Thread: Swimming for a Workout

I swim once or twice a week for my training - and it's a great way to cross train. Even if you're in good shape you'll be surprised at how challenging it is. It is weight supported so is good for your joints and can give you a lot of good balance skills. Go for it!

Agreed. Swimming is a great form of fullbody cardio that's perfectly safe for your body.

Yes, I swim once a week at least. I would say try to mix up the strokes that you do if you know how to do anything besides freestyle. I like to swim the day after I train legs since it's so difficult to run with soar legs.

Also, don't get discouraged. The first time you swim it will be really tough, even if you're in good shape... it's just a different kind of exercise that takes some getting used to. After 3-4 sessions you will be much better than when you started. So don't worry if you have to rest every couple laps.

Just try to start out swimming for 10-15 minutes. Nowadays I usually swim for about 30-40 minutes, and that's plenty for me.

Hell yeah swimming's good. Lots of swimmers have big muscles (especially the shoulders). When I swim I just swim back and forward, nothing fancy.

Ive always found swimming easy, even when i was in bad shape i could do about 65 lengths over an hour without too much trouble.

It is good fun though, no doubt. Im not sure about the cardiovascular benefits though, ive never been at all out of breath in a pool...

Originally Posted by Gazhole

Im not sure about the cardiovascular benefits though, ive never been at all out of breath in a pool...

Seriously, the cardiovascular benefits are HUGE! Doing freestyle properly means you can only breath at certain points due to your face being in the water, this makes it much tougher on your cadiovascular system than running, for example, where you can pretty much breathe when you like. If you don't find it tiring then I'm guessing you're technique is good enough that your body can cope with doing it for a long period, in which case you need to push yourself to swim faster in order to get your body tired - it's kinda like running instead of walking. Or do drills like only breathing every 3, 6, 9 arm strokes - you'd be suprised how hard THAT is!

I was a competitive swimmer from the age of 6 until 21 when I gave it up, and now - just 3 years later - I can't believe how fit I used to be!

My advice to anyone considering swimming as part of their exercise program is...do it! Preferably do freestyle rather than "old lady" breaststroke since freestyle is much harder as you have to lift your arms out of the water = much more tiring.

Swimming is a great form of exercise. There is zero impact, so it is a good way to give your joints a break while doing some additional cardiovascular exercise.