zoebartlett
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Swimming
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Skippy123
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Zoe, I have a few friends who swim regularly. It is great exercise and it isn''t hard on your joints. I am super excited because my cousin who lives up the street from me is getting a pool (she and I are always walking together) and said that she expects me to be swimming laps with her when her pool is complete. If you have a pool just jump in and see what you can do and maybe do that for a week and slowly add to it. Just start with baby steps if you want to start an exercise program. Also water aerobics is great exercise.
zoebartlett
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Hi Skippy!
That will be fun when your cousin gets her pool.
My husband and I just joined a great health club, and it has three pools -- an indoor lap pool, an outdoor recreation and lap pool, and an indoor recreation pool. I''m interested in using the fitness room as well as the pools, but my husband would like to get his primary exercise in by doing laps. We''ve gone almost every day for the past week and a half and it''s been so much fun.
I know swimming is supposed to be a great workout, so I''m glad that we''ve been able to find something that both of us want to stick with. I know someone here swims regularly but I can''t remember who.
That will be fun when your cousin gets her pool.
My husband and I just joined a great health club, and it has three pools -- an indoor lap pool, an outdoor recreation and lap pool, and an indoor recreation pool. I''m interested in using the fitness room as well as the pools, but my husband would like to get his primary exercise in by doing laps. We''ve gone almost every day for the past week and a half and it''s been so much fun.
I know swimming is supposed to be a great workout, so I''m glad that we''ve been able to find something that both of us want to stick with. I know someone here swims regularly but I can''t remember who.
Skippy123
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Amanda.Rx
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I was a swimmer in college... spent about 24 hours per week in the pool.
Needless to say, I''m a little bit burned out now, but I''ll swim maybe... once a month.
It''s great exercise, but I just feel obligated to have to stay in for an hour or two to get a good workout- and I get really bored by then... ha ha.
Usually, I''ll try and do "sets" for myself: IE: do 100 yards in 1 minute and 30 seconds... and try to do it 5 times in a row. Or sometimes, I jump in and swim as far as I can without stopping (usually get to about a mile or two before I get too bored).
You could try something like this and modify the distance, depending on your ability:
Warm up: start with one-lapers: take 10-15 seconds rest between each lap. Do that for about 10 laps.
Kicking: If you have access to a kick board, grab one and kick to warm up your legs. Do the same as the warm up for about 4-6 laps.
Swimming: You can do what''s called a "ladder" - 1 lap-rest-2 laps-rest-3 laps-rest-4 laps-rest-3 laps-rest-2 laps-rest-1 lap then repeat if you feel up to it. You can also switch it up by doing some fun stuff like alternate swim then doggie paddle or kick or side stroke.
Sprint: You can race your husband for a lap or two- sprinting will increase your heart rate and is short sprints followed by rest are good for burnning fat
Cool Down: Alternate one lap on your front and one lap on your back. Do this until your heart rate comes down, which means swim SLOW.
Let me know if that sounds do-able for you. If not, I can try and suggest something a little bit easier.
Have fun! Glad to know you''re using the pool b/c it''s great for you! I suspect I''ll get back into it one day on a regular basis- I"m just a little bored with swimming now.
Needless to say, I''m a little bit burned out now, but I''ll swim maybe... once a month.
It''s great exercise, but I just feel obligated to have to stay in for an hour or two to get a good workout- and I get really bored by then... ha ha.
Usually, I''ll try and do "sets" for myself: IE: do 100 yards in 1 minute and 30 seconds... and try to do it 5 times in a row. Or sometimes, I jump in and swim as far as I can without stopping (usually get to about a mile or two before I get too bored).
You could try something like this and modify the distance, depending on your ability:
Warm up: start with one-lapers: take 10-15 seconds rest between each lap. Do that for about 10 laps.
Kicking: If you have access to a kick board, grab one and kick to warm up your legs. Do the same as the warm up for about 4-6 laps.
Swimming: You can do what''s called a "ladder" - 1 lap-rest-2 laps-rest-3 laps-rest-4 laps-rest-3 laps-rest-2 laps-rest-1 lap then repeat if you feel up to it. You can also switch it up by doing some fun stuff like alternate swim then doggie paddle or kick or side stroke.
Sprint: You can race your husband for a lap or two- sprinting will increase your heart rate and is short sprints followed by rest are good for burnning fat
Cool Down: Alternate one lap on your front and one lap on your back. Do this until your heart rate comes down, which means swim SLOW.
Let me know if that sounds do-able for you. If not, I can try and suggest something a little bit easier.
Have fun! Glad to know you''re using the pool b/c it''s great for you! I suspect I''ll get back into it one day on a regular basis- I"m just a little bored with swimming now.
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HI:
I swan all through my youth and also got burned out, but have retuned to the pool in recent years. I have forgone traditional laps for treading water and water running. There is a lazy river in the pool where I swim and I run against the current. It is the most strenuous all round workout I get. I love it.
cheers--Sharon
I swan all through my youth and also got burned out, but have retuned to the pool in recent years. I have forgone traditional laps for treading water and water running. There is a lazy river in the pool where I swim and I run against the current. It is the most strenuous all round workout I get. I love it.
cheers--Sharon
Linda W
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Hi Zoe
Swimming is great exercise, I love it. We have a pool in our backyard and I swim all the time in summer. Not the winter though. We heated the pool once in winter and OMG, our PGE bill went through the roof.
Summer though, I am usually in the pool everyday, especially with my two grand-boys.
After not swimming during the winter, I find I am a bit sore and have to work up to it again. I do pool exercises too. It is really good for your joints.
YAY for you and your hubby, you will love it.
Linda
Swimming is great exercise, I love it. We have a pool in our backyard and I swim all the time in summer. Not the winter though. We heated the pool once in winter and OMG, our PGE bill went through the roof.
Summer though, I am usually in the pool everyday, especially with my two grand-boys.
After not swimming during the winter, I find I am a bit sore and have to work up to it again. I do pool exercises too. It is really good for your joints.
YAY for you and your hubby, you will love it.
Linda
swimmer
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Hi Zoe!
Great you guys are getting in the water!
RX gave you some great pointers. I get so bored swimming by myself that I had to join a masters team, but on T/TH when there is no practice I like to grab a "noodle" and hold it like a U in front of me while kicking. Keeps you up, but somehow is more fun than a kickboard, esp if you have shoulder issues. Also remember to point your toes like a ballerina. Think about butterfly kick on your back with no flotation device, to work your tummy, or on your side, to check out your hubby. Vertically treading water with sculling down by your thighs and keeping your head up with your feet down is good for caching your breath and targeting arm squish.
Let us know how its going and what sort of workouts you are looking to do.
happy swimming!
Great you guys are getting in the water!
RX gave you some great pointers. I get so bored swimming by myself that I had to join a masters team, but on T/TH when there is no practice I like to grab a "noodle" and hold it like a U in front of me while kicking. Keeps you up, but somehow is more fun than a kickboard, esp if you have shoulder issues. Also remember to point your toes like a ballerina. Think about butterfly kick on your back with no flotation device, to work your tummy, or on your side, to check out your hubby. Vertically treading water with sculling down by your thighs and keeping your head up with your feet down is good for caching your breath and targeting arm squish.
Let us know how its going and what sort of workouts you are looking to do.
happy swimming!
fieryred33143
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Yes! We started last summer and I lost about 10lbs and my FI lost 15! We haven''t gone swimming much this summer...I wonder why
Anyway, we don''t really have a routine. He does these jumping thing all around the pool and I do some normal leg routines that I would do out of the water. Then we spend the last 15 minutes or so just swimming from one end to the other.
zoebartlett
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Amanda -- thank you so much for taking time to post a your recommendations. I really appreciate it. My husband and I are still beginners, and right now, we''re spending about 30 minutes in the pool. The warm up and kicking you described sounds like twice the workout we actually did. I don''t think we''re at 10 laps yet.
So far, I tend to stick with the breast stroke, as I think I mentioned. I''m just not sure I''m getting the most out of it. I keep my head above water, or close to it and breathe (and blow bubbles) when I stretch my arms in front of me. I kick my legs like I imagine a frog would. My right leg is dominant, so it always kicks a little out of the water and more forcefully than my left one.
Everytime I try free style and I turn my head to the side to breathe, I quickly gulp for air before putting my head in the water again. It just doesn''t feel good -- I feel like I''m drowning although I know I''m not.
I do like using the kickboards and noodles. The kickboards are available more often, so I tend to stick with those. I just kick as if I''m doing swimming free style. It takes a long time to get to the other end, but it''s fun. I''m definitely tired when I reach the end.
My husband does a lot of treading water and walking/running in the pool (there''s not much resistance though, unless we have a very fast swimmer in a nearby lane!). He also swims free style but he keeps his head above water.
I think he was going to look up how to swim properly -- he''s never taken lessons, and while I have, it was years ago. I remember the basics though.
I figure, as long as we''re moving at a pretty consistent pace and not just floating or playing in the water, it''s got to be good exercise.
So far, I tend to stick with the breast stroke, as I think I mentioned. I''m just not sure I''m getting the most out of it. I keep my head above water, or close to it and breathe (and blow bubbles) when I stretch my arms in front of me. I kick my legs like I imagine a frog would. My right leg is dominant, so it always kicks a little out of the water and more forcefully than my left one.
Everytime I try free style and I turn my head to the side to breathe, I quickly gulp for air before putting my head in the water again. It just doesn''t feel good -- I feel like I''m drowning although I know I''m not.
I do like using the kickboards and noodles. The kickboards are available more often, so I tend to stick with those. I just kick as if I''m doing swimming free style. It takes a long time to get to the other end, but it''s fun. I''m definitely tired when I reach the end.
My husband does a lot of treading water and walking/running in the pool (there''s not much resistance though, unless we have a very fast swimmer in a nearby lane!). He also swims free style but he keeps his head above water.
I think he was going to look up how to swim properly -- he''s never taken lessons, and while I have, it was years ago. I remember the basics though.
I figure, as long as we''re moving at a pretty consistent pace and not just floating or playing in the water, it''s got to be good exercise.
zoebartlett
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Canuk -- swimming against a current would be great. I wish our pool had one. I mentioned above that the only time it does is when there''s a fast swimmer in the lane next to us.
Hi Linda! We''d LOVE to have a pool of our own. Our dream house will have one (some day!). I can imagine how expensive it would be to heat a pool in the winter. Ouch!
SDL -- I love La Jolla! I haven''t been there in years but it''s a beautiful area.
Swimmer - Thanks for the tips! I''m not sure what you mean by "sculling down by your thighs..." though. The butterfly kick -- I never mastered the butterfly. I''m so uncoordinated. I can''t even remember how to kick that way. As for specific workouts, I''m not really sure what I''m looking for yet.
Fieryred -- wow -- congrats on losing weight!! This summer (in northern New England) hasn''t been the greatest pool weather, so I haven''t gone to the outdoor pool as often as I''d like.
Hi Linda! We''d LOVE to have a pool of our own. Our dream house will have one (some day!). I can imagine how expensive it would be to heat a pool in the winter. Ouch!
SDL -- I love La Jolla! I haven''t been there in years but it''s a beautiful area.
Swimmer - Thanks for the tips! I''m not sure what you mean by "sculling down by your thighs..." though. The butterfly kick -- I never mastered the butterfly. I''m so uncoordinated. I can''t even remember how to kick that way. As for specific workouts, I''m not really sure what I''m looking for yet.
Fieryred -- wow -- congrats on losing weight!! This summer (in northern New England) hasn''t been the greatest pool weather, so I haven''t gone to the outdoor pool as often as I''d like.
choro72
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I swam 26 laps the other day. My goal is to do 30. I''m a wuss and I rest at every lap, but I feel my body responding to it so I must be doing something right. I swim mostly free style and backstroke. I only do breast stroke when I''m cooling down. I don''t do boards because I don''t get enough workout with it, and I actually get cold in the water.
If somebody can teach me how to swim butterfly, I would appreciate it. I''m trying to introduce some variety.
If somebody can teach me how to swim butterfly, I would appreciate it. I''m trying to introduce some variety.
Hi Zoe, I used to swim in high school and loved it! Recently, I tried to incorporate it back into my routine and did so while the weather was warm. Now that I''m in warm weather again, I want to bring it back into my routine. It is an amazing workout and so easy on the joints.
If I can remember what I was doing a summer ago, I think I did 6-8 laps (counting one length of the pool as 1 lap) freestyle, 6-8 laps with the kickboard, 6-8 laps with the buoy (no idea if that''s spelled right but it''s the thing you can put between your legs so that you only stroke and don''t kick, as opposed to the kickboard where you only kick and don''t stroke) and then a final 6-8 freestyle.
Basically, you can alter the amount to anything that works for you. I like to change it up so that''s why I do smaller amounts of different things vs more of any one thing. Plus, I want to give attention to all body parts and lastly, I just get tired when I do too many laps of one thing. I''m not in the same shape I was back on swim team!
It sounds like you''re doing the breast stroke right. I would try to keep practicing on your freestyle breathing. It is kind of weird but you *will* get the hang of it. Make sure that as you put your head back in the water, you''re breathing out by blowing bubbles into the water. Then turn your head to the side, take a breath, put your head back in and blow out bubbles and on and on. Also, make sure you''re timing your breaths with your strokes. So when your one arm goes back, you turn your head onto that side and breathe. That arm comes forward and you put your head down to blow bubbles. Sorry if I said too much stuff that you already knew. You''ll get it! It really does just take practicing.
Using the kickboards is great! I''d definitely keep doing that part of the time. You''re right, you just kick as if you''re kicking during freestyle. It is all good exercise, no matter what you''re doing. Have fun with it!
If I can remember what I was doing a summer ago, I think I did 6-8 laps (counting one length of the pool as 1 lap) freestyle, 6-8 laps with the kickboard, 6-8 laps with the buoy (no idea if that''s spelled right but it''s the thing you can put between your legs so that you only stroke and don''t kick, as opposed to the kickboard where you only kick and don''t stroke) and then a final 6-8 freestyle.
Basically, you can alter the amount to anything that works for you. I like to change it up so that''s why I do smaller amounts of different things vs more of any one thing. Plus, I want to give attention to all body parts and lastly, I just get tired when I do too many laps of one thing. I''m not in the same shape I was back on swim team!
It sounds like you''re doing the breast stroke right. I would try to keep practicing on your freestyle breathing. It is kind of weird but you *will* get the hang of it. Make sure that as you put your head back in the water, you''re breathing out by blowing bubbles into the water. Then turn your head to the side, take a breath, put your head back in and blow out bubbles and on and on. Also, make sure you''re timing your breaths with your strokes. So when your one arm goes back, you turn your head onto that side and breathe. That arm comes forward and you put your head down to blow bubbles. Sorry if I said too much stuff that you already knew. You''ll get it! It really does just take practicing.
Using the kickboards is great! I''d definitely keep doing that part of the time. You''re right, you just kick as if you''re kicking during freestyle. It is all good exercise, no matter what you''re doing. Have fun with it!
zoebartlett
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Hi Dixie -- thank you!! I really appreciate the tips. It''s hard to describe how you''re swimming when you''re writing it down. I''ll still do the BS and use the kickboards to work my legs more, but I''ll work on my FS. I used to love it as a kid, but it''s been so long since I''ve done it for an extended period of time, and I think I just have to keep practicing.
swimmer
Ideal_Rock
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Hi Zoe, it just dawned on me this am that you might get something out of the swim technique videos on youtube. linky Just search for freestyle breathing technique swimming or something like that for more of the same. The one I linked is more remedial than you need at first, but the breathing explanation at the end seemed good. Remember that you inhale when your head is turned to your side, and then breathe out in the water. Don''t try to do both out of the water. but, easier said than done i''m told.
I''m psyched, this am I did a 5.5 mile loop in Boston Harbor with my team (almost 400 laps I think). Hard to keep up with the big boys, but I wore a wetsuit to stay higher in the water to keep up with these faster folks. (I swam in college, but ages ago) To do swims like this, (addressing your original question) my workout is about 3,500 yds a day, mixing up different strokes and trying to do at least 1,000yds straight at a fast pace, (that is 40 laps). My workout is always a 500yd warmup, free and back one lap each, stretch, sooooo key, then a 400 kick set, mostly fly on my back, then whatever coach says for 3,000yds. Monday is distance free, W is stroke, Friday is sprint, and Sunday is a mix depending on what folks ar training for. I think the mixing it up, no matter what your level, is super important. Love pullbouys for arm strength training, but prefer paddles, like big hand plates, to work on reaching out and rotating.
Good luck with the videos, there are also some really inspirational ones of Hackett and other lovely Olympic men sprinting.
I''m psyched, this am I did a 5.5 mile loop in Boston Harbor with my team (almost 400 laps I think). Hard to keep up with the big boys, but I wore a wetsuit to stay higher in the water to keep up with these faster folks. (I swam in college, but ages ago) To do swims like this, (addressing your original question) my workout is about 3,500 yds a day, mixing up different strokes and trying to do at least 1,000yds straight at a fast pace, (that is 40 laps). My workout is always a 500yd warmup, free and back one lap each, stretch, sooooo key, then a 400 kick set, mostly fly on my back, then whatever coach says for 3,000yds. Monday is distance free, W is stroke, Friday is sprint, and Sunday is a mix depending on what folks ar training for. I think the mixing it up, no matter what your level, is super important. Love pullbouys for arm strength training, but prefer paddles, like big hand plates, to work on reaching out and rotating.
Good luck with the videos, there are also some really inspirational ones of Hackett and other lovely Olympic men sprinting.
zoebartlett
Super_Ideal_Rock
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You''re awesome Swimmer! Thanks so much for the tips on swimming freestyle. I tried it like you described and it was a little easier than breathing in and out all at once. I still felt very out of breath (not from swimming, just from trying to breathe), but I''ll work on it.
So, how about the breast stroke? I know above you said that it sounds like I''m doing it correctly, but should I be going as fast as I can? If so, I''ll definitely get my heart rate up. When I watch people do the breast stroke on TV, they bob in and out of the water, which I don''t really do as well. I love it but it''s hard to know if I''m getting the most out of it. I keep forgetting to ask a lifeguard at the club. I''ll try to remember to ask in the morning when I meet with my new trainer.
Hi Zoe,
I went for a swim today and thought about you. Have you come up with a routine that works for you in the pool? My routine is: 8 laps freestyle, 8 kickboard, 8 buoy, 8 freestyle and another 6 kickboard. It was fun! It was hard to bring myself to get out to the pool but I''m glad I did. I always feel so refreshed after swimming, no other exercise really leaves me feeling that way even though I''m really trying to stick w/exercise 4 days/week.
Hope you''re able to enjoy it also.
I went for a swim today and thought about you. Have you come up with a routine that works for you in the pool? My routine is: 8 laps freestyle, 8 kickboard, 8 buoy, 8 freestyle and another 6 kickboard. It was fun! It was hard to bring myself to get out to the pool but I''m glad I did. I always feel so refreshed after swimming, no other exercise really leaves me feeling that way even though I''m really trying to stick w/exercise 4 days/week.
Hope you''re able to enjoy it also.
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