8 replies to this topic

[ScubaGypsy]

Since last summer I have been maintaining a swimming routine between 2 to 4 times per week when I'm in town and not travelling about. I used to swim competitively in high school but that was so long ago now that it shouldn't even count! My goal began as just a half a mile but since last October I have been swimming a mile each time. I don't swim particularly fast (takes about 40-45 minutes) as I maintain a steady pace using mainly freestyle although I always mix a couple of the laps in with the breast stroke and with the side stroke.

At this point I have pretty much reached a plateau so I've recently started to divide my swimming up to where I do interval swimming every other time. For instance, instead of swimming distance at a comfortable pace, I'll swim hard for 150-200 yds and then rest. I'll also do a couple of laps with the kickboard. I find that I can do the short distances with some speed but I do get tired very quickly.

I wonder how many others on here maintain a regular swimming program and what their routines might be. I also wonder if there are any specific routines that might be recommended for diving.

[CaptSaaz]

Well, no one else has responded but my swim routine is now 3 days a week, as many laps as I can manage in about 45 minutes. Unlike you, I was never really a swimmer until recently. I just barely passed my OW swim and tread water test. Since I want to move up to Rescue Diver cert I need to be able to swim comfortably and confidently. I just took an adult swim class at the local YMCA and now freestyle, about 14 laps in 45 minutes and have an ok backstroke going. I do intend to keep this up as it has shown me how really out of shape ( round is a shape isn't it?) I am. I can bicycle all day long but I have no upper body strength. SO this will be the majority of exercise I will be getting for a while.

[ScubaGypsy]

Thanx for responding Dan and it is great that you are swimming. Swimming is interesting in terms of physical fitness as I see folks who appear horribly out of shape but then in the pool they are dynamite! Though I've been doing the distance swimming, I see very "round" folks who are breezing by me and doing many more laps. It has been my observation that there really does not appear to be any specific shape for swimming proficency as it seems to be more of a function of maintaining a routine and development of skills.

[6Gill]

Skill counts for a lot in swiming and have been beaten by people in worse physical condition then myself but they had much better style and form thus using much less effort to achive the same distance.Of course I end up with a better workout swimming the same distance
To answer the question I mix it up doing swim sprints some days and grinding out laps(endurance) other days.

Eric

[ledgedive]

thirty minutes of laps 5 days/wk half the time with free diver fins

[Ndepth]

I normaly play basketball MWF at lunch but I hurt my knee about a month ago, so I have been swimming at lunch instead. I do freestyle for about an hour, mixing it up with a few laps with the kickboard and a few laps of backstroke. I know swimming is a good workout, but I wonder if an hour on the stairmaster might help burn more fat?

Edited by Ndepth, 23 February 2006 - 11:29 AM.

[ScubaGypsy]

I normaly play basketball MWF at lunch but I hurt my knee about a month ago, so I have been swimming at lunch instead. I do freestyle for about an hour, mixing it up with a few laps with the kickboard and a few laps of backstroke. I know swimming is a good workout, but I wonder if an hour on the stairmaster might help burn more fat?

I played basketball for almost 1-1/2 hrs a day for over a decade as we played regularly at lunch and I was always in one or two recreational leagues. Then in a league game in 1998 I grabbed a rebound, turned and heard a distinct snap. I ended up ripping the ACL in my right knee. Up until that point I had never had any knee problems. During the reconstruction surgery the doctor found that most of my cartilidge was shredded. I did return to basketball about 6 months later but then both of my knees would swell so I finally had to stop.

Swimming is interesting in that it sure doesn't seem like there is any fat burning going on and I'm not sure what other types of exercises to do as I get swelling pretty easily now if I do any type of running. I do include 10-mins of elliptical training 2-3x per week as part of my strength training program and have found that my heart rate when doing the elliptical has come way down since I added the endurance swimming. With that said, I have also noted that there certainly is a distinct difference in endurance and skill type swimming. I did some interval swimming on Sunday and again today while I did a mile endurance swim on Tuesday. I can't believe how winded I get during the interval swimming! I can go fairly fast for 100-m but that is it as I need to stop and catch my breath. It is the same way with the kickboard as after just two laps, my legs are burning. I guess that I'm going to try and stick to this schedule of interval swimming one day followed by distance/pace swimming as it'll be interesting to see if there is any improvement in my endurance swims.

[CaptSaaz]

You can stairmaster, I used to bike, and your legs get in greta shape but it does nothing for your upper body. I find with swimming, it's a full body workout and my great weakness is upper body. Getting better every week. Did 15 laps today mixing up freestyle with a sloppy backstroke but it's improving.

[ddierolf]

I was a competitive swimmer from age 9 thru college. It all depends on what you want to accomplish thru swimming that will determine how you train. For instance... if you want to increase endurance, I recommend swimming longer distances. If you want to lose weight and become leaner, I recommend sprinting more. If you want to do better on air consumption, I recommend doing hypoxic sets of sprints (Taking less breaths per lap) If you want an over all benefit, I recommend sprinting more and cross training with weights and some treadmill or jogging as well. The key to allot of it is getting your heart rate up and maintaining that for about 1/2 hour per day. Also if you want to do more cross training , it is better to alternate the lifting and running, say mon,wen,fri for swimming and lifting, and tue & thur for running and swimming. Main thing , don't forget to stretch well before and after working out!

Just my $0.02 worth