Was wondering about the following from those who regularly workout:
-For Breathing while swimming freestyle --- should you just turn your head to breathe or fully rotate your chest/thorax to take the breath?
- Also -- what kind of nutrition do you all do before workouts? I find if I try to eat something too soon (even to just stave off hunger in the am), I get a bit of an upset stomach when I start to swim. If I eat nothing then I get hunger pangs about 3/4 way through the workout.
- I've been swimming for about 20 months (after doing no exercise for about 30 years!). I usually go for a workout 3-4 times/wk. What would you recommend as a good length of time to swim on those occasions? 30min?-45min.-1 hr. ? More?
Thanks much.
The answers you seek are mostly dependent on what you expect to derive from your exercise.
You just turn your head to breathe in freestyle. There will be some trunk rotation anyway because while you are breathing, you are also starting another armstroke.
Eating is very personal and you should make many tests to find out what and when to eat. Hunger pangs will not usually result in any lasting damage. Drinking water before workout is usually the best thing to do. Solid food will take energy away from your workout to process digestion. And give you a bellyache, too.
The length of time also depends on what you expect to do with it. If you are a non competitive fitness swimmer and intend to stay that way, one hour is plenty 3-4 times a week. If you want to compete to test your endurance or speed, 5x per week is better, with a focus on you event(s). If you have a coach, talk to him about what to do.
Welcome to USMS!
The answers you seek are mostly dependent on what you expect to derive from your exercise.
You just turn your head to breathe in freestyle. There will be some trunk rotation anyway because while you are breathing, you are also starting another armstroke.
Eating is very personal and you should make many tests to find out what and when to eat. Hunger pangs will not usually result in any lasting damage. Drinking water before workout is usually the best thing to do. Solid food will take energy away from your workout to process digestion. And give you a bellyache, too.
The length of time also depends on what you expect to do with it. If you are a non competitive fitness swimmer and intend to stay that way, one hour is plenty 3-4 times a week. If you want to compete to test your endurance or speed, 5x per week is better, with a focus on you event(s). If you have a coach, talk to him about what to do.
Welcome to USMS!
