Swimming for fitness and weight loss

spitonmedickie

Hi, let myself go and just getting back into some sort of activity (while also adjusting my diet).

Never really got into running and anything more than cycling short hops on a Dublin Bike.

I did learn to swim (front crawl, slowly and splashily) and didn't mind it so does anyone have any thoughts on if it could aid weight loss or if it's more useful just as a way to try keep some sort of flexibility etc? Was thinking of maybe at least 3 times a week, 30 or 45 minutes, slowly front crawling and continuing to improve hopefully.

cruizer101

In terms of weight loss it mostly comes down to diet which you mentioned you are looking at.

For general fitness swimming is very good cardio and nice and easy on joints, try mix in a bit of back stroke along with the front crawl.

At the end of the day the best activity is the one you are actually going to do and keep up with, so it swimming floats your boat go for it. Also once you get into a routine of doing something I think it is easier to swap over to something else.

spitonmedickie

cruizer101 wrote: »

At the end of the day the best activity is the one you are actually going to do and keep up with, so it swimming floats your boat go for it. Also once you get into a routine of doing something I think it is easier to swap over to something else.

Thanks cruizer101 - think you're very right, out of any activity swimming floats my boat more than others and for that lone worth doing atm.

Killgore Trout

Good choice on frequency and duration, OP. You will really see improvement with that level of training. I agree with you when you say "slowly front crawling"; you gotta go slow and get the mileage in to get fast.

Think about something like this: http://ruthkazez.com/ZeroTo1mile.html it's like the swimming equivalent of couch-to-5k

Also book called "total immersion" - good for making you more efficient.

See if there are any masters swimming groups, they could really help bring up your technique and usually cater for swimmers of all abilities, once you can do a few lengths you’ll be grand. Where are you based? I might be able to recommend a few. The swimming forum used to be good too - it's been a while since I’ve swam or been there, but when i was it was a great resource

spitonmedickie

Thanks Killgore. Hadn't even considered that there was a couch to 5k equivalent! Will check out the links. Mespill is the nearest pool to work (even though it's only 20m and maybe a bit basic when I see pools in hotels etc). Living in Dublin 1 so pools in the 'burbs wouldn't really work.

Macy0161

My experience has been that swimming is very low calorific burn. It might be different for someone who has good technique (which I don't have) who can put in serious sets/ speed, but for me most of the perceived effort was poor technique rather than it being an aerobic workout. Comparing time like for like, based off heart rate for both*, I was as nearly as well walking as swimming (purely in calorie burn terms).

Shorter pools are supposed to be better for technique development, as your technique tends to be best in the first few strokes off the wall. Obviously less good for endurance, as a rest more frequently. But consistency is key, something I wasn't really ready to commit too...

Just as you mention aiding flexibility - poor technique can lead to shoulder issues, also speaking from experience.

Every little helps and it's better than sitting on your arse, and the most important thing is to do an activity you enjoy, but weight is really lost in the kitchen, not the pool/ gym/ road.

*I have a garmin swim heart rate monitor, and started using it as I wasn't believing what the watch was giving me without it. When swimming, I found the garmin calorie burn was pretty similar with or without HRM. The hrm only really helped with drills where the garmin doesn't give any credit without heart rate data!

Killgore Trout

spitonmedickie wrote: »

Thanks Killgore. Hadn't even considered that there was a couch to 5k equivalent! Will check out the links. Mespill is the nearest pool to work (even though it's only 20m and maybe a bit basic when I see pools in hotels etc). Living in Dublin 1 so pools in the 'burbs wouldn't really work.

No worries!

I swam some major mileage in this pool when I worked in D1. might be handy if you live close, or pass by on the way to/from work.

http://www.dublincity.ie/main-menu-services-recreation-culture-sports-facilities-leisure-centres-leisure-centre-locations-8