if you have used swimming as your main exercise to achieve weightloss please could you let me know your experiences? Did you do other forms of exercise too? Did the weight come off more slowly etc? Thanks in advance for your help :)

    Amber

    Well.. you should know that a caloric deficit is for weight loss. And exercise is for physical fitness.
    • Are you weighing your foods with an electric scale?
    • Are you weighing your foods accurately? i.e. using grams instead of cups etc
    • How are you obtaining your calorie burns? MFP, machines or a HRM?
  • snickerscharlie
    snickerscharlie Posts: 8,578 Member
    Look into getting an AquaJogger belt. Lets you jog in the water while remaining low impact. Pretty good burn rates, too, as the water provides resistance. :)
  • amber_beaney
    amber_beaney Posts: 54 Member
    Thanks everyone. I have lost 4 stones already by calorie counting using Mfp, weighing foods properly with an electric scale etc. I get my calorie burns from Mfp, but I am looking into getting a hrm.

    At the moment I have been swimming 1000m (mostly breaststroke and backstroke) and working towards the same distance in a shorter time - I.e swimming harder and pushing myself to get my heart rate up. Then once I have significantly reduced the time it takes to swim 1000m I will then start increasing the distance. That's the plan anyway.

    I swim in my local pool in the evenings after work, to fit in with work and motherhood lol.

    Thanks, I will look up the Aquajogger belt.

    It's good to know that other people have found swimming useful, I just read lots of negative articles shortly after I started my regime, all of which said that swimming is no good for weightloss, and it confused me so I wanted some real life experiences. :smile:



  • snickerscharlie
    snickerscharlie Posts: 8,578 Member
    A lot of 'exercise snobs' say that walking isn't good, either.

    I've lost 45 lbs in four months just walking my *kitten* off. Literally. ;)

    Just remember that you're walking/swimming circles around everyone who's still sitting on their couch. :)
  • dogcatac
    dogcatac Posts: 124 Member
    edited June 2015
    i swam competitively for years and years, and it kept me in great shape. better than anything else. i quit in my 20s and can't seem to get back into it. wonderful sport, i wish i could take it up again. find a good program and stick to it. work on time and endurance. you'll get tons of cool muscles.
  • MamaBirdBoss
    MamaBirdBoss Posts: 1,516 Member
    Swimming is a lot like bike riding in that regard. If you're good at it and just doodling around, it really doesn't burn much. If you work hard, it can burn tons.
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    gdyment wrote: »
    Swimming CAN be really good, but you must work HARD. You can burn almost nothing by leisurely gliding from end to end, or you can be killing it at max heart-rate feeling like you might die and burn more. But since the water is supporting your weight, it takes more effort.

    For me, I estimate about 100 cals for every 500m but I think even that's being generous.

    THIS. What speed are you swimming at?

    I wouldn't say that it is my main exercise now, but it was earlier on in my weight loss and it is still a big part of my mix. I usually swim two or three miles a week, sometimes more. I move at just shy of 2 miles/hour in the water.
  • cuckoo_jenibeth
    cuckoo_jenibeth Posts: 1,434 Member
    I do a LOT of water jogging, too! Love it!
  • gentlygently
    gentlygently Posts: 752 Member
    You might want to join the fellow fishes in the Swimmers! Group on MFP. We are a friendly, supportive bunch. Quite a few people are swimmingto support weight loss, and pretty much all of us to be healthier.
  • dustpuppet
    dustpuppet Posts: 1 Member
    Hey I have swimming for 6mths and have managed to loose 14kg. I swim 5 days a week for 45min. 25 of swimming and 10 min of exercises. It is awsome fun. I use a snorkel and mask so when the head is in the water I'm zoned in until my 40 laps or 1km is reached. Go hard
  • kwiet_storm
    kwiet_storm Posts: 56 Member
    If you do the same every time then its possible you wont lose weight. Swimming is fantasic to lose weight and tone up. You need to change your pattern, mix things up. You can't keep doing the same and expect to keep losing weight.
  • barbecuesauce
    barbecuesauce Posts: 1,771 Member
    kwiet_storm wrote: »
    If you do the same every time then its possible you wont lose weight. Swimming is fantasic to lose weight and tone up. You need to change your pattern, mix things up. You can't keep doing the same and expect to keep losing weight.

    This isn't true. Cardio is cardio. If she does the same swimming routine every time she won't make strides in fitness or cardiovascular endurance, but she will continue to burn the same amount (adjusted for decreasing weight, of course).

    Toning up isn't real--you can lose the fat and build muscle, but toning isn't a thing.
  • sarahdayski
    sarahdayski Posts: 125 Member
    I swim around a mile several times each week. I have lost 18lbs in 40 days, any exercise has to be better then no exercise.
  • yoliebot
    yoliebot Posts: 7 Member
    Attempting to start swimming again.....tomorrow morning.
  • jules7890
    jules7890 Posts: 145 Member
    FitOldMomma wrote: »
    Swimming is my main exercise and I've lost a tad under 80 pounds since March 2014. I swim laps (1350 meters) 3 times per week. I also do deep water resistance with hand buoys and water aerobic exercises for one hour after those laps. So, I'm in the pool for about 6-7 hours per week. I do some walking, but not a lot. I wear a Fitbit and endeavor to get my 10,000 steps per day. I occasionally ride my bike, but not on any scheduled plan.
    The weight loss has slowed down significantly, but that is because I don't want to lower my daily calorie intake...I like to eat, lol. Also, I've developed a lot of lean muscle in my arms and legs and incredible stamina. I really need to increase my laps and the intensity because I don't get my heart rate up like I did when I started this.
    I LOVE swimming for fitness.

  • jules7890
    jules7890 Posts: 145 Member
    yoliebot wrote: »
    Attempting to start swimming again.....tomorrow morning.

    So inspiring!!
  • juliet3455
    juliet3455 Posts: 3,015 Member
    gentlygently wrote: »
    You might want to join the fellow fishes in the Swimmers! Group on MFP. We are a friendly, supportive bunch. Quite a few people are swimming to support weight loss, and pretty much all of us to be healthier.

    Yes come on over and Join us. We offer lots of support and tips.
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/122-swimmers
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1342951/did-you-swim-today#latest
    dustpuppet wrote: »
    Hey I have swimming for 6mths and have managed to loose 14kg. I swim 5 days a week for 45min. 25 of swimming and 10 min of exercises. It is awsome fun. I use a snorkel and mask so when the head is in the water I'm zoned in until my 40 laps or 1km is reached. Go hard

    It has been the cornerstone of my exercise routine. And a great social outing every once in a while.
    @dustpuppet 40 in 25 mins, you speedster, that would qualify you to swim for any sprint triathlon I have investigated
    sarahdayski wrote: »
    I swim around a mile several times each week. I have lost 18lbs in 40 days, any exercise has to be better then no exercise.

    Cardio is Cardio no matter what the exercise. You get out what you put in.
    Like any exercise if you don't enjoy it you will slowly lose interest and drop it.
    No Effort = no Reward no matter what the exercise is and this also applies to work and social activities.
  • amber_beaney
    amber_beaney Posts: 54 Member
    Thanks for your advice everyone :smile: I have stuck to it and the weight is coming off again. I was just confused by all the negative information on the Www regarding swimming and weightloss. So it's great to hear from people who actually have benefitted from swimming for weightloss. I'm currently investigating heart rate monitors to try and get a more accurate gauge on calorie burn etc. Just keep swimming is my new motto :)
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    I love swimming <3 I've been at it for 20 yrs. Everybody thinks they'll lose alot of weight, but as another poster said, you have to watch your calorie intake. Swimming gives you a great body if you're losing excess weight. Don't give up, just keep pushing yourself and you'll be fine. Luck. B)
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