Swimming for weight loss

Hi I swim 15 mins every day after gym workout Id cover 30 lengths in that time! If Im not in the gym Id do 50 lengths in 20 mins! Its an 18m pool so not huge! Swimming is great for toning and stretching muscles!

1. Twice a week for 1 hour each time.
2. I have lost over 30lbs in 6 months - aim for deficit of 250cals a day. I'm very short and quite light.
3. I eat light before swimming -like soup. I get really thirsty after so have a bottle of water and maybe a small carby snack (50 cals).
4. Be careful about water up your nose. I got splashed just as i was inhaling and water got into my middle ear via my nose. It caused an infection and I haven't been able to swim for 3 months and am awaiting and operation to clear the 'bacteria soup' (yes, gross) out of my middle ear (cutting a slit in my ear drum) . I have been swiming for years and needed no special gear I don't generally eat exercise cals - just a small snack if I'm hungry. If you find that the chlorine dries out your hair then get a swim cap- but note that it makes your head really hot. I use a nose clip now but it makes breathing really difficult. I hate it.

The main thing is to abide by pool etiquette. Things that nark me are:

1. people swimming widths half way up the pool.
2. people hanging out along the top and bottom edges so that you can't swim right to the end.
3. people ploughing up and down as if they were in a competion and splashing everyone in sight
4. poeple swimming slowly right in front of you whilst chatting to thier friend and weaving all over the show.
5. The BIGGEST nark I have is three old ladies who stand half way up the pool in a triangle - taking up loads of room and chatting for 15 mins , then walking back to the end to chat- then walking back out the the middle etc. They give you dirty looks if you dare to swim through the middle of thier space. Its not just me - but most people in the pool want them to .....go away......

Oh and the teen/ twenty-somethings who arrive in bikinis and full make-up/ hair and use the pool like a hook-up bar. They come for one week and then you never see them again. The same goes for the guys. The majority of people at my pool are overweight 40-somethings and OAPs's - who are generally not looking for hook-ups (but some maybe- I don't know!)

There are also tonnes of people who swim for 20 mins max, which I don't get when you've paid for the whole hour. Maybe that's all they can manage - but I doubt it.

http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/122-swimmers

Hi and welcome to swimming. I've been swimming for 20 yrs at the same pool--25m.

1. 3 times a week now--used to be 4, but now use a day for weight training. I swim 45 min 2x a week with 30 min acquagym session after. 1x week 60 min swimming. I always do laps, mixed styles, and kickboard the last 10 min.

2. Effect on weight, here you have to be careful. Swimming is dehydrating and makes you very hungry. Watch your calories and you'll lose.

3. Before- I have greek yogurt mixed with half a banana, and a tbl jelly, plus a big mug of tea with lemon juice--no sugar, another glass of water and sometimes a cookie(very small). After-I go with my husband (we live in Rome, Italy) to our favorite little family run bar for a creamy cappucino, and he has a roll. I have one once a week as a treat, the other times I go home and have 2 wasa with a little Philidelphia, or 2 melba toasts with a little jelly.

4. After 20 yrs, I have alot of things I do. One is for my hair, which is blonde, fine and longish. It used to get so brittle, like straw. I now put on a conditioning paste, put it in a pony tail and then put on a cloth cap, and on top of that a rubber one. I now condition my hair-yes it's warm under there and that's all for the better--for at least an hour 3x a week. My hair is now silky and thick. I shampoo when I shower, and use a lighter conditioner. When drying I put on a flax oil based shine liquid.

I try to push myself--a little faster, mixing up styles differently. You can feel it when you get out of the pool and have had a good workout.

Enjoy swimming and best of luck.

At 62 I have just started swimming, and so far I love it. Can't go far, and do mainly backstroke, but am trying to add 50 metres a day, 25 on my front.

Off to checkout the swimming group.

Cheers, h

cwolfman13 wrote: »

C1aire80 wrote: »

Hi,

I was hoping to connect with other people who are swimming whilst losing weight. I would be interested to know:

1. How often you swim and how long for
2. The effect this has on your weight
3. What you eat before and after a swim
4. Anything else anyone wants to discuss about swimming!

Thanks,

Claire

1 - usually once per week to cross train
2 - zero effect on my weight...i control my weight via my consumption
3 - whatever I feel like

you can do all the exercise you want, but if you're diet isn't straight, it means jack *kitten* for weight management.

in addition to doing some swimming, I ride about 80 miles per week...usually get in a 5K run...lift weights a couple days per week...do some yoga...walk my dog, etc...I've done all of the above and I've lost weight, maintained weight, and gained weight. the difference being how much food I was taking in, not the exercise.

Yessssss..........