Advantages of swimming?
SnazzyTraveller
Posts: 457 Member
Anyone know what the health advantages to swimming are? What parts of body/muscules does it work?
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Replies
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swimming works out everything! it's one of the fasted and most effective workouts, and burns a butt load of calories0
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Absolutelyswimming works out everything! it's one of the fasted and most effective workouts, and burns a butt load of calories0 -
Swimming works out all the musle groups, great cardio and low impact.0
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I swim three-four days a week a work everything. I have really bad knees and a lot of pain in my lower back because i have a large chest. Since I started swimming again I have no knee pain what so ever. Which is awesome! Also I swam for 70 mins today and burned just over 1000 calories. Obviously your calorie burn depends on your weight but it is an awesome workout.0
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Good for joints as there is almost zero impact. You can work as easy or as hard as you want/are capable of. Works everything out, and you can target different muscle groups with different exercises.0
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Swimming is great for:
-recovering from injury (depends on the injury)
-works all your muscles - especially core, back, shoulders, and if you are kicking correctly - your hips, thighs, hammies
-can increase your endurance
-give you a good night sleep
-proven to reduce stress
Not as good as running (IMO) b/c:
-harder to lose weight using swimming as your sole cardio workout, (you need to be in the pool constantly swimming for long period of time in order to really have a significant impact)
-makes you really hungry afterwards
-technique is crucial for a good swim workout
Ways to improve your swim workout if you are getting started:
-spend the time working on proper technique, it makes swimming more enjoyable and you'll be able to swim longer
-until you build endurance to do long swims like (1+ mile), do HIIT in the pool, really really good workout - sprint down one length of the pool, rest and sprint back.
-alternate between freestyle and breaststroke - I do this alot because I can't freestyle for longer than a quarter mile without having to take a break or breaststroke and i rather keep moving than rest.
-emphasize again: work on technique, go on youtube, ask others in the pool with you (this is how i learned the proper breastroke technique and freestyle flip turns, i've never been turned down when I asked someone for help)0 -
For example on an average session I burn 600 in an hour training. That's with a coach with drills and sprints and everything!Also I swam for 70 mins today and burned just over 1000 calories. Obviously your calorie burn depends on your weight but it is an awesome workout.0 -
I will say it.
Swimming is the single best exercise for cardio and a full body workout.
It's great for those who want a good burn without stressing the joints.
If there was one exercise to do, swimming would be it for sure.
I incorporate swimming into my regular routine mostly in the summer.
I go full pace for anaerobic muscle training, then slow it down and lap swim for a solid cardio session.
And depending on your stroke, you can work the whole body.
LOVE IT!0 -
What is also important is what swimming doesn't do.....wreck your joints. It's a great workout. Mentally, it gives you a chance to focus. No phones. No ipods. Just you and the water.0
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swimming works out everything! it's one of the fasted and most effective workouts, and burns a butt load of calories
You only burn a butt load of calories if you are swimming for long periods and without much rest. The after burn from a run makes for a much better workout than the pool...unless you are Michael Phelps of course.0 -
Swimming is great. Makes me feel like I'm weightless and sometimes I like to imagine I'm floating around in outer space when I'm under the water. :bigsmile:
It's also pretty much impossible to hurt yourself, which is a plus. Unless I suppose you're going all Hulk smash into it... >.>0 -
There is a slight issue I found .. swimming in cold water typically starts a massive hunger sensation for me. After swimming a mile I feel like i can eat a horse ... I found one way to stop the cravings is after a swim, sauna or steam room for 15 and then hot tub for 15.
OH and also these.
Underwater MP3 player ... HELLS YEAH!
http://www.amazon.com/FINIS-SwiMP3-1G-Waterproof-MP3-Player/dp/B002LBQWMG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1327973707&sr=8-3
not sure if this will work but ..
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And I almost forgot, if you get tired from swimming and don't want to take a break or even do the breaststroke, then run the length of the pool with your body low so you have to push your arms through the water. do this a couple laps and you'll be tired.0
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There is a slight issue I found .. swimming in cold water typically starts a massive hunger sensation for me. After swimming a mile I feel like i can eat a horse ... I found one way to stop the cravings is after a swim, sauna or steam room for 15 and then hot tub for 15.
OH and also these.
Underwater MP3 player ... HELLS YEAH!
http://www.amazon.com/FINIS-SwiMP3-1G-Waterproof-MP3-Player/dp/B002LBQWMG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1327973707&sr=8-3
not sure if this will work but ..
omg that is so cool! I want one! And I wish there was a sauna and / or hot tub where I swim. :brokenheart:0 -
Thanks so much for all of your input! ok, so i'm hearing lots about "the right stroke". What exactly is the type of stroke that I want to be doing? I'm a beginner but took lessons as a kid
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There is a slight issue I found .. swimming in cold water typically starts a massive hunger sensation for me. After swimming a mile I feel like i can eat a horse ... I found one way to stop the cravings is after a swim, sauna or steam room for 15 and then hot tub for 15.
OH and also these.
Underwater MP3 player ... HELLS YEAH!
http://www.amazon.com/FINIS-SwiMP3-1G-Waterproof-MP3-Player/dp/B002LBQWMG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1327973707&sr=8-3
not sure if this will work but ..
omg that is so cool! I want one! And I wish there was a sauna and / or hot tub where I swim. :brokenheart:
best part about it .. it clips onto your goggles and rests on your temple type area (just in front of your ear and transfers the sound through the bone into thte ear canal .. FREAKING SWEET .. I have a pair and setup my MP3 play list to mimic the tempo of my swimming giving me rest breaks in between fast sets.!0 -
There is a slight issue I found .. swimming in cold water typically starts a massive hunger sensation for me. After swimming a mile I feel like i can eat a horse ... I found one way to stop the cravings is after a swim, sauna or steam room for 15 and then hot tub for 15.
OH and also these.
Underwater MP3 player ... HELLS YEAH!
http://www.amazon.com/FINIS-SwiMP3-1G-Waterproof-MP3-Player/dp/B002LBQWMG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1327973707&sr=8-3
not sure if this will work but ..
omg that is so cool! I want one! And I wish there was a sauna and / or hot tub where I swim. :brokenheart:
best part about it .. it clips onto your goggles and rests on your temple type area (just in front of your ear and transfers the sound through the bone into thte ear canal .. FREAKING SWEET .. I have a pair and setup my MP3 play list to mimic the tempo of my swimming giving me rest breaks in between fast sets.!
Totally asking for one of these for my birthday this year. 0 -
There is a slight issue I found .. swimming in cold water typically starts a massive hunger sensation for me. After swimming a mile I feel like i can eat a horse ... I found one way to stop the cravings is after a swim, sauna or steam room for 15 and then hot tub for 15.
OH and also these.
Underwater MP3 player ... HELLS YEAH!
http://www.amazon.com/FINIS-SwiMP3-1G-Waterproof-MP3-Player/dp/B002LBQWMG/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1327973707&sr=8-3
not sure if this will work but ..
omg that is so cool! I want one! And I wish there was a sauna and / or hot tub where I swim. :brokenheart:
best part about it .. it clips onto your goggles and rests on your temple type area (just in front of your ear and transfers the sound through the bone into thte ear canal .. FREAKING SWEET .. I have a pair and setup my MP3 play list to mimic the tempo of my swimming giving me rest breaks in between fast sets.! Totally asking for one of these for my birthday this year.
here is it in use:
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does anyone know where I could buy a pair of waterproof earplugs for my underwater mp3 player. the mp3 player i got is still fine, just my earplugs are no good anymore... Looking for a store in Canada.0
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Swimming is great for your leg muscles! I love swimming it makes exercise a whole of a lot more fun!0
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does anyone know where I could buy a pair of waterproof earplugs for my underwater mp3 player. the mp3 player i got is still fine, just my earplugs are no good anymore... Looking for a store in Canada.
http://www.amazon.com/Macks-AquaBlock-Earplugs-2-pr/dp/B000277SL0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1327978535&sr=8-1
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Thanks so much for all of your input! ok, so i'm hearing lots about "the right stroke". What exactly is the type of stroke that I want to be doing? I'm a beginner but took lessons as a kid
I would just start with basic strokes and work your way up. I swim freestyle down the lane and backstroke back up it. I alternate to try and work more groups of muscles. I also make sure to pull my abdominal muscles in while swimming and take deep breathes. Get used to swimming again before you get really involved with different strokes.0 -
There is a slight issue I found .. swimming in cold water typically starts a massive hunger sensation for me. After swimming a mile I feel like i can eat a horse ... I found one way to stop the cravings is after a swim, sauna or steam room for 15 and then hot tub for 15.
I find it so weird that people say they are insanely hungry after swimming. On days I swim it takes me hours before I can eat again. Just the thought of food makes me ill. Now if I am doing regualr workouts and cardio thats when I get insanely hungry. And the pool I swim at is people standards for temp so it is insanely cold.0 -
Swimming is an outstanding workout. It works all the major muscle groups and provides low-impact resistence. Water aerobics is great too! It's not just for old ladies.0
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I have been swimming at least 4-5 days a week since the beginning of the year. I have lost weight plus alot of inchs. I bought a new bathing suit when I started. It is so big on me now. I just love the cals burned from swimming.
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I've always been a pool baby and I used to compete a lot with my swimming. But since finishing school I haven't been in a swimming pool =S (7 years!) I miss doing my races. I LOVED Back stroke, and Butterfly, freestyle was alright but I hated breast stroke and how I felt so slow in the water =S Is there a way to speed breast stroke up without shortening the stroke??0
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Hi, I swim 6 days a week for an hour each day, and I do 2km in that time. I've lost 9kg's 19lbs doing only swimming in the last 7 weeks. When I started, I could'nt even put my face in the water because I was so claustraphobic, but now I swim really well:blushing: Technique is vital to an efficient swim!!!!! I found a lot of help on youtube. I swim laps using freesyle (crawl), so I can give you tips on this stroke, but not the others.
Firstly keep your head facing down in the water (you want the waterline to be in the centre of the head. Your hand should enter the water in line with your shoulder at about a halfway point between shoulder and full extention. Once your hand is in the water, extend forward and then immediatley bend your elbow and lift it up. A high elbow gives you more traction in the water with less pressure on your shoulder joints and is much more efficient.Pull your arm back to hip level (anything beyond is a waste of energy unless you're a professional swimmer with lengthened shoulder tendons), And dont place the next arm in the water until the first arm is exiting. Doing that means you take on to much air, and it slows down your swim. If you see alot of bubbles comming off your hands, you know that you need to watch your stokes. You should get a natural turn in your body while swimming if your technique is good. And lastly breathe under the arm on upper stroke every third stroke or a count of 1, 3, 5 or 7 strokes. this means you work both sides of your body equally.
I hope this helps.....:flowerforyou: I love my swimming, I hope you'll love it too...:happy:
Here's a few helpful links:
Breathing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc-QWcSyGAA
Efficient swimming
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYt8x_7uL48 0 -
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Anyone know what the health advantages to swimming are? What parts of body/muscules does it work?
Works everything and does not put strain on the joints.
The only thing you may find aches is your back if you swim breaststroke, but do not put your head underwater, but swim with it permanently above.0 -
I forgot to add. Make sure you stretch before, during (if you feel stiffness setting in) and after!!! Really important..:happy:0
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