Do any of you enjoy swimming as a good workout? I completed my swim final this morning and it consisted of swimming one mile under an hour. I beat that in a little over 30 minutes and to be honest it feels great! Now, I'm not just talking about swim classes or anything like that, I was speaking in general. Do any of you swim frequently? If so, what are your favorite styles and strokes?
i don't make it to the rec as often as i'd like, but when i do (lately about twice a week, ideally i'd like to do about 4, maybe 5) i do about a half hour in the weight room then i go swim a half mile. usually takes me about 20 minutes. a mile in a hour sounds pretty tough for what i'm assuming was a college level phys ed class, unless under an hour was just the requirement for an A. were breaks allowed or did it have to be non-stop? generally i alternate between front crawl and breaststroke.
I swim like a brick, so no for me, sadly. It's a great workout as it has zero physical impact (as in jarring impact) on your joints.
Yeah, it was a college level course. Breaks were allowed; I mean we did have from like 8 to 11am. But, all of us just got it done straight through. I am the best on freestyle and breast stroke. For the entire mile I did freestyle with some breast stroke. I accidentally bumped someone's head behind me on one of five members in my lane and that was when I was doing breast stroke. I was thinking to myself, "Go around me!" But, I don't think he was aware of his surroundings. In any event, after it was done, we all brought snacks...You know...things to eat that are probably the worst things to get after a great workout. But, it was so worth it! unk:
ugh, i hate sharing lanes. luckily, the pool i go to is usually pretty dead when i go. i also swim head up, because i hate not being aware of my surroundings like that. i can't do freestyle for too long, it always tires me out so i switch up to breaststroke since there's a split second of no movement where you can slightly catch your breath after each stroke. for a straight mile, i would probably have had to roll over and do some back stroke or sidestroke or something, since those are pretty much effortless. are you going to keep it up now that class is over? did you swim before taking the class?
^^you get so tired with freestyle because you are swimming uphill the whole time with your head out of the water. get a pair of goggles, stick your face in the water and breathe on the sides near your shoulder. then you'll be swimming "flat." i haven't been in a real pool in a couple years. i was on the swim team in high school and got pretty competitive at the breaststroke. i always thought it was interesting that i was in great shape in the pool, could swim ten or 20 laps no problem, but i'd still get winded running around the gym as warm up for gym class. running and swimming endurance did not translate for me. the last time i was in the pool, i got incredibly winded after just a few laps. it's been almost a decade since high school, so i guess i'm not that good of a swimmer anymore
Yeah that's cool, I run my 5 kms most mornings and finish along the beach...strip off and have an ocean swim...
hmm, i really never thought of that. i've tried swimming with my face in the water before, but i never really got the hang of doing it that way, so i never really got a chance to notice if it was less tiring. i don't know though, like i said before, i like to be aware of my surroundings. and i'm just doing it for exercise anyway, not necessarily to be an efficient swimmer, so it seems like making myself swim uphill might make for a better workout anyway. but, it might be worth practicing at least, just so i know i can actually do it that way.
try it man, you will love it. you can get a nice pair of goggles for like 15 bucks. you will still be aware of your surroundings. more aware since you can see through the water. breathe every third stroke on the side where your arm is back. you can breathe every 2 if you get tired, but every 3 makes you alternate sides which feels appropriate. oh yeah, you exhale when your face is in the water. so that you only have to turn your head and snag a quick breathe out of your armpit area and then stick your face back the the water and look towards the top of your head to see exactly where you are going. you don't wanna exercise with improper form. it might be more of a workout to squat 200 lbs than 100, but you might hurt yourself too. i doubt you'll hurt yourself swimming "uphill" but that's the best metaphor i have at the moment.
I don't swim regularly anymore, but I LOVE to swim. I do think it gives the best workout possible. You don't have to kill yourself while working all of your muscles. Years ago I broke (and dislocated) my elbow. After it healed, I had about a 30 degree range of movement and regular physical therapy did relatively nothing to help. The orthopedist didn't offer much hope. Well...I went back to my favorite exercise of swimming and within 6 months, I was able to completely straighten my arm out and pull it all the way in! 180 degree movement. The doctor was amazed when I went back to show him. About 100 years ago I was a life guard. I prefer just regular freestyle and to rest I float on my back.
