Swimming
connorbambam98
Posts: 46 Member
Has anyone lost weight and got in shape using swimming as there exercise? If so how did you do it, thanks
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Replies
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I lost 60lbs last year swimming about 90 minutes a day plus 1 hour walking. This year I've been swimming 2-3 hours daily, 30mins walk and I've lost 11lbs in about 2.5 weeks. Still eating junkfood.3
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Do you already know how to swim? Do you like swimming? If you answered yes to both then it can be a great way to get fit, feel good about yourself and lose weight *if* you remember that weight loss is all about CICO. If you swim for an hour and then go and make up the extra calories you just expended by munching for the rest of the day, then you won't see the results you want in terms of weight loss. Except that you'll be fitter, which is always nice.
If you don't know how to swim, then you probably won't expend that many calories until you get more proficient in the water. In that case take some lessons and have a blast.7 -
Many people (and at least two studies support this) find themselves more hungry after swimming. As long as one doesn't overeat their calorie expenditure- swimming is a great way to get fit and lose weight.
Two tips. 1) as the previous poster mentioned, knowing HOW to swim is key. Learning to swim or floundering in the water is not necessarily good exercise. 2) Combat the post swim hunger: it is theorized that post swim hunger is due to the body attempting to warm up a swimmer's core temp which typically drops during swim. Therefore post swim time in hot tub, or a cup of hot tea immediately post swim might help. Personally, I tread water in the 91 degree hot well pool and drink a large cup of decaf coffee just after swimming- ymmv but it has kept that aching post swim hunger at bay for me.4 -
Many people (and at least two studies support this) find themselves more hungry after swimming. As long as one doesn't overeat their calorie expenditure- swimming is a great way to get fit and lose weight.
Two tips. 1) as the previous poster mentioned, knowing HOW to swim is key. Learning to swim or floundering in the water is not necessarily good exercise. 2) Combat the post swim hunger: it is theorized that post swim hunger is due to the body attempting to warm up a swimmer's core temp which typically drops during swim. Therefore post swim time in hot tub, or a cup of hot tea immediately post swim might help. Personally, I tread water in the 91 degree hot well pool and drink a large cup of decaf coffee just after swimming- ymmv but it has kept that aching post swim hunger at bay for me.
I am one of those people that gets hungry after swimming. I do my best to control it, sometimes it wins though. It is the only workout that makes me so hungry right after I am finished and the hunger doesn't go away. Knowing this is half the battle.0 -
Swimming is an excellent cardio exercise that uses many different muscles, especially if you mix up your routine with breast, back, side strokes and free-style. I also like to swim with arms only (no kicking) and kicking only using a kick-board. Notice I did not mention butterfly - I would never recommend a swim stroke that would drown me in under 50 yards ha-ha.
I am not sure about being hungrier after swimming as mentioned above. I have not noticed any difference between swimming, cycling, or running...but I eat a diet heavier in protein.
As mentioned above - having good form is essential to a good swim workout. There are many excellent You-Tube videos on the do's and don'ts for swimming. Getting good form is not that hard either - work on form, then distance/endurance, then speed.1 -
Thanks guys I love swimming and can swim so going to try it for an hour a day see how I get on0
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I like to mix it up triathlon-style. But swimming is my best sport. Love it in a 50m pool or in a pond (in the summer) or ocean. Stroke lessons are key to enjoyment: it.feels good when you do it right.
I've never noticed particular increased hunger relative to other sports.1 -
I have lost weight by creating a calorie deficit. Exercise can help, but I mostly do it with diet and portion control. Swimming as definitely improved my fitness.1
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Following up on my earlier post, my normal routine:
Wake up, drink a cup of apple juice with my iron supplement, then go swimming. I always have a bottle of water that I work on gradually throughout the swim. Most of my swim is composed of water jogging, with leisurely breast strokes when I need a break.
I very rarely am hungry afterward, but waiting until after swimming to eat should help deal with post-swim hunger if you get it. I usually have to wait 1-2 hours to eat otherwise I end up with heartburn. I find I have to pee a lot though on account of the lowered body temperature, so don't be surprised if that happens.0 -
Yeah when I go swimming I've started preping meals before and then soon as I'm back I eat my lunch and I'm fine, thanks everyone for the comments sorry I didn't reply to all of them each, feel free to add me for support and motivation as I could use the help also, thank you1
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I agree with other posters that you have to be good at swimming to get much burn. I'm in that not so great and get tired easily category, so my calorie burns are a little disappointing. I definitely burn more walking and would likely get a better burn water walking to keep cool. I really enjoy being out in the deep water though so I consider my swim time more of an exercise in relaxation than cardio. I am thinking of looking for swim lessons or coaching at the beginning of next season so I can learn to swim for fitness. You might want to look into that if you are interested in swimming.0
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typically swim hunger has to do with your body's attempt to maintain the same body temp when the water is colder - so you expend energy doing that (on top of calories burnt while actually swimming)1
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Love love love to swim. It's my favorite--and primary form of exercise. During the school year, I swim two to three times per week X 1.5 miles/70 minutes (54 laps). The majority of that is freestyle, but I usually do a kickboard set of 10 - 12 laps, and sometimes throw in some backstroke or breast stroke to mix it up a little.
LOVE it. Did I mention I LOVE it?!3 -
jennybearlv wrote: »I agree with other posters that you have to be good at swimming to get much burn. I'm in that not so great and get tired easily category, so my calorie burns are a little disappointing. I definitely burn more walking and would likely get a better burn water walking to keep cool. I really enjoy being out in the deep water though so I consider my swim time more of an exercise in relaxation than cardio. I am thinking of looking for swim lessons or coaching at the beginning of next season so I can learn to swim for fitness. You might want to look into that if you are interested in
Without sounding big headed I'm a good swimmer so I think I'll be okay with swimming but thanks for the comment0 -
rosebarnalice wrote: »Love love love to swim. It's my favorite--and primary form of exercise. During the school year, I swim two to three times per week X 1.5 miles/70 minutes (54 laps). The majority of that is freestyle, but I usually do a kickboard set of 10 - 12 laps, and sometimes throw in some backstroke or breast stroke to mix it up a little.
LOVE it. Did I mention I LOVE it?!
Sounds good I love to swim I normally do breast stroke but at a faster speed as I like freestyle and all that but feel like I'd annoy people by splashing them lol0 -
connorbambam98 wrote: »rosebarnalice wrote: »Love love love to swim. It's my favorite--and primary form of exercise. During the school year, I swim two to three times per week X 1.5 miles/70 minutes (54 laps). The majority of that is freestyle, but I usually do a kickboard set of 10 - 12 laps, and sometimes throw in some backstroke or breast stroke to mix it up a little.
LOVE it. Did I mention I LOVE it?!
Sounds good I love to swim I normally do breast stroke but at a faster speed as I like freestyle and all that but feel like I'd annoy people by splashing them lol
If you are splashing while doing freestyle then you are not as efficient as you could be when moving through the water. The water is your friend, don't attack it - use it to pull yourself through in a nice streamlined position. Sharks don't splash. They swim fast on stealth mode. Be like a shark and take a few one on one lessons to learn what you need to fix and refine your technique. Plenty of websites out there dedicated to improving swimming technique too.2 -
Oh okay and I don't splash but I'm afraid I will if I start going to quick but I'll look that up thanks for the informationSkipjack66 wrote: »connorbambam98 wrote: »rosebarnalice wrote: »Love love love to swim. It's my favorite--and primary form of exercise. During the school year, I swim two to three times per week X 1.5 miles/70 minutes (54 laps). The majority of that is freestyle, but I usually do a kickboard set of 10 - 12 laps, and sometimes throw in some backstroke or breast stroke to mix it up a little.
LOVE it. Did I mention I LOVE it?!
Sounds good I love to swim I normally do breast stroke but at a faster speed as I like freestyle and all that but feel like I'd annoy people by splashing them lol
If you are splashing while doing freestyle then you are not as efficient as you could be when moving through the water. The water is your friend, don't attack it - use it to pull yourself through in a nice streamlined position. Sharks don't splash. They swim fast on stealth mode. Be like a shark and take a few one on one lessons to learn what you need to fix and refine your technique. Plenty of websites out there dedicated to improving swimming technique too.
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A bit of splashing is completely expected in lap swimming. Splash away.3
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I lost about 30lbs swimming 3x a week and lifting 3x a week. I mainly do breaststroke and freestyle. I get between 1 & 2km a session.
I agree with the hungry after if water is cool or cold. Right now the water temp is in 80s and don't get hungry, just really thirsty. Talking like 2 extra liters at a min on swim days.0 -
Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »A bit of splashing is completely expected in lap swimming. Splash away.
I was thinking this today as I swam. There is always some splashing.
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No insult was intended to OP about the amount of splash generated in his freestyle. However if you frequent the pool on a regular basis, you will see that many people (usually new people just starting out) will create an enormous amount of splash as they make their way down the lane. Often they are trying to go fast but they are actually "attacking" the water in a downwards motion with arms slapping on top of the water and kicking from the knees causing a significant amount of slapping on the surface. Yes, there is always a certain amount of splash generated with any kind of swimming, but the most efficient swimmers will create the least because they are effective at streamlining and using the water to pull themselves through. Streamlined swimming means energy conservation so that you can keep on going for a long time and get more mileage in your workout.
My intent was simply to point OP to stroke correction if people at his pool were getting annoyed with his splashing. Stroke correction and streamlining is something that I always work on at every swim and I incorporate it into different stroke drills at every workout to improve.
Anyways I found a couple of articles that kind of sum up smooth or streamlined swimming. Of course, there are many more out there. Happy swimming!
https://www.google.ca/amp/www.triathlete.com/2010/09/training/seven-most-important-aspects-of-freestyle-swimming_12191/amp
2) http://www.swim-teach.com/front-crawl-kick.html
3)
https://youtu.be/xnWzozZHYgQ. 4 -
Many people (and at least two studies support this) find themselves more hungry after swimming.
Anecdotal but.....I find it so true for myself. I did a 3km open water swim the other day which, according to my Garmin, burned about 750cal and I was hungrier than I get after a 16km run......
OP if you enjoy swimming it's a great part of your fitness program, as to losing weight....that's the result of eating fewer calories than you expend. Because exercise requires fuel it's pretty widely accepted that exercise by itself contributes little to weight loss but studies have also shown that people who exercise regularly are much more likely to keep any weight they lose off over the long term.
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Skipjack66 wrote: »No insult was intended to OP about the amount of splash generated in his freestyle. However if you frequent the pool on a regular basis, you will see that many people (usually new people just starting out) will create an enormous amount of splash as they make their way down the lane. Often they are trying to go fast but they are actually "attacking" the water in a downwards motion with arms slapping on top of the water and kicking from the knees causing a significant amount of slapping on the surface. Yes, there is always a certain amount of splash generated with any kind of swimming, but the most efficient swimmers will create the least because they are effective at streamlining and using the water to pull themselves through. Streamlined swimming means energy conservation so that you can keep on going for a long time and get more mileage in your workout.
My intent was simply to point OP to stroke correction if people at his pool were getting annoyed with his splashing. Stroke correction and streamlining is something that I always work on at every swim and I incorporate it into different stroke drills at every workout to improve.
Anyways I found a couple of articles that kind of sum up smooth or streamlined swimming. Of course, there are many more out there. Happy swimming!
https://www.google.ca/amp/www.triathlete.com/2010/09/training/seven-most-important-aspects-of-freestyle-swimming_12191/amp
2) http://www.swim-teach.com/front-crawl-kick.html
3)https://youtu.be/xnWzozZHYgQ.
Well, there is excessive splashing. I do come across that, just was thinking that there will be some splashing. When I get splash from someone swimming in a different lane, it is odd
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Thanks for the great video, Skipjack. I needed that, that's a great channel.
To answer the OP, I started my weight loss journey using swimming and had incorporated it into my routine (up until I moved, after which it's become much more difficult to get a good swim, but I digress). I probably lost 2-3 pounds by just swimming 30ish minutes a couple of times a week. I am not a strong swimmer so I did a survival backstroke (which is like doing snow angels or horizontal jumping jacks in the water), straight underwater swimming or a very janky freestyle. When my friend and I did a beginner's triathlon, we would sometimes double up on swimming with weights, rides or runs.
I enjoyed it and it's a great way to get started to improve your basic cardio fitness before taking on more strenuous exercises like running long distances. Swimming at a higher intensity would of course be just as difficult if not more, but if you take it easy, it's a great way to first move the needle.2 -
Another vote for LOVE swimming. I think I'm part fish. My "gym" is actually the profit side of a non profit rehab facility and is virtually unknown except by the 70+ crowd and others who found it for rehab and stayed for the laid back gym facilities. I join the folks for cardio aquatics class then get serious about my laps. I'm prob 20 years younger than most of them and they think I'm a tad crazy but in a good way.0
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I'm down 25lbs and still going with swimming as my primary exercise. I primarily swim on my lunch hour 3x a week (about 45 mins of a mix of freestyle, breaststroke, sidestroke. At the end of my workout I like to throw in a small butterfly set). Up until about 2 weeks ago, I had worked up to a full mile in 45 mins. But I recently got back into the weight room, so now I do 30 mins weights and 30 mins swim.Many people (and at least two studies support this) find themselves more hungry after swimming. As long as one doesn't overeat their calorie expenditure- swimming is a great way to get fit and lose weight.
I really haven't had issues with hunger either. In fact, I find the days I swim I generally eat less then on my rumba or water aerobic days. Though I do make sure I eat a high protein snack about an hour before I go and a high protein lunch when I get back.
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Skipjack66 wrote: »No insult was intended to OP about the amount of splash generated in his freestyle. However if you frequent the pool on a regular basis, you will see that many people (usually new people just starting out) will create an enormous amount of splash as they make their way down the lane. Often they are trying to go fast but they are actually "attacking" the water in a downwards motion with arms slapping on top of the water and kicking from the knees causing a significant amount of slapping on the surface. Yes, there is always a certain amount of splash generated with any kind of swimming, but the most efficient swimmers will create the least because they are effective at streamlining and using the water to pull themselves through. Streamlined swimming means energy conservation so that you can keep on going for a long time and get more mileage in your workout.
My intent was simply to point OP to stroke correction if people at his pool were getting annoyed with his splashing. Stroke correction and streamlining is something that I always work on at every swim and I incorporate it into different stroke drills at every workout to improve.
Anyways I found a couple of articles that kind of sum up smooth or streamlined swimming. Of course, there are many more out there. Happy swimming!
https://www.google.ca/amp/www.triathlete.com/2010/09/training/seven-most-important-aspects-of-freestyle-swimming_12191/amp
2) http://www.swim-teach.com/front-crawl-kick.html
3)https://youtu.be/xnWzozZHYgQ.
Thanks and they wasn't getting annoyed I'm autistic and suffer with high anexity so I always overthink and worry that they will lol0 -
I found this page helpful:
http://www.swimsmooth.com/
I have not paid them anything, just flipped through the anamations.0 -
Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »A bit of splashing is completely expected in lap swimming. Splash away.
I was thinking this today as I swam. There is always some splashing.
I had a woman who wouldn't share a lane with anyone because she might get splashed during lap swim...and I'm not talking like arms flailing splash, but just minor stroke splash...she complained to the lifeguards about my swimming and they told her she was welcome to leave but they weren't going to ask me to stop swimming1 -
SURE!, its great!0
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