Swimming - Satan’s exercise?

Lol, disregard Satan’s exercise, it’s supposed to epitomize the attitudes I’ve been met with when I tell others that right now the only exercise I’m able to do is swim or walk. I have a knee and a bank injury sustained on Xmas eve and I still haven’t recovered. The responses have ranged from:

- you’ll be so hungry afterwards you’ll over eat and there goes your calorie deficit.
- you won’t build muscle or change your body composition with swimming unless you’re swimming with the intensity of an Olympian and go for hours and hours
- complete waste of time unless done vigorously

It’s been fun learning how evil swimming is, lol 👍🏻

However, that being said, it’s still going to be my go-to method of exercising until I’m cleared by my doctor do conventional strength training which is my typical go-to when trying to lose weight.

I guess I’m just asking if I really will be wasting my time by swimming/walking.. especially if I’m not capable of doing either at a vigorous pace yet.

Thoughts about swimming for exercise?

I realize ultimately it’s being in a calorie deficit (PERIOD) that determines weight loss but I want to get the most out of what I’m doing.

Replies

corinasue1143

The best exercise is the one you actually do.

rheddmobile

Every summer I housesit for two weeks for a lady with a pool. During that time I put my running on hold (since it’s usually 100 degrees outside anyway it’s not a big loss) and take up swimming. Without fail I lose about three pounds despite eating at or above maintenance, and I’m in better cardio shape at the end than the beginning. I swim a few laps and my husband and I race each other sometimes but mostly I just play around in the water. Swimming is good stuff. Plus, it’s fun!

Walking is also good stuff. Don’t listen to those people.

If you can get a reference for a physical therapist who may be able to suggest strength exercises which won’t hurt you (there’s almost always something safe to do if you modify) you will be set.

KosmosKitten

corinasue1143 wrote: »

The best exercise is the one you actually do.

Dis.

My s/o does pretty much exclusively swimming or hiking (when we're in places to do that) because his knees have been so badly messed up after years of climbing up and down stairwells in tiny Navy vessels. He seems to like it and it helps him keep his weight down per his job. He used to run (and was quite good at that) but after he hit 35 or so, that really started causing his joints grief so he opted for swimming instead.

Personally, I can attest to swimming giving you a massive appetite, BUT if you manage the things you eat, you'll be fine. Yeah, it makes me hungry, but I find if I get the right balance of foods before and after, I'm usually okay.

The body composition one I don't know about. I never swam (and neither did husband) for body recomposition. Just to keep off of weight and exercise muscles we weren't using most of the time. You can and will build some muscle if you do it 4 or 5 times weekly for 30 minutes or more, even if you aren't setting speed records or plowing through the water like a kraken on the hunt.

For walking: I went from 225 (when I had my son) down to 170 in less than 6 months only watching the things I ate and walking for a couple of hours most days. It wasn't fast and I wasn't running. I would sometimes push my son in a buggy, sometimes it would just be me. I will say it was up and down giant hills (where I lived at the time) and that sometimes it was a muggy armpit (but not always). I was not breastfeeding him through most of that time due to medical issues, so I didn't really get the boost from that and was still able to lose a significant amount of weight/fat. And yeah, it was noticeable in my clothing, too.

So no, I don't think either is a waste of time. Ultimately, it's what is above. If you'll do it and it keeps you interested in being active, then that is ALL that matters until (and if) you want to do something else.

lorrpb

Swimming is awesome! Great cardio and uses all your muscles. It’s so peaceful too. My happy place. 🤗🏊🏻‍♀️

jeagogo

Swimming is great! Great calorie burn and a wonderful way to get active when you are dealing with physical limitations like injury.
I'm one of those folks who feels starving after I swim, but I find if I go straight from the pool to the hot tub for a while I don't get hungry. My understanding is that a lot of the hunger you feel after swimming is your body trying to warm up since eating raises your internal temperature. Not sure how scientifically sound it is, but hot tub after swimming works for me.

kaitslosingweight

Thanks for the input! I’m glad to hear I won’t necessarily be “wasting my time.” I don’t think it’ll be my exercise of choice long term, but it’s what I have at my disposal right now. And given how much I love to swim, I was super disheartened when I was met with a lot of negative feedback about its function as “exercise.”

pinksparklefairy

Why DOES swimming make you so hungry?

snowflake954

pinksparklefairy wrote: »

Why DOES swimming make you so hungry?

Not so much hungry as thirsty. It's dehydrating and people don't realize.

snowflake954

WHAT!!!! I've been swimming for 23 years in Rome. Take a good look around the pool. I see a lot of great bods. The people that swim regularly of all ages are in fantastic shape and many just swim normal laps. I don't know who is giving you advice, but they don't know too much. Do the exercise you can or like.

wendyheath32

I have had a horrendous back for 8 months and had to stop running. So recently I started swimming. Nothing intense just getting me moving a bit

snickerscharlie

I'm a big fan of aqua jogging in the pool. A great cardio workout, supports dodgy knees and the bonus is it doesn't make you sweat.

Just google it.

Une_Poire

Had to swim for 8 weeks + when an injury kept me from running a few years back. It was fun, and good upper body workout as well. The only drawback was that it required more planning ahead than putting running stuff on and heading out the door. And occasionally the pool I use was busy so I'd have to wait a few minutes or share a lane, but people were generally very easy to work with on that.

SLL1803

Swimming is fanatic exercise. Anyone who claim otherwise doesn't know what they are talking about. It makes you hungry because it uses a lot of energy!

lemurcat2

It's great exercise, and even when doing other things it's good to fit it in if you like it because it's low impact and exercises different muscles.

It does make me much hungry immediately after than other exercises, but planning to swim not too long before a meal solves that. I don't find I overeat, just that I want to eat soon after.

I also think it's not uncommon for people to overestimate the cals from swimming by choosing something like swimming vigorously because it feels vigorous to them, even when speed-wise it's not. I tend to be conservative on entries I choose for swimming.

I think it's a fabulous choice. I'm actually trying to get myself motivated to start swimming regularly again starting today, but I have a really hard time getting myself to do it when it's cold out, sigh. But I always feel amazing afterwards.

whitpauly

I always think swimming is one of the best exercise there is, I know I'm sore as *kitten* the next day!

Jthanmyfitnesspal

I'm a regular swimmer. Yay, swimming!

(Also running, cycling, kayaking, etc.) It is fantastic exercise that can be done even with a lower-limb injury. It can stress your shoulders, so getting some coaching is really helpful for not getting injured long-term. Also, the SwimSmooth YouTube channel can be helpful:

https://www.youtube.com/user/swimsmooth

I think the reason people say that swimming isn't good for weight loss is that there are always some overweight people around that are really good swimmers. We all weigh the same in water, after all! That is not as true for land-exercise, where gravity is your master. That doesn't mean you can't lose weight while swimming regularly. I've done it many times!

kshama2001

snowflake954 wrote: »

pinksparklefairy wrote: »

Why DOES swimming make you so hungry?

Not so much hungry as thirsty. It's dehydrating and people don't realize.

Yes, I always have water on hand to drink for right when I get out, and fruit is nice too.

Unfortunately, I cannot tolerate chlorine, and have not found any saline-cleaned pools here like there were when I lived in FL, so my swimming is limited to July - early Sep. I love swimming!

Djproulx

Another vote for swimming here. Swimming works many muscle groups without most of the stress that other activities deliver.

I was "only swimming" for a year during injury rehab, and continue to really enjoy my swim days as a nice change from the pounding of run/bike work each week. Its a great workout that can also be relaxing at the same time.

As others have mentioned, you can get dehydrated while swimming, so a water bottle and maybe some electrolytes will really help depending on how long your workout is. Good luck!

azulvioleta6

The people who flit around and spend most of their time resting don't get much out of it.

I swim hard and don't stop until I have done at least a mile...NOT a swimmer's mile, a full 5,280 feet. It's great for alternating with higher-impact exercises.

aokoye

Swimming is great. There are a handful of reasons why it's not especially ideal for me personally, but it's great. I'll also echo everyone in saying that you won't be wasting your time. Really exercising more broadly isn't wasting your time, but swimming is a great workout. If I had time and energy I would probably do it on a regular basis again.

deannalfisher

pinksparklefairy wrote: »

Why DOES swimming make you so hungry?

Because pool water is typically cooler than your body temp and your body tries to equalize temps 1 so while the actual exercise doesn’t burn a lot of calories, the trying to stay warm does

earlnabby

I lost over 100 lb with swimming as my primary exercise (in addition to a water aerobics class). It burns a LOT of calories, works all of the major muscle groups, is easy on the joints, and can be very meditative. I splurged and bought a waterproof IPod so I could put on my tunes or an audiobook and just went into my little world.

You don't even need to do the forward crawl. I have shoulder issues so I swim with the breast stroke. Not fast but still efficient. Don't get the same momentum when doing flip turns but it works.

Jthanmyfitnesspal

deannalfisher wrote: »

Because pool water is typically cooler than your body temp and your body tries to equalize temps 1 so while the actual exercise doesn’t burn a lot of calories, the trying to stay warm does

Swimming hard burns about 800kcals/hr, similar to cycling and running for me. After a good swim sesh, you feel hot when you get out of the water! You also sweat, as noted by others.

I think the thing about the cold water making you hungry is a fable. It might be true if you just float around in cool water, but it doesn't apply to a good hard swim sesh. Also, community pools are often kept at 82degF, hardly very cool. (Varsity pools are more like 76defF, which is definitely cool when you get in!)

lorrpb

pinksparklefairy wrote: »

Why DOES swimming make you so hungry?

Swimming releases grehlin, the hunger hormone. I haven’t read the reason for this.

richardgavel

You are part right. Swimming BUTTERFLY is Satan's exercise

Danp

kaitslosingweight wrote: »

Lol, disregard Satan’s exercise, it’s supposed to epitomize the attitudes I have a knee and a bank injury sustained on Xmas eve and I still haven’t recovered.

I too suffered a pretty bad bank injury over Christmas. Most of the damage was to my credit card

As for swimming, I love it. It's one of the exercises that frequently pops up in my 'stay active' rotation. I tend to get bored if I do the same thing for too long so I have a number of activities (running, cycling, swimming, etc) that I rotate through.

SarahMWong15

I enjoy swimming, but I'm really not good at it. I don't have a good form or technique most of the time so I find myself going from normal strokes to doggy paddling and kicking my feet under water. I would love to incorporate swimming in to my work outs, but I as well, am afraid it won't be doing much for me since I'm not great at it. Whereas I may get more out of the elliptical for 20 minutes or jogging for 30.

snowflake954

SarahMWong15 wrote: »

I enjoy swimming, but I'm really not good at it. I don't have a good form or technique most of the time so I find myself going from normal strokes to doggy paddling and kicking my feet under water. I would love to incorporate swimming in to my work outs, but I as well, am afraid it won't be doing much for me since I'm not great at it. Whereas I may get more out of the elliptical for 20 minutes or jogging for 30.

Swimming is just pushing water around--resistance. You can put on a floatation belt and jog in the water and you'll burn calories. Form comes with practice. However, it's important that you do exercise that you like so you'll continue. I have friends at the pool that have had surgery and can't swim for a month or two. I talked them into coming to the gym above the pool to exercise while recuperating--they both hated it. They were up there watching the swimmers and couldn't wait to get back in the water. I like both and can see benefits from both, but everyone is different and that's OK.

snowflake954

Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »

deannalfisher wrote: »

Because pool water is typically cooler than your body temp and your body tries to equalize temps 1 so while the actual exercise doesn’t burn a lot of calories, the trying to stay warm does

Swimming hard burns about 800kcals/hr, similar to cycling and running for me. After a good swim sesh, you feel hot when you get out of the water! You also sweat, as noted by others.

I think the thing about the cold water making you hungry is a fable. It might be true if you just float around in cool water, but it doesn't apply to a good hard swim sesh. Also, community pools are often kept at 82degF, hardly very cool. (Varsity pools are more like 76defF, which is definitely cool when you get in!)

I personally like a cooler pool. It's easier to do a good workout. When the pool is too warm I feel sluggish. And yes, you sweat in the pool. I've had hot flashes in the pool and it's the only place I can exercise while having one and not go crazy.

callsitlikeiseeit

a few years back, the Y i was a member of had water classes. water zumba was a lot of fun. i didnt like the instructors choice of music, but it was still fun lol

if the gym im at now had a pool, id definitely do it. i think one of the 'sister ones' DOES but its 45 minutes away and im not driving that far lol