Swimming and body fat management - JP Fitness Forums

Q. · 01-22-2007, 08:28 AM

I know of some really good swimmers and some of them are pretty chunky. They just did an piece on TV recently about the woman who swam a mile in the waters off of antartica. She may have needed her fat to survive but some of us are trying to keep it off as much as possible.

I know there's been a number of posts about whether or not the water keeps the body temp moderated and, as a result, you don't burn as many calories. I think that you can certainly burn calories since moving through the water ought to be a LOT harder than moving through the air. There's certainly a lot more resistance.

I've also heard that you need to incorporate land-based exercise regardless. My question is, how much of each? I'm currently shooting for alternating each day resulting in three day in the water and three days doing weight (mostly body weight) training plus some additional aerobic energy system stuff.

I'm not a triathlete so I'm not going to be biking or running but I guess these folks would be mixing in that kind of training. I'm more interested in body fat management.

SunshineChick · 01-22-2007, 04:52 PM

Very good question. I read somewhere that swimming HR max is 10 beats lower than land-based ex. I have been wearing my monitor and my HR has been lower.

Q. · 01-22-2007, 07:02 PM

Your monitor is water proof?

Aoife · 01-22-2007, 09:52 PM

I think all the polar ones are.
All of ours were... (both wrist and chest parts)

SunshineChick · 01-22-2007, 10:00 PM

Yes-Polar waterporoof to 30m

Jimbo · 01-23-2007, 09:29 AM

To the original question..anyone have recommendations? I have the same question. My issue is not necessarily a matter of making time for all the workouts. (I'll make time) But finding adequate energy and allowing for recovery between workouts. I like to run, swim & lift. (no particular order)

How can one get batter at all of these disciplines and not overtrain? And even better question is how can one not Under train in any one of these without overtraining? I want to make progress lifting, running and swimming..

Does a person pretty much HAVE to choose?

Lost Dog · 01-23-2007, 09:55 AM

I believe that swimming tends to make one hungrier that other forms of exercise. Maybe it's the temperature issue that does it. Your body wants to stoke the fires? So, if you're not counting calories, I think you'd tend to eat more.

Jimbo · 01-23-2007, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

I believe that swimming tends to make one hungrier that other forms of exercise. Maybe it's the temperature issue that does it. Your body wants to stoke the fires? So, if you're not counting calories, I think you'd tend to eat more.

No doubt about that! I STAY pretty hungry.

Ogedei · 01-23-2007, 03:51 PM

I've actually seen an article that says JUST that LD. Not sure where, but I have seen it in print.

Og.

Lost Dog · 01-23-2007, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ogedei

I've actually seen an article that says JUST that LD. Not sure where, but I have seen it in print.

Og.

So somebody's getting paid to say what I say?

Ogedei · 01-23-2007, 05:00 PM

Time to get some new letters after your name and start making people pay you for what you say!

emartin10 · 01-23-2007, 08:49 PM

Jimbo - I would try to use swimming as "recovery" from runs. I find that after a long run, I can still get a really good swim in, and not really tax my system too much more. After a good run, try a lighter swim, and see how you feel. You'll get twice the workouts, with not near as much energy expended. Plus, I usually am pretty jacked up after a good run, with plenty more energy to spare, so the swims help there too.

Plus, I usually hop out of the pool and run to the hot tubs for real recovery.

E

Jimbo · 01-24-2007, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emartin10

Jimbo - I would try to use swimming as "recovery" from runs. I find that after a long run, I can still get a really good swim in, and not really tax my system too much more. After a good run, try a lighter swim, and see how you feel. You'll get twice the workouts, with not near as much energy expended. Plus, I usually am pretty jacked up after a good run, with plenty more energy to spare, so the swims help there too.

Plus, I usually hop out of the pool and run to the hot tubs for real recovery.

E

Wow. Great minds.. this is exactly what I had planned for today. Yesterday I lifted and hit the pool/whirlpool. Not much energy to swim after lifting but it felt good and oh..that whirlpool! shweeet.

FreeAtefeh · 01-31-2007, 10:44 AM

As of September 2006, I cut back on swimming from 4-5 days a week to 1-2 times a week and focused more on high-end cardio like spinning and running. The fat melted off. As LD suggested, I was hungry as hell afterwards and I ended up eating considerably more (about 300 - 400 calories). I was also not burning as many calories during the workout itself. I love swimming, but for me it was not the most effective cardio for fat loss. This said, I find it incredibly useful as part of my total body survival fitness program.

You know, in case dinosaurs ever wander the earth again and I need to escape via land and sea. In which case I may need the fat actually.

Jimbo · 01-31-2007, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreeAtefeh

This said, I find it incredibly useful as part of my total body survival fitness program.

You know, in case dinosaurs ever wander the earth again and I need to escape via land and sea. In which case I may need the fat actually.

Let's just hope the water/rivers/streams aren't hot burning lava at that time. (course..the fat would just melt off)

FreeAtefeh · 01-31-2007, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Let's just hope the water/rivers/streams aren't hot burning lava at that time. (course..the fat would just melt off)

Hahaha! Right on!

RobLL · 01-31-2007, 02:43 PM

I swam for about twenty years as my main exercise, 3-5 times a week, and did not lose weight. I think it kept me in good shape, but as weight loss. Not so hot.

fitzy21 · 01-31-2007, 06:24 PM

i lost a good 20-25 pounds from swimming last time i competitively swam, which was 2 years ago...but i just had knee surgery and gained that weight back too, so that might have had something to do with me being able to lose the weight faster

ODB · 01-31-2007, 08:14 PM

As always...depends on how you eat. If you watch college level swimmers they are pretty much zero body fat (particularly the guys). My dad is a senior masters level swimmer (he holds a few national age group records) and at almost 70 he is very lean. I lost weight pretty well when I was swimming more a couple of years ago. A banana before practice and a bowl of cereal (high fiber) afterwards. I'll admit though, lunch never came soon enough.