what are the benefits of swimming?

**hdacosta** · April 25th, 2005, 03:26 PM

Just throwing this question out there as I don't have any specific clue as to what it does for the body...I know it works out pretty much the entire body: legs, back, abs...but if anyone can go more in depth about swimming's benefits it would be greatly appreciated as I think I am going to begin incorporating it into my workout.

**Old_Fart2** · April 25th, 2005, 03:36 PM

Personally, I don't know much about swimming other than, as you said, it works your entire body. I know when I do laps in my pool, it's a great cardio workout, particularly since I'm not that great of a swimmer. I would suggest that you post this in the Triathlon section of the forum. Might have some people in there that are more knowledgeble about the specifics.

**Adonis** · April 25th, 2005, 03:54 PM

great workout for the shoulders and lats, and pecs. Work the whole body, most swimers don't use there legs as much, the crawl mor ewitht he upperbody. Very low impact on the body, good for recovery and post rehab

**Sasaku** · April 25th, 2005, 09:03 PM

You will get pecs of the GODS if you stick to it and work hard.
Great cardio, builds tremendous stamina, easy on joints.
I myself am a swimmer and can say that I have the best endurence out of EVERYONE in my gym; fastest recovery time, most pushups, etc. But then again those are all highschool kids.

**number1point** · April 25th, 2005, 09:05 PM

well it does make sense... i mean all the pros do all there rehab in water and all that so...its only makes sense....

Nastynav000 · April 25th, 2005, 11:37 PM

Anyone heard of people lifting weights in the water? what does that do? just sdd more resistance to the lifting i guess right?

**wolfman_48442** · April 26th, 2005, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nastynav000

Anyone heard of people lifting weights in the water? what does that do? just sdd more resistance to the lifting i guess right?

I've only seen really old and/or really obese people do that. You know, those who's joints are pretty much shot as it its. The water actually helps support their body, and ease the tension on the joints, while they are working the muscles with the weights.

**hdacosta** · April 26th, 2005, 02:44 AM

thanks for the help guys...I'm hoping it will help in my quest to get more cut and defined and a perfect substitute for those cardio machines...here's to hoping it will get the lower parts of my abs showing rather than hiding behind that stubborn flab...I'll keep you guys informed of my progress if it will help any of you and maybe influence you guys into taking up swimming as well.

lates

**painless2** · April 26th, 2005, 12:29 PM

One thing about swimming is that it tends to be a good cardiovascular exercise only for those that are good swimmers. If you are a inefficient swimmer, not only will you struggle to raise your hear rate, but you will tire quickly. As far as fat burning potential, numerous studies also show that heavier/obese people don't benefit as much as leaner people because of the lack of net loss of heat to the external environment. Water has 25 times the conductivity of air, but if you are overweight, the fat deposition tends to mitigate the thermogenic response you might hope to see from it. It is also no load-bearing so you burn far fewer calories per unit time.

**Adonis** · April 26th, 2005, 03:58 PM

try a water running class, those are fucking nuts. Lifting in the water is kind of hard, if you give'r 110%, if you puss at it like the old people, then it's very easy on the joints.

**Sasaku** · April 26th, 2005, 07:30 PM

If your serious about swimming find a local club, with a coach and everything, not only will you not have to put up with old hags treading water but you will actualy get in good training.

Seegulz · April 27th, 2005, 06:39 PM

I like to do some swim sprints on off days, or as a second workout of the the day. I do the breast stroke, for about 3-4 "sets" and I leave the pool with my entire upper body feeling incredibly pumped. A great way to increase defintion.

There are many exercises you can do in the water without moving and without weight, such as alternating fly and rear delt movements, or alternating curling and tricep pushdown movements. The faster you move, the more resistance you encounter (open or cupped hands increase the resistance as well).

**hdacosta** · April 27th, 2005, 06:54 PM

that's what I wanted to hear seegulz, thanks

**ntnfdvd** · April 27th, 2005, 08:24 PM

Swimming is one of the best overall exercises there is...it is resistance training for the entire body. I don't agree with one of the posts above that said most swimmers don't use their legs...if there aren't useing their legs, they aren't swimming but treading water horizontally. Your metabolism increases greatly because you are using every muscle in your body.

**hdacosta** · April 28th, 2005, 06:00 PM

just had my first swim today in about 3 years, and man was my heart pumping...I'm 21, 5'7" and 155 lbs and an active soccer player (have to do all kinds of cardio, running, wind sprints, etc)...I expected to do 4 lengths of the pool in quick succession with ease...to my surprise, I had trouble doing 2...which is a sign, swimming is a great exercise...I did a variety of freestyle, breast stroke and butterfly, great workout...I plan on going swimming in the morning and hitting the weights in the evening...I'll let you guys know how my progress goes as my goal is to have a defined figure while adding some mass to my arms. Don't know how swimming will take care of my arms, hopefully the weights will do that...but as per your responses, I'm sure the swimming will more than aid my quest for a more defined body.

**hdacosta** · May 5th, 2005, 01:00 AM

well, it'll be week tomorrow that I've completed one week of my project called "incorporate swimming into workout" and I have noticed a few things (I mainly use freestyle and breaststroke and the occasional butterfly):

-good pump in... traps
shoulders
triceps
chest (especially in breast stroke)
somewhat back
-increased stamina (noticed when I run laps or play soccer, but can't say for sure that it can be attributed to swimming after only one week)

downside: skin constantly smells of chlorine (make sure you shower in fragrant soap body wash) and hair gets really frizzy...but I'm sure you guys knew that and that swimming doesn't by any means hinder one's health, unless you drown of course.

but, a particular website that taught me how to achieve a more efficient stroke after my quasi-failure on my first day since I was getting so tired. I suggest you guys take a look at the sample clips (they did enough to help me achieve better swimming form and I feel I can glide better in the water).

www.totalimmersion.net

just click on the speed you want to view the films at and the popup video will show.

Seegulz · May 5th, 2005, 10:15 PM

Thanks for the link ... I prefer to stick to the breast stroke, because I get such a great pump from it (even in the biceps - can't figure that one out). But, I would love to learn the butterfly. Sure, I've tried on my own, but I just end up looking ridiculous and going nowhere.

**Old_Fart2** · May 6th, 2005, 07:21 AM

Butterfly really requires a lot of coordination; I would imagine it takes years to learn properly. Breast stroke hurts my shoulders, so I'm pretty limited to free style, which I'm also not very good at (but I'm pretty fast just out of sheer strength, I think).

But it gives me soemthing to do in the pool other than float around, throw kids in the air, etc.

**engr** · May 6th, 2005, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hdacosta

downside: skin constantly smells of chlorine (make sure you shower in fragrant soap body wash) and hair gets really frizzy...but I'm sure you guys knew that and that swimming doesn't by any means hinder one's health, unless you drown of course.

Hey costa, try a product called ultraswim. I used to use it all the time when I was swimming competitively. It really helps with the hair. Don't know if they make a body wash or not.l

**Manfred_Man** · May 6th, 2005, 08:05 AM

thanks for the link, hdacosta!
like any great workout, form is key!

keep your head in the water!