Best stroke for ...

aoibhebree

... toning up my tummy??

I've started back swimming recently after about ten years and I am loving it! I find breaststroke great for toning my arms and legs, and frontcrawl good for general cardio, but I'm just not "feeling the burn" in my stomach muscles with either, and that's the area I really need to work on. Is there any stroke particularly good for stomach muscles? Or am I just not doing it right?

sock puppet

Doing frontcrawl will work your stomach muscles to an extent. The same applies to other strokes. All swimming really strengthens stomach muscles. The butterfly would definitely be the hardest on your stomach muscles though. Also try doing just dolphin kicks. Trust me you won't know what hit you. :pac:

I know a few good land based exercises to strengthen stomach muscles too if you'd like. But you wouldn't really burn any fat doing them.

aoibhebree

Those dolphin kicks look hardcore Definitely going to give them a try tomorrow!!! I never actually learned butterfly back when I was going to lessons, I know basically how it's meant to be done in theory though ... I might give it a go tomorrow and see if I get anywhere.

Stark

I think backstroke is good for tummy muscles.

I have felt the effort on my stomach muscles after doing a good few lengths front crawl though. You need core effort to maintain the streamlined horizontal position in the water.

Clseeper

OP,

If you’re just trying to tone up as the main goal, maybe some aquafit exercises could help? I remember seeing one which I subsequently tried and it hit home quickly enough. Sit in the corner of the pool, lying on your back, with your arms on either wall [You can do it in the centre of the pool by just sculling or using two boards to support your arms], and extend your legs in and out with your knees nearly touching your chest. Repeat numerous times and you can do it each side for your oblique’s.

Also just to check that it is toning you are looking for? There is no [proven] thing as targeted weight loss. If you’re just looking to lose the small bit of tummy fat, it’s just more cardio and aerobic work.

Hope this made sense.

interested

aoibhebree wrote: »

Those dolphin kicks look hardcore Definitely going to give them a try tomorrow!!! I never actually learned butterfly back when I was going to lessons, I know basically how it's meant to be done in theory though ... I might give it a go tomorrow and see if I get anywhere.

IMHO,
Dolphin kick ... on your back .. arms stretched out above your head ... kicking from the hips and not from the knees if you know what I mean.

TunaSaladBB

Definitely agree with the previous poster. also, for your oblique abs, try one arm out in front dolphin kick on your side. not easy!

Unpossible

interested wrote: »

IMHO,
Dolphin kick ... on your back .. arms stretched out above your head ... kicking from the hips and not from the knees if you know what I mean.

This is great for a "burn" but If its too tough at the start then leave your hands by your sides.

AngryHippie

inverted breaststroke isn't a bad one side stroke is good too, butterfly kicking is king, especially with some fins on. If those are too intense to start with, try some sculling feet first, you are basically doing an ab crunch all the way down the pool to keep your body position flat. It will definitely tone them up, but if your aim is a six pack, the big aim is shifting the belly fat, the best way to do that is dieting and aerobic excercise as part of a bigger weight loss picture.

daemon1

interested wrote: »

IMHO,
Dolphin kick ... on your back .. arms stretched out above your head ... kicking from the hips and not from the knees if you know what I mean.

Gonna try that. Can imagine it will be very tough.