Swimming

Group: General Diet & Nutrition

Created: 2011/12/31, Members: 399, Messages: 16719

With such a topic so broad we truly try to cover the basics from all angles in this group. Nothing too big or too small. Nutrition is as significant if not more as exercise is to reaching your goals so learn all you can.

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Uttiya Posts: 199 Joined: 2001/02/22	2001/05/13, 05:04 AM Im planning to take up swimming as an alternative for the gym for a month for a break from the weights. I need to know if I have any chances of losing muscle mass with swimming..... If theres anything else you want me to know about this topic....please do

skylar Posts: 156 Joined: 2001/01/29	2001/05/13, 08:30 PM Swimming in of itself will tone and increase cardio and endurance of your muscles. There are various ways of training with swimming. Using ladders(training sets) and such will build muscle but will give good tone which is slilghtly different from just weight work. Swimmers use weight programs also. They make paddles for your hands, fins, and other tools to help condition while swimming. If we had a pool in my neck of the woods I would be in it at least 4 times a week. Used to swim 5 days/wk. There are lots of training books around. Get a watch or small time clock for the side of the pool for rest period timing.
Uttiya Posts: 199 Joined: 2001/02/22	2001/05/14, 01:53 AM Skylark, What if I dont use any of those paddles and stuff and plain simple swim.......whats the difference
keith Posts: 190 Joined: 2001/03/26	2001/05/17, 01:13 AM well there's good new and bad news. The goood news is swimming is fantastic for the muscles, lung capacity, heart and your endurance. It is great for working different muscle groups that you can't effectively isolate in the gym.The bad news is swimming is not one of the best exercises for losing body fat.Swimmers carry a heavier layer of subcutaneous fat because like seals they need to trap in body heat.The body loses heat a lot faster in water than in air. It increases the amount of fat under the skin.
merlinhog Posts: 213 Joined: 2001/04/23	2001/05/17, 06:02 PM Is that true Keith. You learn something new everyday. That is fascinating. You know on and off topic, Kirby Puckett, ex Minnesota Twin who now suffers from eye glaucoma and had to retire, used to train by going in his pool underwater and swinging a wooden bat 50 times each side. I thought that was an awesome way to train, and if you've ever seen his build, you know it worked.
keith Posts: 190 Joined: 2001/03/26	2001/05/17, 07:02 PM Hi merlinhog, I am sure we can all fine excepts to any type of training. As I said swimming is an excellent exercise as far as aerobic conditioning and muscle toning and it is one of the toughest exercises to perform. As far as fat burning there are better ways.
txcowboy4x4 Posts: 24 Joined: 2001/04/23	2001/05/17, 09:26 PM It will help you tone up. That is what i plan on doing too.
Uttiya Posts: 199 Joined: 2001/02/22	2001/05/18, 12:39 AM Thank you guys
ChrisYi Posts: 126 Joined: 2001/05/05	2001/05/18, 11:01 PM A friend at the gym asked me what I do for cardio. I told him that instead of riding a scooter or drive I rode an elecric bike places. Which is a minimum of 30 min. a day. On the days I work out, if the weather is nice. After lifting weights for about 30 to 40 minutes. I go for a swim in the apartment complex pool. Probably no more than 30 minutes. I'm finding after the swim I have energy for the rest of the evening. And I have been told that I've lost weight by several friends. Good luck.
Uttiya Posts: 199 Joined: 2001/02/22	2001/05/19, 01:04 AM thank you all....your wisdom is well appreciated
jpcorrao Posts: 117 Joined: 2001/02/12	2001/05/23, 11:49 AM You'll definitely see a loss if your not using specific muscles
Uttiya Posts: 199 Joined: 2001/02/22	2001/05/24, 01:27 AM What do you mean????? jpcorrao.
skylar Posts: 156 Joined: 2001/01/29	2001/05/26, 08:49 PM We all need to cycle our training throughout the year and also allow the cardiovascular system to build thrugh aerobic training the needed "feeding system"i.e blood vessels to feed new muscle. If you look at triathletes they carry little fat and not alot of mass but they sure can outendure most athletes throught the swim, bike, and run. To be in that type of shape is amazing to me. It all depends really on what you want to do with your fitness.
jpcorrao Posts: 117 Joined: 2001/02/12	2001/05/31, 12:46 PM well if your replacing your gym workout with swimming, your obviously not going to use all your muscle groups. therefore you'll most likely lose in the muscles your not using. i would use swimming as a cardio to go along with your work out.
rock_2k2 Posts: 11 Joined: 2002/03/02	2002/03/09, 07:43 PM I have to disagree with keith, My friend was 230 pounds and took up swimming along with drinking plenty of water each day and he lost 30 pounds. Ive heard from everyone swimming is the best aerobic exercise you can do for you body. I sure know I get more of a work out swimming when I get the chance than running or riding a bike. For one swimming envolves alot more body parts than those two. Im not a pro at this but I seen someone that lost 30 lbs from doing it. Hopes this helps some.
jonpullen Posts: 72 Joined: 2001/07/26	2002/03/11, 09:21 AM I dont understand why swimming is not a good fat burner??
Philia2 Posts: 4,078 Joined: 2001/10/19	2002/03/12, 02:02 AM Now who told you that?!!!!! Swimming is an excellent cardio, working with all muscles and genious for over weight people (and us too!!!). -------------- - Nina :o) La vie est toujours aussi belle.....
jonpullen Posts: 72 Joined: 2001/07/26	2002/03/12, 05:26 AM Just ging back to the 4th post down (Keith). I can understand years of evolution giving a Seal a layer of fat to keep him warm, but do we really think our bodies will adapt by swimming 3 times a week (in a heated pool!!!). Seems nonesense to me!
dmvwh8kq4j Posts: 23 Joined: 2002/01/07	2002/03/13, 01:00 AM After reading the last few posts I vaguely remembered reading on article on the subject of swimming and body fat. I searched the web and found several articles that confirmed what Keith said. "Collegiate swimmers, although at times expending more calories, tend to have in the range of 5-6% higher body fat than land-trained endurance athletes such as cyclists or distance runners." This is according to a study done at Ball State Univ. It goes on to give several theories why this is true. However, the point is, swimming is still an effective, low-impact form of cross training. For people who are many pounds overweight it's easy on the joints and a great way to start an exercise program. So unless swimming is going to be "your main thing" who cares if real swimmers are a few points higher in fat. They still have beautiful physiques and that extra fat probably just gives a little more buoyancy and makes them go faster. Just my 2 cents worth. Nancy
francs Posts: 40 Joined: 2002/04/07	2002/04/22, 12:16 PM I used to be a competitive swimmer. I had been for more than 10 years. My coach/s made sure I was as lean as possible (and my that applied to my team mates too). Our bodyfat was never higher than 10/11 %. Measured every month for God knows how many years. We were givern precise diet plans, creatine, light weight training regime and lots more. Swimming is still my favorite sport. I KNOW it is the best for working ALL muscles in the body. I would exchange it for weight training only because I am in the sh*t hole I am now, else, swimming is No. 1 hands down. -------------- Fran
jsambu Posts: 34 Joined: 2001/01/23	2002/05/14, 11:16 PM when you swim, so many muscles come into play, so i wouldnt worry about losing muscle. just to let you know the calorie expenditure for swimming a mile is equvilant to running 4 miles.