Swim exercises

NelliR86
NelliR86 Posts: 90 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Hello fellow MFP's I want to burn more calories and heard swimming is a good way. However... I can't swim :( are there any exercises I can do in the water without actually swimming? Like some in the shallow end?

Thanks, Nell

Replies

  • Derf_Smeggle
    Derf_Smeggle Posts: 610 Member
    Why do you want to burn more calories?
  • NelliR86
    NelliR86 Posts: 90 Member
    Just to lose weight. When I work out the most I burn is like 60 cal so I don't think that's enough for one day so something like swimming can help me burn more in a shorter amount of time
  • JessM822
    JessM822 Posts: 73 Member
    You burn very few calories swimming actually. Probably better off running or cycling to be honest. I swim 2,200 yards on average and only burn 400 calories or so. You can run in waist deep water. I see people doing that all the time but don't know what the calorie burn is like.
  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,031 Member
    edited June 2017
    NelliR86 wrote: »
    Hello fellow MFP's I want to burn more calories and heard swimming is a good way. However... I can't swim :( are there any exercises I can do in the water without actually swimming? Like some in the shallow end?

    Thanks, Nell
    @NelliR86
    Aqua workouts are great! Swimming is an excellent way to get in shape, really strengthens the muscles. Have you considered taking lessons at the Y or a place near you? Are you planning on using a pool at home or do you belong to a gym with a pool? A place such as the Y will have lots of equipment to use for workouts. Walking in the water is a good starting place in the shallow, if classes are available I highly suggest joining one or two. Water is easy on the joints and it doesn't take much and you get some hard work in.

    I love to run in the water, it's one of my favorite things I can let my mind go and run for miles.. it feels so freeing. I've never had an interest in running outdoors but love doing it in the pool.

    Share your pool situation and I'll see what I can dig up on the Web in regards to workouts you can do on your own if you don't have a Y pool available for classes. :)
  • biejen
    biejen Posts: 9 Member
    Hey Nell! I think swimming is a great way to get active. Personally, I never feel as good (exhausted good) from running or biking as I do after a swim. It's low-impact, which is a relief to a lot of people, but it's surprisingly hard work!

    I've taught adult swim lessons before, and there's great news about them...
    -they exist!
    -your instructor or other people at the pool aren't going to judge you for not knowing how to swim (which may or may not be a concern)
    -after learning the basics, most problems in form fix themselves because these generally make swimming harder. As you become more comfortable in water, quirks tend to work themselves out, and you can progress on your own.

    Here's a really great resource for getting started on your own if you can't find a friend to teach you or if lessons are too pricy: http://ruthkazez.com/Zeroto1milePreamble/pre-zero.html

    Additionally, here is some general information about calorie burning while swimming: http://www.active.com/triathlon/articles/how-many-calories-does-swimming-burn

    Truthfully, I don't know much about shallow water exercises, but if you have access to a pool with a section around 4.5 or 5 feet (where you can choose to stand or not), treading water is a great way to tire yourself out. Tread for as long as you can, and try mini challenges like keeping your hands out of the water for 10 seconds, back in for 10 seconds, hands above your head for 10 seconds, etc. You can look up YouTube videos for form, but even if you do it wrong or just use flutter kicks to tread, you'll still be tiring yourself out and burning calories because it's dang hard!
  • Marshmella
    Marshmella Posts: 64 Member
    That was so nice of you to post the calories lost by swimming I always wondered but never really bothered to look it up
  • heybales
    heybales Posts: 18,842 Member
    To get a best estimate of calorie burn if you do start to enjoy and do laps.

    http://www.swimmingcalculator.com/swim_calories_calculator.php

  • NelliR86
    NelliR86 Posts: 90 Member

    @NelliR86
    Aqua workouts are great! Swimming is an excellent way to get in shape, really strengthens the muscles. Have you considered taking lessons at the Y or a place near you? Are you planning on using a pool at home or do you belong to a gym with a pool? A place such as the Y will have lots of equipment to use for workouts. Walking in the water is a good starting place in the shallow, if classes are available I highly suggest joining one or two. Water is easy on the joints and it doesn't take much and you get some hard work in.

    I love to run in the water, it's one of my favorite things I can let my mind go and run for miles.. it feels so freeing. I've never had an interest in running outdoors but love doing it in the pool.

    Share your pool situation and I'll see what I can dig up on the Web in regards to workouts you can do on your own if you don't have a Y pool available for classes. :) [/quote]

    Wow you are awesome!! I was thinking of starting at home (apartment pool) with maybe treading in the water but I never thought about going to the Y, if there is one nearby. Thank you for all the info!!
  • NelliR86
    NelliR86 Posts: 90 Member
    JessM822 wrote: »
    You burn very few calories swimming actually. Probably better off running or cycling to be honest. I swim 2,200 yards on average and only burn 400 calories or so. You can run in waist deep water. I see people doing that all the time but don't know what the calorie burn is like.

    400 calories is a lot more than the 65 I burn just working out at home. For a start 400 is way over the amount I need.
  • Tweaking_Time
    Tweaking_Time Posts: 733 Member
    JessM822 wrote: »
    You burn very few calories swimming actually. Probably better off running or cycling to be honest. I swim 2,200 yards on average and only burn 400 calories or so. You can run in waist deep water. I see people doing that all the time but don't know what the calorie burn is like.

    ditto above.

    I run, cycle and swim (training for Sprint Triathlon) ... and swimming, although it is a good total body workout, burns the fewest calories per hour of the 3.
  • Nussbary
    Nussbary Posts: 34 Member
    NelliR86 wrote: »
    Hello fellow MFP's I want to burn more calories and heard swimming is a good way. However... I can't swim :( are there any exercises I can do in the water without actually swimming? Like some in the shallow end?

    Thanks, Nell

    Beyond the calorie conversation... if you do want to become more comfortable in the water: Kick, kick kick! your legs are the biggest muscles, and getting a kickboard will help you with your comfort level. This will also help you get stronger with treading water and then eventually your roll and stroke. but first try kicking the entire length, then 2 lengths, then after a while progress to sprinting a portion of your lengths.

    Remember this will work your abs too! the further out in front of you you hold the board, the more of your core you will engage and therefore strengthen.
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    I'd recommend searching your area for a swim instructor - check gyms, YMCA, local schools (mine do adult swim lessons)

    but yeah, swimming is a relatively low calorie burn workout, but a whole body one - I'm always so hungry after swimming, you would think I had burned 1000cal when its more like 200 (something to do with your body trying to equalize temp with water temp which expends more energy)
  • NelliR86
    NelliR86 Posts: 90 Member

    Beyond the calorie conversation... if you do want to become more comfortable in the water: Kick, kick kick! your legs are the biggest muscles, and getting a kickboard will help you with your comfort level. This will also help you get stronger with treading water and then eventually your roll and stroke. but first try kicking the entire length, then 2 lengths, then after a while progress to sprinting a portion of your lengths.

    Remember this will work your abs too! the further out in front of you you hold the board, the more of your core you will engage and therefore strengthen. [/quote]

    Oh cool! Thanks for the info. Yeah I would love to be more comfortable in the water and working out my legs and abs would be awesome. So I will definitely get a kick board so I can start practicing.
  • NelliR86
    NelliR86 Posts: 90 Member
    deannalfisher wrote: »
    I'd recommend searching your area for a swim instructor - check gyms, YMCA, local schools (mine do adult swim lessons)

    but yeah, swimming is a relatively low calorie burn workout, but a whole body one - I'm always so hungry after swimming, you would think I had burned 1000cal when its more like 200 (something to do with your body trying to equalize temp with water temp which expends more energy)

    Yeah as I mentioned before, with my at home workouts I'm only burning like 65 calories after 30 mins so 200 calories is a big step up for me, plus it's a whole body workout which is great. So I will start checking local places.
  • Derf_Smeggle
    Derf_Smeggle Posts: 610 Member
    NelliR86 wrote: »
    Just to lose weight. When I work out the most I burn is like 60 cal so I don't think that's enough for one day so something like swimming can help me burn more in a shorter amount of time
    So, the reason I asked why is because for weight loss eating habits trump exercise.

    Don't get me wrong, exercise is awesome for your health! I think you should find an activity that you enjoy doing. However, don't do it to "lose weight faster ".

    Set your MFP weekly weight loss goal. Eat to hit your calorie target. Track accurately and precisely. Lose weight.

    Directly regarding water exercise, I agree that local Y's are great resources in the states.
  • DaniMerc72
    DaniMerc72 Posts: 188 Member
    There are water aerobics classes at the Y or other gyms with pools that you do in the deep end, and you wear a flotation belt kind of thing to keep you afloat. I want to try one, because they look so fun!
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    NelliR86 wrote: »
    deannalfisher wrote: »
    I'd recommend searching your area for a swim instructor - check gyms, YMCA, local schools (mine do adult swim lessons)

    but yeah, swimming is a relatively low calorie burn workout, but a whole body one - I'm always so hungry after swimming, you would think I had burned 1000cal when its more like 200 (something to do with your body trying to equalize temp with water temp which expends more energy)

    Yeah as I mentioned before, with my at home workouts I'm only burning like 65 calories after 30 mins so 200 calories is a big step up for me, plus it's a whole body workout which is great. So I will start checking local places.

    could you do anything at home to up the calorie burn? (I'm a huge fan of fitness blender via you tube) - something else to consider
  • gillidovew
    gillidovew Posts: 10 Member
    danihunter37 wrote: »
    There are water aerobics classes at the Y or other gyms with pools that you do in the deep end, and you wear a flotation belt kind of thing to keep you afloat. I want to try one, because they look so fun!
    Definitely look for one of these. As they are run by an

    instructor they tell you what to do, some of the exercises have light weights and the variety of exercise will give an all over workout and keep it from feeling monotonous, often to music. I swim but often see these classes going on in the pool and everyone always looks to be really enjoying themselves
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    bonus of the water aerobics classes (if you are a triathlete), they sometimes do a good impersonation of an open water swim with current :)
  • CarolPre
    CarolPre Posts: 1,862 Member
    I used to do the Aqua-aerobics class when I belonged to my local Y and I loved them. Good workout.
  • NelliR86
    NelliR86 Posts: 90 Member


    could you do anything at home to up the calorie burn? (I'm a huge fan of fitness blender via you tube) - something else to consider[/quote]

    Yeah probably, swimming seemed like a new adventure that I would like to try. I am trying to get away from regular workouts, so like aerobics maybe.
  • cecekay19
    cecekay19 Posts: 89 Member
    edited June 2017
    Swimming was my gateway to more intense workouts. I am not a strong swimmer but I did learn how to do a couple of survival strokes. If you can float, do the survival backstroke and you can get a lot of mileage out of it. Here is a video:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXpgGezjvZA

    If you pull up your arms and knees as much as you can (think like making water angels instead of snow angels), it's like doing jumping jacks in the water.

    That said there are other things you can do in the pool. Use the side of the pool to do supine bicycle and other kinds of kicks, push yourself up and out of the water, do splits in the water, lunges, twisting jumps in the water... lots of things you can do.

  • Alidecker
    Alidecker Posts: 1,262 Member
    deannalfisher wrote: »
    I'd recommend searching your area for a swim instructor - check gyms, YMCA, local schools (mine do adult swim lessons)

    but yeah, swimming is a relatively low calorie burn workout, but a whole body one - I'm always so hungry after swimming, you would think I had burned 1000cal when its more like 200 (something to do with your body trying to equalize temp with water temp which expends more energy)

    I am so hungry after swimming too, it's the only exercise that makes me want to eat all the food.
  • Okiludy
    Okiludy Posts: 558 Member
    I love swimming and it's by far the best cardio workout I do. If you can not swim you can get lessons. Most pools I have been to offer them and it is not odd to see fit adults learning. Swimming for me is one of the few things I think everyone should learn if not physically challenged to do so.

    @Alidecker Hell ya about eating after swimming.
  • Hearts_2015
    Hearts_2015 Posts: 12,031 Member
    ,
  • snowflake954
    snowflake954 Posts: 8,399 Member
    edited April 2018
    I've been swimming 22 yrs, along with acqua-gym. If you love the water. You love the water. There are people at my pool who are regulars and wouldn't miss a workout. Swimming has advantages over other exercises besides the calorie burn, and like anything else, it depends on how much you push yourself. I do yoga and gym too, plus lots of walking. I'm 63, and not triathelete material, but I do OK and I'm consistent. Do what you enjoy doing, because it makes all the difference in fitness. I second looking into classes.

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