To swim or not to swim?
rowena4555
Posts: 9 Member
I would really like to give swimming a chance and to accompany my weight loss. I have lost 8 kgs (17 pounds) but I am feeling a bit jiggly, especially in my arms. Can you tell me your successes with swimming please! I also would like to know what different strokes you use and how many laps, basically your swimming routines. Thank you!
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Replies
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I've been swimming for a lorra lorra time. Front Crawl Freestyle, breast, back, butterfly. We all need to find movement we enjoy or it won't last. If it's not sustainable now, it won't be 5 years from now either. I don't think of exercise as part of weight loss success because that goes along with dieting and I'm through with all of it. I swim because it makes me feel really, really good. Are my arms tighter, ayup. It's a benefit.5
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I like to be in the water but find swimming laps boring. I do like Aqua aerobics though and it burns a reasonable amount of calories.4
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Ooo, I have a tiny water radio. No bigger than a peanut. It takes all of the boredom away.8
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UWaterK7.
https://www.amazon.com/UwaterK7-Smallest-Waterproof-Digital-Earphones/dp/B006PKE302/?tag=3dsecure-20
$38 bucks. Best money ever spent.2 -
A calorie deficit is needed for weight loss, so swimming or any exercise won't make you lose weight if your nutrition isn't managed properly. I've swim on and off for many years. When I jumped back in the pool 2 years ago, my goal was 9 laps (1/4) mile using a variety of strokes now I do 25-30, working towards 36 which will be a mile. (a lap =2 lengths of the pool.) I actually can DO that, just usually dont have the time. I do 18-20 laps front crawl several laps of back crawl and/or breast depending on what I feel like, then cool down with side stroke. This summer I'm training for 1/2 mile lake swim, primarily front crawl. I'll be doing the swim leg of a tri sprint in Sept. It's very humbling, lake swimming is a very different mental game Than the pool.
If you haven't swim in awhile, you will probably feel gassed after one length, just keep working at it and building up your stamina.
I encourage you you to take an adult swim class to brush up your stroke technique, learn new strokes, learn some drills and get some workouts. You can find these at the Y and prob most other pools. Have fun!6 -
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I look forward to swimming every summer! We only have an outside public pool here. I have to drive over 12 miles to get there, and pay $2 to lap swim for 30 min, but its worth it to me. Its too hot to do much of anything else outside. I love how swimming feels. Its a great full-body workout, easy on the joints. I alternate freestyle with breast stroke, 30 min non-stop.3
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Over 60, male. Lost 30+ lbs this year, through dietary moderation (via MFP) and exercise, mostly a return to bike riding (approaching 500 miles since Jan 1st). Now that it's summer, I'm riding to the beach/pool and swimming for a secondary exercise (I'm doing counted laps in addition to just being in the water). I can't tell if the swimming is accelerating weight loss, but weight loss is continuing charted progress. I do feel that swimming is tightening up core, arm, shoulder muscles as well as continuing to help cardio-wise. When summer is over, I'm returning to the gym for stationary cycling and other supplements to my biking. I do also feel that being the water is boosting my appetite a bit, so I have to be careful to not falling off the wagon in that regard.2
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Over 60, male. Lost 30+ lbs this year, through dietary moderation (via MFP) and exercise, mostly a return to bike riding (approaching 500 miles since Jan 1st). Now that it's summer, I'm riding to the beach/pool and swimming for a secondary exercise (I'm doing counted laps in addition to just being in the water). I can't tell if the swimming is accelerating weight loss, but weight loss is continuing charted progress. I do feel that swimming is tightening up core, arm, shoulder muscles as well as continuing to help cardio-wise. When summer is over, I'm returning to the gym for stationary cycling and other supplements to my biking. I do also feel that being the water is boosting my appetite a bit, so I have to be careful to not falling off the wagon in that regard.
I don't know whether or not there's a physiological explanation for it, but swimming makes me way hungrier than any other cardiovascular exercise. I don't feel extraordinarily hungry after running or cycling, but I'm absolutely ravenous after swimming.6 -
@AnvilHead, I must say it has the opposite effect on me. The entire time I'm in the pool I don't think about food. Afterwards, I'm thirsty and drink water like it's my job. I take a couple of cans of ice cold LaCroix and swill away. The water is a great escape for me, I don't have to think about anything or anyone.
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I love swimming, developing those muscles and avoiding a lot of impact, but it does make me very hungry.1
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Over 60, male. Lost 30+ lbs this year, through dietary moderation (via MFP) and exercise, mostly a return to bike riding (approaching 500 miles since Jan 1st). Now that it's summer, I'm riding to the beach/pool and swimming for a secondary exercise (I'm doing counted laps in addition to just being in the water). I can't tell if the swimming is accelerating weight loss, but weight loss is continuing charted progress. I do feel that swimming is tightening up core, arm, shoulder muscles as well as continuing to help cardio-wise. When summer is over, I'm returning to the gym for stationary cycling and other supplements to my biking. I do also feel that being the water is boosting my appetite a bit, so I have to be careful to not falling off the wagon in that regard.
I don't know whether or not there's a physiological explanation for it, but swimming makes me way hungrier than any other cardiovascular exercise. I don't feel extraordinarily hungry after running or cycling, but I'm absolutely ravenous after swimming.
Swimming and lifting make me ravenous. It makes it difficult to stay within my calorie goal.
I have a waterproof iPod, and like to go during the day when it's less busy. If I can get a lane to myself I will do the occasional lap on my back with my eyes closed and pretend that I'm out floating in the middle of a lake all by myself. Swimming really helps clear my mind too. I've made some great decisions while swimming. I've also been known to get back in the pool if I haven't finished thinking about something.4 -
OP, I swim quite a bit, all of it done with the freestyle stroke. Its a great, low impact exercise. I typically swim 3 times/week.
As an adult onset swimmer, swimming was tough for me until I learned proper technique. If you are not familiar with what good swimming technique is, my suggestion is to find an experienced swimmer or even a coach to help you develop good swimming form. Develop a solid stroke first, then build endurance if you want it.
Once you have solid mechanics, your volume can increase. As an example, when starting out, a typical workout could be done with a pull buoy (float held between your legs) and consist of very easy yardage. Say 500-1000 yds as you get comfortable. Then, as your fitness increases, it can be as long as you feel like swimming.
You might also enjoy learning to swim in open water. If you have access to outdoor swimming, it can be a form of exercise that never gets boring. My training group holds regular friday night swims, usually followed by food and wine "for recovery". It is a fun way to gain fitness, so it's been sustainable for a bunch of people I know.
Regarding hunger, yes I seem to get very hungry after swimming, though the calories expended while swimming don't come close to those burned while running/cycling for me.
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I have read that swimming releases grehlin the hunger hormone. Thus we feel hungry after we swim! I take a apple in my gym bag and eat it immediately after changing, and that seems to help.3
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I normally swim crawl and breast when I go swimming - mostly crawl because the breaststroke kick is very hard on my knees. I don't enjoy backstroke and I can't do fly (sadly - I can't dolphin kick to save my life). I don't have any sets of swimming workouts that I do in part because I have a sheer lack of swimming related goals. At this point I don't have enough time in the week to go more than once a week given everything else I'm doing. In an ideal world I would do masters swimming but given that I'm planning on starting rowing classes and I already bike 3-4 hours a week and have started running there's just no time.
I do track my laps (with my Garmin FR 935 - I can' typically reliably count more than 500 yards) and will swim at least 1,000 yards.
If you don't already know how to swim then I would urge you to take swimming lessons. There are a likely at least a few places in your area that offer adult swim lessons and if not you will probably be able to find someone who is willing to give you private lessons.1 -
... I do also feel that being the water is boosting my appetite a bit, so I have to be careful to not falling off the wagon in that regard. ....
I don't know whether or not there's a physiological explanation for it, but swimming makes me way hungrier than any other cardiovascular exercise. I don't feel extraordinarily hungry after running or cycling, but I'm absolutely ravenous after swimming.
LOL. Long, long ago, in a body far, far away, I taught scuba as a side gig to my IT day job. I could literally eat whole horses(*) on those weekends where I spent hours in the water. That became a bad habit that contributed to making me twice the man I used to be. Now the job is to become half the man I was again.
Even in a warm pool, your body burns cals to heat up the water around it. The longer you're in the water, the more you'll burn. Plus whatever you're doing, activity-wise. Oh, and if you're diving, your lungs are giving up more heat as they humidify and warm the air you're breathing.
(*) actually, I was a total vegan for about 8 of those years, veggie for several more. Fairly rare for the 70s/80s. So, I guess I was more a hayburner than a horse-eater, but you get my point. I had to shovel food in to keep up my energy.5 -
@AnvilHead, I must say it has the opposite effect on me. The entire time I'm in the pool I don't think about food. Afterwards, I'm thirsty and drink water like it's my job. I take a couple of cans of ice cold LaCroix and swill away. The water is a great escape for me, I don't have to think about anything or anyone.
Most people don't think about it, but you continue to perspire even in a pool. I used to help maintain a heated indoor pool used in our scuba shop.
Water is great, with you on that. Which is why we leave near the beach.4 -
Thank you everyone! This was so great to read and so many great tips. I was most interested in the low impact aspect. I was giggling with how hungry you were!!! Now I realise why I use to be so hungry as a kid when I swam for a club. I couldn’t wait to get home to have my Mum’s dinners! I really appreciate your time in replying! Swimming, here I come!1
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I love swimming! I’ve been swimming since the pool opened in May and I’ve lost weight and built muscle. It really helps with sticking to my diet because I can average ~1600 per day, net 1200, which is much less restrictive than if I didn’t have a calorie torching exercise.0
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[img].
To swim or not to swim. Low impact does not mean zero impact.
https://www.bucknell.edu/athletics/recreation-services/swimming-information
http://bmhmag.com/what-swimming-can-do-for-mental-health/
"Swimming is also great for the mental health and wellbeing. It can be a relaxing and meditative exercise, it reduces stress.[/img]Weightlessness of water can have a calming effect on the mind, and it helps provide a distraction from life to improve mindfulness. And, for many people, it can be readily accessible without high gym fees or lots of equipment."
"A close friend of mine likes to swim. She prefers ocean swimming. An hour or so of swimming against waves in the open water is something she finds challenging physically and mentally. She was telling about it and I shook my head and admitted that it wasn’t for me. She laughed and said it didn’t have to be for me. "
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As for the hunger... I noticed it the first summer I took up lap swimming, but not anymore.0
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I swim regularly and do not experience any more hunger than after other forms of exercise. Note that it takes some time to work up swimming technique and it really helps to have stroke advice. It's amazing how you think you are doing it exactly as on youtube, then the coach takes a video on their phone and shows it to you...yikes!
Also, the muscles specific to swimming take a while to build up, so at first it's hard to get your HR up.
The best overall approach is to join a master's team. Or, if your pool doesn't have one, start one!3 -
I love swimming and will replace my cardio with swimming 2 times a week. I’m no pro swimmer and do it purely because I love being in the water. I will say after about an hour swimming my hunger is fierce and I’ve learned to have protein shakes and boiled eggs ready.0
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I'm not especially hungry after I swim but what I do tend to do when I swim is swim in the morning and eat my usual breakfast right after. In reality that's true for when I run as well (though there's a bit more of a break between the two because of logistical issues), but I'm rarely ravenous after I swim.0
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Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »I swim regularly and do not experience any more hunger than after other forms of exercise. Note that it takes some time to work up swimming technique and it really helps to have stroke advice. It's amazing how you think you are doing it exactly as on youtube, then the coach takes a video on their phone and shows it to you...yikes!
Also, the muscles specific to swimming take a while to build up, so at first it's hard to get your HR up.
The best overall approach is to join a master's team. Or, if your pool doesn't have one, start one!
Yes, if the hunger is too overpowering, must simply stay out of the pool. Remaining on the couch at the speed of zero is preferred. Not. Take a leap and jump on in. The water is fine.
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Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »I swim regularly and do not experience any more hunger than after other forms of exercise. Note that it takes some time to work up swimming technique and it really helps to have stroke advice. It's amazing how you think you are doing it exactly as on youtube, then the coach takes a video on their phone and shows it to you...yikes!
Also, the muscles specific to swimming take a while to build up, so at first it's hard to get your HR up.
The best overall approach is to join a master's team. Or, if your pool doesn't have one, start one!
Yes, if the hunger is too overpowering, must simply stay out of the pool. Remaining on the couch at the speed of zero is preferred. Not. Take a leap and jump on in. The water is fine.
Who suggested that?2 -
I have learnt that I can run and cycle fasted - but swimming that is just a non-starter...it doesn't need to be a lot, but I need food in my belly before I can have a good swim workout1
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I took some aqua cycling classes this summer. It was fun. But yes, I was starving afterwards.0
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Yes, always.
Come on in, the water's lovely.0
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