swimming question

luke101 · Post by **luke101** » Mon Feb 16, 2009 11:52 pm

I've been trying to do some research on swimming and get mixed results. While everyone agrees that swimming is great excercise, when it comes to weight loss there's mixed replies. personnally i dont see how you cant become leaner from it. afterall most if not all your mucles are used.

I was also wondering if swimming right after your workout is a good idea, wich is part of routine. heard it stretches the muscles after your work out. should i save swim for cardio day or is it ok to swim whenever?

Thanks

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 1:32 am

not sold on swimming, none of the pro's are "ripped" or anything

great for fitness rather then fat loss i'd say

swim when you want i'd also say

Boopster · Post by **Boopster** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:06 pm

As a mom of two very competitve swimmers, I say it's a great way to keep in shape. You utilize a lot of muscle in your body swimming laps. I have seen son trim down tremendously after many years of swimming. Not that he was overweight by any means, but his back has a great "V" formation from performing the "fly" and his abs are better defined now as well. Course he's only a teenager. daughter should have just been born with gills...she's a fish! opinion is any form of exercise is better than none at all.

Joesportstalk · Post by **Joesportstalk** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 10:52 am

Good calorie burner, and a good way to work overall body muscles in a different manner ( thereby causing the motor units to work differently).

I am a big believer in swimming as a part of any overall fitness regimen.

hollidayluck · Post by **hollidayluck** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 2:54 pm

I swim, and i lost about 20pounds. and gained muscle, join a swim team - atleast swim 3times a week... the butterfly works pretty much all the muscles in your body... and yes swim after you work out - its great... I swim about 3days a week, for an 1hr and 30mins for a swim team... its hard as hell but worth it...

luke101 · Post by **luke101** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 3:25 pm

thanks for all the input

SafaAndy · Post by **SafaAndy** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 6:11 am

I think swimming is the best total body workout ever, but doesn't really fit into any of the usual boxes as far as exercise goes. It is cardio, but has resistance. it uses all the bodies energy pathways, plus is partly aerobic, and partly anaerobic, so its a bit of a chameleon.

Its great cardio, but is not going to get you good definition as that requires a fair bit more than just training (diet is vital). It does stretch the muscles, but really only the shoulders and a bit of chest.

All pro swimmers spend hours in the gym, so its not a "cure all" exercise.

But I'm a believer in it, I use it as part of fitness regime.