Anyone else swimming for weight loss??

luv2scrapbook
luv2scrapbook Posts: 29
in Fitness and Exercise
I started swimming 2 wks ago and I love it. For the first time I dont feel like im exercising. Well not dreading that walk in the heat or home work-outs. I wanted friends with similar interests to talk about exercises in the pool, etc.
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Replies

  • flyingwrite
    flyingwrite Posts: 264
    I swim three times a week! I love it!!! Feel free to add me!
  • yesthistime
    yesthistime Posts: 2,051 Member
    Check this out:

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/122-swimmers
  • prettygirlhoward
    prettygirlhoward Posts: 338 Member
    Swimming is a great workout, works everypart of your body! I actually lost a lot of weight one summer from swimming everyday.... I'm from PHX, AZ so I know heat!!
  • lizsmith1976
    lizsmith1976 Posts: 497 Member
    I actually don't swim for exercise (yet), I'm a runner and a biker, but I just signed up for my first triathlon, so I need to start swimming. If you don't mind adding me as a friend, I would love to see what kind of exercises and routines you incorporate! Maybe eventually I will also have something to contribute...
  • douglasmobbs
    douglasmobbs Posts: 563 Member
    As I don't like running, and my knees hate it I decided to do a couch to 5K but in the pool rather than running.

    Managed a 5K swim none stop a couple of weeks ago after only being able to swim about 100m none stop at the start of the year, (but you have just added me as a friend)
  • BlackStarlight
    BlackStarlight Posts: 554 Member
    I swim three or four times a week I love it keep it up its a great calorie burner xx
  • sevencallmemom
    sevencallmemom Posts: 505 Member
    I did after we got a pool last fall and I will be again as soon as we get it cleaned up and going again. Awesome workout without feeling too much like a workout. Love it!
  • Jennyisbusy
    Jennyisbusy Posts: 1,294 Member
    I do, but I don't have a structured plan. Sometimes I even just play the 'game' where I can do anything I want except touch the bottom or sides of the pool. :)

    You have to watch out for the crazy hungries afterwards. ALWAYS have a healthy snack planned for afterwards! Oh yeah, and even though you won't be super thirsty make sure you drink plenty of water.
  • jenniboo311
    jenniboo311 Posts: 2 Member
    I've been doing water aerobics for the past few weeks and I'm loving it! Up until now I kept trying to drag myself to the gym and would give up after a couple weeks. But with water aerobics I'm actually having fun! Not only that, I feel refreshed and have a sense of well being afterward that I just never used to get with the gym. I just feel good! But I guess everyone has their own thing, and I'm glad I've finally found mine!
  • doubglass
    doubglass Posts: 314 Member
    Good for you, especially abs. Also works shoulders and legs. However, swimming boosts your appetite more than other aerobic exercises. Still, if it is working keep doing it.
  • bregalad5
    bregalad5 Posts: 3,965 Member
    I do a sort of HIIT in the pool, where I do a lap of breaststroke, then a lap of freestyle, and alternate for either 0.5km of 1km (depending on what else I've done and how I'm feeling). It's also a 5k round trip walk to the gym, so I definitely get my calorie burn in when I go!
  • TheMiddlePath
    TheMiddlePath Posts: 230 Member
    Swimmers! Two (possibly dumb) questions:

    1) if you wear a cap, does it keep your hair dry so that chlorine (to avoid dryness)?

    2) if you wear goggles, does it keep water out of your contacts (to avoid infection)?


    THANK YOU!
  • shan_0517
    shan_0517 Posts: 88 Member
    I do water aerobics 2 times a week, adding a 3rd day starting tomorrow. I also feel very refreshed after and don't feel like I killed myself doing a workout! I was thinking about trying to just swim some laps from time to time as well. I'm a fish when it comes to water. When I was a kid, my parents couldnt keep me out of the pool :)
  • sofitheteacup
    sofitheteacup Posts: 396 Member
    I'm ready for summer to get here so I can start swimming and reap the exercise benefits. :)
    My gym has an indoor and an outdoor pool, but so far I have yet to make it to a water aerobics class. I prefer the privacy of my parents' pool, but don't have anything structured that I do there. Anyone have something they really, really recommend that works for them?
  • NaeNaeJanae
    NaeNaeJanae Posts: 261 Member
    My sister and I do an Olympic distance triathlon each summer. I just got back in the pool this morning. I LOVE it! :)
  • ThaRealNicki
    ThaRealNicki Posts: 322 Member
    does swimming actually work?? how many calories can you burn swimming for an hour? just having fun? im bout to move in to an apt with 2 pools! I live in phx so ive been DIEING to go swimming everyday!
  • bregalad5
    bregalad5 Posts: 3,965 Member
    does swimming actually work?? how many calories can you burn swimming for an hour? just having fun? im bout to move in to an apt with 2 pools! I live in phx so ive been DIEING to go swimming everyday!

    It really depends on what you do. For my age/weight/AHR during swimming, I can burn around 250 calories per half hour. A lot depends on how I feel and how much effort I put in (which is all contingent on what I've done the day or two before), but it's going to be way different based on the person and what strokes you're doing.
  • nnylee
    nnylee Posts: 811 Member
    Maaan, I miss swimming. My old gym had a pool and that was my main exercise. But then I moved away from that area and my new gym doesn't have a poooool.
  • FireTigerSoul
    FireTigerSoul Posts: 268 Member
    I love swimming! Feel free to add me. I usually swim 2-3 times a week if I can squeeze it in! I love doing laps. It doesn't even feel like I'm workout out! :)
  • hellokitty1313
    hellokitty1313 Posts: 1 Member
    Yes, i havent started yet but i'm going to start swimming on the weekends, i was wondering if it is efficient and burns enough calories for me to not do any other exercise that day because i dread running for a whole hour:/ :indifferent:
  • simplyeater
    simplyeater Posts: 270 Member
    Three times a week for me, love it!!
  • hannp
    hannp Posts: 34
    I swim every 2nd day. Im not fast at it, but i go for like 45 mins and always feel great after. It burns those calories so fast.
  • Ripken818836701
    Ripken818836701 Posts: 607 Member
    Swimming is great exercise but not the best choice for most people if your trying lose weight.
  • nurseshannon1975
    nurseshannon1975 Posts: 24
    I have always loved the water and that now shows in my son. I started swimming laps two weeks ago. I swim anywhere from 20-45 minutes. But I have not lost a pound since I started swimming for my exercise...WHAT gives??
  • Ripken818836701
    Ripken818836701 Posts: 607 Member
    I have always loved the water and that now shows in my son. I started swimming laps two weeks ago. I swim anywhere from 20-45 minutes. But I have not lost a pound since I started swimming for my exercise...WHAT gives??
    I'll explain when I have more time this eve. but swimming causes your body temp. to drop and other cardio based exercises cause your body temp. to rise. When your body temp. drops (especially when your already eating at a calorie deficit) it causes your body want to eat alot more food because your body thinks your freezing to death and starving.
  • MereBear1985
    MereBear1985 Posts: 36 Member
    I used to swim up to 6 days a week when I was in university. I have since lost that but I am looking forward to start swimming again at least a couple times a week very soon! The swim times at my pool now are just horrible! I look forward to chatting with everyone else who loves the water.

    And also another comment about swimming and losing weight, it burns calories, it tones, but I haven't noticed as big a weight drop with swimming as I have for other cardio exercises. I swim because I love it, but I feel ravenous after EVERY time. Anything you do to burn calories can't hurt though!
  • Squidgeypaws007
    Squidgeypaws007 Posts: 1,012 Member
    Swimmers! Two (possibly dumb) questions:

    1) if you wear a cap, does it keep your hair dry so that chlorine (to avoid dryness)?

    2) if you wear goggles, does it keep water out of your contacts (to avoid infection)?


    THANK YOU!

    1. some of your hair will get wet - not as much though ;) some people say putting conditioner in your hair and then a cap on helps. I personally can't stand the things.

    2. no, you still get SOME water in the goggles - again, not as much as without em ofc!!
  • ariant23
    ariant23 Posts: 161 Member
    Swimmers! Two (possibly dumb) questions:

    1) if you wear a cap, does it keep your hair dry so that chlorine (to avoid dryness)?

    2) if you wear goggles, does it keep water out of your contacts (to avoid infection)?


    THANK YOU!

    1) Nope. at least not all the way. Get a silicone cap, they are gentler to your hair. I always get my hair wet (in a ponytail), and then put on my cap. Make sure you have a way to leave it "open" to dry, and add some baby powder to prevent sticking (more necessary on latex caps, but still good practice). If you leave your hair dry, the cap is more likely to slip and be annoying. Just shower right after you are done, and if you're blonde (i'm not), there is an anti-chlorine shampoo that you can buy that prevents the green.

    2) Yes and no. They can, but sometimes they leak. i'm REALLY BLIND (-6.0 on one side, and -6.75 on the other) but I just wear regular goggles, I like the kind without any kind of sealer. Sometimes I even just go without (though the pool I once used at an LA fitness was waay too much chlorine even for me. All you need to see is that big line on the bottom and the + on the wall. If you want to see underwater, speedo makes (or at least used to, I haven't looked in a long time) "prescription" goggles. there's only a small chance they''ll exactly match your Rx, but it should be close.
  • luv2scrapbook
    luv2scrapbook Posts: 29
    I've been doing water aerobics for the past few weeks and I'm loving it! Up until now I kept trying to drag myself to the gym and would give up after a couple weeks. But with water aerobics I'm actually having fun! Not only that, I feel refreshed and have a sense of well being afterward that I just never used to get with the gym. I just feel good! But I guess everyone has their own thing, and I'm glad I've finally found mine!

    you took the words out of my mouth. every word is mine
  • chickiebabe2
    chickiebabe2 Posts: 45
    I swim at least 3 times a week, i love it, its such a great work out! I do laps and then just swim around having fun with my daughter! :) Feel free to add me if u need more friends!

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