Swimming technique

Steyr

Hi all i used to weigh 18stone about 8-9months ago and thanks to healthy sensible eating,loads of water and swimming for 45mins every day for 5 days im now down to 12 stone and am proud as punch but im just wondering what is the best technique swimming wise to "tighten" up some excess flab and overall tone myself especially my stomach. Any help would be appreciated my swim routine is this..

Pool = 25m

Swim Time = 45mins

Lane = Fast Lane

Routine:
10mins= Freestyle
10mins= Float between legs for upper body strength
10mins= Freestyle
10mins= Float between legs for upper body strength
5mins= Breast Stroke

Is there anything there that can be changed?

I feel i must also say that i cycle everywhere.

I dont eat after 8pm but will go through a 1.5L of Volvic after 8pm.

The only times i pig out is a take away on sat night after a few pints and the Cinema on a Sunday.

Anyhelp is Appreciated,
Regards,
David.

rubadub

Wow 6 stone in 9 months, well done!
Have you considered weight training. It helped me a lot and lets you eat a nice bit too!
"Tone" is really a misnomer, you want to build muscle, and don't worry it would take years of hardcore training to look like an overdeveloped bodybuilder. I have probably put on 10lb+ of muscle and you would barely notice it.

check out www.exrx.net

racso1975

Hey well done on the weight loss thats amazing you must/should be really proud of yourself.

Any how hope these articles help

http://www.trinewbies.com/category.asp?catID=3

http://www.trinewbies.com/category.asp?catID=4

http://www.trinewbies.com/category.asp?catID=2

With regards to different techniques i try doin the front crawl not using my legs this obviously tones the arms and the chest and would do this for the 45mins and then the next day just kick either back crawl or or front but you might want to change from the fast lane for this one:D

hunnymonster

Thanks for the links Racso. useful info there.

Steyr

racso1975 wrote:

With regards to different techniques i try doin the front crawl not using my legs this obviously tones the arms and the chest and would do this for the 45mins and then the next day just kick either back crawl or or front but you might want to change from the fast lane for this one:D

Am i not doing that already with the shaped float between my legs?

Oh i aint leaving the fast lane im a very powerful swimmer! Thanks for the help guys and gals much appreciated.!;)

hunnymonster

you're kind of doing the arm drill with the float between your legs (btw a pull-bouy would be better) but if you leave the float out completely your arms have to do ALL the work rather than some of it.

It is considered rude to do drills in the fast lane. When doing drills you should be concentrating on technique not speed so should be considerably slower than your straight swimming.

connundrum

hunnymonster wrote:

you're kind of doing the arm drill with the float between your legs (btw a pull-bouy would be better) but if you leave the float out completely your arms have to do ALL the work rather than some of it.

Agreed, when swimming with the float I would always kick, no matter how much I tried not to. When training with my club we used to alternate pulling someone behind you (ie. someone holds onto your legs) - 2 lengths on and 2 off.

hunnymonster wrote:

It is considered rude to do drills in the fast lane. When doing drills you should be concentrating on technique not speed so should be considerably slower than your straight swimming.

I normally would agree with this rule, but in my local pool its nigh on impossible to do drills in the slow lane. I think if you're not disturbing anyone in the fast lane then you'll be ok.

As someone mentioned earlier, if you add weights into your routine you'll see results. Even if its 2 x 1/2 hour sessions per week. Concentrate on the free weights.

Steyr

connundrum wrote:

I normally would agree with this rule, but in my local pool its nigh on impossible to do drills in the slow lane. I think if you're not disturbing anyone in the fast lane then you'll be ok.

I have no problems with drill in the fast lane as i can keep up with them and have passed them out also.

ateam

Steyr wrote:

I have no problems with drill in the fast lane as i can keep up with them and have passed them out also.

The fast lane is only for fast swimmers.

Steyr

No really are you serious because i pretty much stated that im a powerful swimmer and have passed out others in the "fast" lane...Are you serious? Really?

poobum

Steyr wrote:

No really are you serious because i pretty much stated that im a powerful swimmer and have passed out others in the "fast" lane...Are you serious? Really?

im a swimming coach, what are ur target areas to tone up?or u just looking for general fitness/toning? have you a grasp for all 4 strokes(gud technique in them all) ?

the_syco

Try head up breast stroke, and when you get the hang of it, do it with your arms folded behind your back. It really works the legs, I find.

ateam

Steyr wrote:

No really are you serious because i pretty much stated that im a powerful swimmer and have passed out others in the "fast" lane...Are you serious? Really?

Good on ya for passing people out. I'm just underlining that the fast lane is only for fast swimmers.

kluivert

When i was 17 I use to swim every day bar one or two and I have to say that its a great form of exercise.

A year later I had gone from 16 st to 13 st and was never fitter than I was back then.

Then I went to college and meet the gf and five years later am back to square one.

Thats it am getting back into the pool, I miss swimming.

One lenght breast stroke, the return lenght front crawl for an hour and then an hour in the gym doing cardo and weights. (Actually watching tv while sitting on the bike or rower )

Steyr

poobum wrote:

im a swimming coach, what are ur target areas to tone up?or u just looking for general fitness/toning? have you a grasp for all 4 strokes(gud technique in them all) ?

Mostly around the stomach for tightening and all over toning, i dont mean to brag but i can kick arse at freestyle and breast stroke

hunnymonster

What kind of times do you swim off?

connundrum

hunnymonster wrote:

What kind of times do you swim off?

Actually I'd like to find out what'd be considered decent times nowadays. When I was full time into it I was managing a low 27sec for 50m frontcrawl and 30-31sec for 50m breaststroke.

I'd be happy with a sub 30sec frontcrawl now though

Edit - actually just went through an old training book, managed a 26.9 back in 2000.. them were the days

Steyr

hunnymonster wrote:

What kind of times do you swim off?

Il get back to you!

iregk

Rather than say I do 10mins of this and that I would go on lenghts. Do 10 lenghts of this, 10 lenghts of that. Have you tried the arm only without the float. Much better I find. Also alter arms. Do 4 lenghts in front crawl but only using one arm with the other streched out front. Obviously you alter this.Then throw side stroke in as well. PM if your not sure what this is.

Also what may be worth it is to go to a good sports shop, Elverys or somethign and buy a pair of swimming drag shorts. Basically these are loose fitting shorts that go on over your togs, lots of holes in them and they are designed to catch as much water as possible and cause drag so your using more strenght in your swim.

I remember doing my lifeguard survival exams and you had to do 60 lenghts different strokes in full clothes carrying someone! Man that toned me up big time!!!!

poobum

Steyr wrote:

Mostly around the stomach for tightening and all over toning, i dont mean to brag but i can kick arse at freestyle and breast stroke

you any good at butterfly?(my personal bane-i can do technique...but i was never able to compete with it! i was only ever able to compete with front crawl and breast stroke...although i loved butterfly i was just ****e at it

poobum

iregk wrote:

Rather than say I do 10mins of this and that I would go on lenghts. Do 10 lenghts of this, 10 lenghts of that. Have you tried the arm only without the float. Much better I find. Also alter arms. Do 4 lenghts in front crawl but only using one arm with the other streched out front. Obviously you alter this.Then throw side stroke in as well. PM if your not sure what this is.

Also what may be worth it is to go to a good sports shop, Elverys or somethign and buy a pair of swimming drag shorts. Basically these are loose fitting shorts that go on over your togs, lots of holes in them and they are designed to catch as much water as possible and cause drag so your using more strenght in your swim.

I remember doing my lifeguard survival exams and you had to do 60 lenghts different strokes in full clothes carrying someone! Man that toned me up big time!!!!

you were trained for that?i was in a group of club swimmers at time-only one who wasnt a club swimmer(had stopped swimming or rugby 3 years previous) i was just thrown into that exam!! was pain in ass! and stupidly took the small but muscly guy as my partner thinking ah sure he'll be lighter..he wasnt! stupid muscle have no bouyancy...needless to say...not such a fun test!! stillpassed with flying colours but ya get what i mean!