Swimming

hobbeskastiel wrote: »

I just got back from the gym. 45 minutes in the pool, 42 lengths of a 50 meter pool. I feel great and it was a great workout. Swim swim swim. It's great.
http://www.everydayhealth.com/Calories-Burned-Swimming.htm
http://www.swimmingcalculator.com/swim_calories_calculator.php

Here are a couple swim calorie calculators if you'd like to see what you get out of your swim.

The second one seems a little more accurate. I can only do the breast stroke (shoulder issues) and currently swim one mile in 62-64 minutes. I enter it into MFP as "swimming, leisurely, general" and get 545 calories. The swimmingcalculator.com website gives me 571 calories. I go right from my laps into the therapy pool for a water aerobics class. I am nicely tired when I get home (especially if I decided to walk to the fitness center. It is 2 miles each way).

TeresaMarie2015 wrote: »

I was recently restricted to either swimming, biking, or elliptical by my dr - because of foot problems. I have never liked swimming - but I probably should admit that I don't like being seen in a swimsuit so that's probably most of the issue Well I've dropped almost 55 pounds this year - and I bought a swimsuit. Let's see if I take the plunge!

I swim in shorts and a t shirt. Do what ya gotta do!

rachelecosse wrote: »

kshama2001 wrote: »

rachelecosse wrote: »

If you plan to swim lengths regularly, it gets old reaaaaallllll fast, so maybe treat yourself to an underwater MP3 player. Mine was £50 from Sony, and is the only reason I have managed to go swimming four times a week all year without dying of boredom.

Ya, if I plan to swim longer than 30 minutes I use one. The ones I've tried are a little fussy. What brand do you use?

I have this now: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043CUQU0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

Got this for a lot less than current list price but it died after a year or two, which may not be a bad lifecycle for these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001T8H582?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

This is mine: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Walkman-NWZW273S-Waterproof-Swimming/dp/B00I05EFO4/ref=dp_ob_title_ce (I have it in white because that makes me feel a little like Olivia Pope). It's cordless, so no wires to get caught, and the width adjuster holds it on to my ponytail without goggles or a swimming cap. The buttons are tiny, but stand-y out-y so not too tricky for me, and the ear bits fit in my ears even though I have teeny ear canals. (Genuinely the best £50 I have ever spent in my LIFE and my favourite thing I own.)

I only do twenty minutes of swimming at a time, but I get bored really fast and start dawdling and checking out the guys and looking at the babies and don't get a proper work out if I don't use it.

@rachelecosse - I've beens swimming with this twice now and I LOVE it - thanks for the tip!

I love swimming, at least I love it more than other exercise . I like not getting sweaty.

I used this Zero to 1 mile plan http://ruthkazez.com/swimming/ZeroTo1mile.html to work up to swimming a mile a couple of years ago and it really helped. Then I was out of the pool for a long time and have just been starting up again. Instead of distance, I now mainly concentrate on total time swimming. I still count laps (I use a lap counter) and I generally do 5 lap sets, or even 2 if I'm not up to 5. I use fins, lap board, buoy, and keep mixing it up. Right now I swim 45 minutes at a time and that's generally good for me.

Good luck!

If the center offers water aerobics you might try a class....it's a blast. Good luck!

kshama2001 wrote: »

rachelecosse wrote: »

kshama2001 wrote: »

rachelecosse wrote: »

If you plan to swim lengths regularly, it gets old reaaaaallllll fast, so maybe treat yourself to an underwater MP3 player. Mine was £50 from Sony, and is the only reason I have managed to go swimming four times a week all year without dying of boredom.

Ya, if I plan to swim longer than 30 minutes I use one. The ones I've tried are a little fussy. What brand do you use?

I have this now: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043CUQU0?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

Got this for a lot less than current list price but it died after a year or two, which may not be a bad lifecycle for these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001T8H582?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

This is mine: http://www.amazon.com/Sony-Walkman-NWZW273S-Waterproof-Swimming/dp/B00I05EFO4/ref=dp_ob_title_ce (I have it in white because that makes me feel a little like Olivia Pope). It's cordless, so no wires to get caught, and the width adjuster holds it on to my ponytail without goggles or a swimming cap. The buttons are tiny, but stand-y out-y so not too tricky for me, and the ear bits fit in my ears even though I have teeny ear canals. (Genuinely the best £50 I have ever spent in my LIFE and my favourite thing I own.)

I only do twenty minutes of swimming at a time, but I get bored really fast and start dawdling and checking out the guys and looking at the babies and don't get a proper work out if I don't use it.

No wires!

/drools/

That one looks a little like mine. Best money I ever spent.

OP, I'm a terrible swimmer, so I water jog. The weight's been melting off me ever since I started. I'm lucky I've found a gym near me with a deep water pool to continue doing this when our swim club closes.

I disagree with the person who thinks exercising in the water isn't a fat burner. It works almost your whole body.

I'm not a very confident or competent swimmer but my advice is:

1. Don't forget your swimming costume! (I did this in uni after building up the scary visit to the pool. Swimming fail.)
2. Wear clothes that are easy to get in and out of. (Cursed skinny jeans many a time.)
3. Use the time in the pool to plan and think of other things. (I like to zone out if I'm jogging and plan my weekend outfits or meals or job applications.)
4. Go with a friend. (Can make you commit to turning up at a specified time.)
5. Or don't go with a friend. (It's about you! Be free and independent.)
6. Don't wear non-waterproof mascara. (In case you're going at the end of a day with your day makeup still on.)

But mainly the first one.

Swimming is the best! I love swimming laps, just back and forth, focusing on my breathing. Very relaxing and a good workout.

Thanks for posting the links to the calorie counters, but they show something vastly different than my heart rate monitor. My HRM says I've only burnt about 400 calories after an hour of laps (I'm slow and focus on endurance), but the calorie counter says I burn 700! Surely the HRM is more accurate?

My favorite swimming drill with new swimmers is 75 kick/swim/pull drill. Swim one length of the pool just kicking with a kick-board, then leave the kick-board on that side and swim back to where you started freestlye/front crawl, then swim back to your kick-board using only your arms (again using the freestyle stroke)

I like this drill because it allows for rest between harder sections and allows you to build your endurance gradually.

hobbeskastiel wrote: »

TeresaMarie2015 wrote: »

I was recently restricted to either swimming, biking, or elliptical by my dr - because of foot problems. I have never liked swimming - but I probably should admit that I don't like being seen in a swimsuit so that's probably most of the issue Well I've dropped almost 55 pounds this year - and I bought a swimsuit. Let's see if I take the plunge!

I swim in shorts and a t shirt. Do what ya gotta do!

Please don't! You should never wear street clothes in a swimming pool. The detergents that you use to wash clothing are horrible for the water. I started swimming at 300 pounds and had no problem finding a Lands End swimsuit that fit me. Most pools would kick you out for not wearing proper swim attire.

I love to swim. I do 2-4 miles a week, mostly backstroke. My mile (5280 feet, NOT a swimmer's mile) PR is 31 minutes. I am pretty much always under 35 minutes/mile, even if I am loafing.

I would love to start swimming for exercise. I just got back from the lake and actually got in the water for the first time in about 12 years. It was so much fun and I forgot how much I loved being in the water (I grew up with a pool in the backyard). However, at the moment, I do not have access to a pool. Where do you all go to swim? Your local YMCA?

Also, since it has been so long, my swimming skills could use a little work, but I can still swim. I am just worried about doing laps and disturbing others around me with my splashing. I am no graceful dolphin in the water.....LOL. I am just not familiar with the "etiquette" in a lap pool.

Emily3907 wrote: »

I would love to start swimming for exercise. I just got back from the lake and actually got in the water for the first time in about 12 years. It was so much fun and I forgot how much I loved being in the water (I grew up with a pool in the backyard). However, at the moment, I do not have access to a pool. Where do you all go to swim? Your local YMCA?

Also, since it has been so long, my swimming skills could use a little work, but I can still swim. I am just worried about doing laps and disturbing others around me with my splashing. I am no graceful dolphin in the water.....LOL. I am just not familiar with the "etiquette" in a lap pool.

If it's anything like my pool, everyone is friendly, as long as you don't splash, spit water, and make sure you follow the swimming direction on the signs! (i.e. clockwise/anticlockwise). The pool I visit is run by the council - the facilities are basic, but it's the biggest pool in the town and is always spotless and the perfect temperature.

Emily3907 wrote: »

I would love to start swimming for exercise. I just got back from the lake and actually got in the water for the first time in about 12 years. It was so much fun and I forgot how much I loved being in the water (I grew up with a pool in the backyard). However, at the moment, I do not have access to a pool. Where do you all go to swim? Your local YMCA?

Also, since it has been so long, my swimming skills could use a little work, but I can still swim. I am just worried about doing laps and disturbing others around me with my splashing. I am no graceful dolphin in the water.....LOL. I am just not familiar with the "etiquette" in a lap pool.

Don't worry about what you're doing in your own lane, but maybe call the facility to find out when are the best times to go to make sure you won't have to share a lane.

I swim in the pond at Mom's, but if that wasn't available and I could tolerate chlorine, would use the Y, yes. My Y posts the pool schedule on their website plus has handouts and I can tell I'd want to avoid when the pool team was practicing, etc.

yesimpson wrote: »

. I am just not familiar with the "etiquette" in a lap pool.

If it's anything like my pool, everyone is friendly, as long as you don't splash, spit water, and make sure you follow the swimming direction on the signs! (i.e. clockwise/anticlockwise). The pool I visit is run by the council - the facilities are basic, but it's the biggest pool in the town and is always spotless and the perfect temperature.[/quote]

I would add:
-if your stroke is slow/bad, practice in the lane set aside for water aerobics/walking
-don't run on the pool deck
-don't jump or dive if the pool is shallow/those things are prohibited/people are swimming laps
-don't scream or have loud conversations (everything echoes in the pool)
-don't hog the lane (they are meant to be shared--do not swim down the center and take up the whole lane)
-enter the pool at the correct end; never enter the pool in the middle while people are swimming
-never stop in the middle of a lane; if you can't swim a whole length, don't get in the pool during lap time
-do not pull, sit on or try to jump over the lane lines (always swim under them)
-do not jump on or in front of other swimmers
-do not wear street clothes, makeup or perfume in the pool
-do not use/steal/move other swimmers' personal equipment
-do not leave garbage/debris on the pool deck
-do not photograph or videotape other swimmers without permission; in the US, this is illegal in private gyms
-DO supervise your children closely and avoid bringing them to lap swim times unless they are swimming laps)
-DO be clean (take a cleansing shower; do not pee in the pool)
-DO treat all shared equipment with respect and put it away when you are done