Is Swimming The Perfect Exercise?
Mary_Anastasia
Posts: 267 Member
Trying to get into a routine, and I know I enjoy swimming - I used to be a lifeguard and now work in an office, but there is a pool on the way to work. I've heard some people say swimming is the perfect exercise. Did anyone have significant progress after starting to swim regularly? Would you recommend starting swimming over weights or walking?
(I'm open to doing it all eventually, I just want to start something and ease into the others)
(I'm open to doing it all eventually, I just want to start something and ease into the others)
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It's the perfect exercise if you want to be a swimmer...as a cycling enthusiast, no...it's not the perfect exercise...but it's a great cross training exercise.
If you enjoy swimming, swim...there is no "perfect" exercise...the perfect exercise is the one you're going to do and do consistently and enjoy.6 -
I've heard it's great if you're a serious swimmer.
But from what I've seen at the gym, swimming is the perfect exercise for old, overweight people who are just trying to stay active so they don't pass on.0 -
"Perfect exercise" for what? As cwolfman alluded to, goals matter. So does adherence (the most important principle of exercise) - if you enjoy it and will stick to it, it's good exercise. If you hate it and end up skipping workouts, it's a worse exercise than something you'd enjoy and do regularly.
And I'll second that there's no one "perfect exercise".1 -
the definition of 'perfect' kind of depends on what criteria you're using to define perfection
it's not perfect if your goal in life is to stay dry, warm, and not have to go through a whole dressing/undressing production when you're starting AND when you're finished with it. or if you require the freedom to grab a quick sip of coffee any time that you like.
i hear that line all the time because i have rheumatoid arthritis and people get so hipped on the single factor of 'low impact'. it's a huge oversimplification, but swimming is like anything else. it is a workout if you're doing it like a workout, and it won't injure you unless you overdo it or do it wrongly in the first place. so it's more just a question of whether it's going to fit in well with your life.0 -
It's one of the best all around exercises you can do. But, it won't help build bone density or explosiveness.0
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canadianlbs wrote: »the definition of 'perfect' kind of depends on what criteria you're using to define perfection it's not perfect if your goal in life is to stay dry, warm, and not have to go through a whole dressing/undressing production when you're starting AND when you're finished with it. or if you require the freedom to grab a quick sip of coffee any time that you like.
i hear that line all the time because i have rheumatoid arthritis and people get so hipped on the single factor of 'low impact'. it's a huge oversimplification, but swimming is like anything else. it is a workout if you're doing it like a workout, and it won't injure you unless you overdo it or do it wrongly in the first place. so it's more just a question of whether it's going to fit in well with your life.
I do have RA and also OA, so that's one reason it's appealing..
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It is great exercise because it uses nearly every muscle in the body, is non weight bearing, low impact, endurance building, and resistance training. And you don't get hot while doing it!1
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Mary_Anastasia wrote: »I do have RA and also OA, so that's one reason it's appealing..
well, it's definitely touted
for myself i have a natural gravitation towards cycling instead for low-impact cardio. but my sister has far more aggressive r.a. and does both. so it's personal taste and i guess also what your specific story with the condition is.
don't let me put you off, is my point but also don't let people type-cast you just because you have a 'condition'. it's not a monolithic experience and swimming isn't a universal panacea. or the only one.
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Heavy lifting is also good for RA, hands are ususlly the first thing that benefits from it noticeably.Mary_Anastasia wrote: »I do have RA and also OA, so that's one reason it's appealing..
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girlwithcurls2 wrote: »
That's every gym pool I've seen, ever.0 -
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No, of course not. I don't think anyone trying to stay active would ever bother me.3 -
girlwithcurls2 wrote: »
That's every gym pool I've seen, ever.
That's kind of ridiculous...yeah, those classes are mostly older folks doing what they can do...but I see all manner of people swimming laps when I'm at the pool, including a lot of tri-athletes.0 -
Heavy lifting is also good for RA, hands are ususlly the first thing that benefits from it noticeably.Mary_Anastasia wrote: »I do have RA and also OA, so that's one reason it's appealing..
second this. though with r.a. i don't think i'd ever say 'true for you because true for me'. lifting's been great and i'd so much rather do this than all that fiddly little isolated physio stuff. it either doesn't need my fingers at all, or it enforces 'integrity' positions with them so it's fine.
i get more shear force across my knuckles from fighting a single wet bathing suit than i've had in 2.5 years in the weight room so far. ymmv, of course.0 -
Because of my RA, my shoulder is complete toast. I can only swim with one arm, my other arm does a sort of dog paddle. If you can swim, do it.
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I've heard it's great if you're a serious swimmer.
But from what I've seen at the gym, swimming is the perfect exercise for old, overweight people who are just trying to stay active so they don't pass on.
I personally think that's a pretty stupid statement considering all the young active people keeling over dead left and right these days.3 -
I haven't seen anything to suggest that young active people are dying any faster than usual, but I'll accept that I probably hit a nerve with my insensitive personal observation. I apologize to everyone.6
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The exercise you DO and WANT to do is the perfect exercise.
For me, that's swimming!3 -
rosebarnalice wrote: »The exercise you DO and WANT to do is the perfect exercise.
For me, that's swimming!
This! Me too! Actually I walk more and only get to the pool about once a week. But love love love that workout. Also like anything, your pace and intensity hugely impact the calorie burn. If the pool is calling you, start there, be consistent, then add to it later. Enjoy!
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Yes, swimming is the perfect exercise other than going to the gym. You should love swimming for these reasons:
- It Counts as Both Cardio and Strength Training
- Great exercise for injured athletes
- It's Great for Your Lungs
- It Makes You a Better Runner
- It Slashes Major Stress
- It makes you look younger
- It Hits Otherwise Underworked Muscles
- It Makes You Smarter
- Full body workout
- De-stresses and relaxes
- Burns those calories
- Lowers the risk of diseases
- Increases your energy levels
- Exercising without the sweat
With proper diet and good sleep you can achieve the dream body you want.3 -
@Mary_Anastasia That's the positive attitude that will lead to success, and ultimately exactly what I did. Every thing that I have added back into my exercise-fitness routines is something that I have done in the past so already had some exposure-experience.Mary_Anastasia wrote: »I'm open to doing it all eventually, I just want to start something and ease into the others)
I swim, run, bike, cross country ski, hike and downhill ski.
The so called GYM in my home town has equipment that was thrown in the recycling bin 30 years ago at most Gyms - so its not an option.
I started as swimming as the major part of my exercise routine and then as my general fitness improved added in other activity. It helps that the local pool has an Adult Swim Club which is geared to Adults and lessons - courses to suit the variety of skill levels. Also as someone who has separated his shoulder a few times and broke my left arm Above and Below the Elbow - Free weights/Bars are dangerous for me as with a simple - small misalignment - that can occur quite easily near the end of a set or on a heavier weight everything can go hideously wrong.
I never do butterfly and limit my backstroke for the same reason.I've heard it's great if you're a serious swimmer.
But from what I've seen at the gym, swimming is the perfect exercise for old, overweight people who are just trying to stay active so they don't pass on.I haven't seen anything to suggest that young active people are dying any faster than usual, but I'll accept that I probably hit a nerve with my insensitive personal observation. I apologize to everyone.
@captbklee I will give you credit for standing up and apologizing - In the future you may want to put a little more thought into your comments before posting. I am surprised your comments weren't flagged as in-appropriate. I have seen that happen to other MFP accounts for less. You are closer to being "old" than you realize as it sneaks up on you. Seems like only a few years ago ( 35 ) I graduated from high school.
If you were to truly spend time in a pool ( not a Gym pool but a true Swim Specific Facility ) you would quickly realize that there are people of all ages, skill and fitness levels - age is irrelevant to fitness levels. Tonight our Adult Swim Club did 1700m of drills in less than an hour. I know swimmers who knock off 4 miles in a session. @rosebarnalice will recognize the accomplishments of a mutual swimming friend - lady who went to the Police-Fire Fighter games in Australia and came back with a pile of gold medals and 1-2 silvers all in the pool.
There is a 70 year old couple in town who can out swim any of the young Jocks/Jills who jump in and challenge them. It's actually kind of funny watching them try to pass - out swim the "mature swimmers" as they get left behind. The locals know better - the visitors - their not so smart. I have mad respect for the person who struggles to complete a single 25m length - but keeps coming back week after week. In my little community we have quite a few " Mature Athletes " who are competitive in the Provincial Amateur Tri-athlete competitions.1 -
I've heard it's great if you're a serious swimmer.
But from what I've seen at the gym, swimming is the perfect exercise for old, overweight people who are just trying to stay active so they don't pass on.
I personally think that's a pretty stupid statement considering all the young active people keeling over dead left and right these days.
It's also precisely why this 61 year old (but not overweight )person won't go to the gym.2 -
@juliet3455 Thank you for your credit, no thank you for your condescension. In the future, I suggest that you not rush to take personal offense where there is none. While my comment was insensitive, I don't think it was inappropriate. I never said that only old, overweight people swim. I said that I think swimming is the perfect exercise for those who are. When I'm old and/or broken and the only thing left I can safely do is swim, you'd better believe I'm going to be in the pool.0
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No it's not perfect, the benefits of being non-weight bearing and non-impacting can also be negatives (bone density for example).
But it doesn't have to be exclusively what people do - it can be a part of a routine.
It may be the best for some people but it's not for me, my goals, my capabilities, and I simply don't enjoy it.
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When I'm old and/or broken and the only thing left I can safely do is swim, you'd better believe I'm going to be in the pool.
You just don't get it...2 -
When I'm old and/or broken and the only thing left I can safely do is swim, you'd better believe I'm going to be in the pool.
You just don't get it...
@Briantime Hey Brian, I'm trying to send you a message rather than responding with an immature response (first instinct). Please shoot me a message if you will, to let me know what I'm not getting. I'm fairly certain we're just misunderstanding each other.0 -
I swam as a kid and picked it up again in my mid 50's at a weight of 250 lbs. The first time I swam, I could only swim 1 lap at a time before I had to rest to continue but I kept at it.
A year later I swam 3 miles straight for a fundraiser for the kid's swim team. $1,000. thanks to.my supportive friends and family.
I still swim when it isn't too cold and supplement it with yoga, weights and alot of walking.
I'm down around 90 lbs and feel younger than I did 30 years ago so for me, swimming is perfect.2 -
did ya see all those OLD people swimming at the Olympics?
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