The other day, as I was being thrashed by a heavy lap swimmer, I once again pondered the difference between a swimmers body and a runners body. I have seen quite a few husky guys, carrying quite a bit of extra weight, who are also very good swimmers. On the other hand, you won't see runners who are carrying extra weight (unless they have just begun running). I think that there maybe a chicken-egg thing here (heavier guys tend not to go in for distance running) but I think that there are other considerations. One of them is that swimming tends to arouse appetite while running tends to suppress appetite.
Having said all that, I just can't yearn for a runners body, even though I would love to drop 5 kgs. I just do not want a body with no arms or shoulders. Also, maybe it's me, but this guy looks like an anorexic model:
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I can't see why this guy would be a cover boy for a fitness oriented magazine. His look is not healthy, in most cases not achievable and certainly not maintainable.
You mean like pretty much every single woman on every kind of ad or magazine for the last many, many years? ;)
You mean like pretty much every single woman on every kind of ad or magazine for the last many, many years? ;)
Yup. But I don't expect much from fashion magazines.
His look is not healthy
What's unhealthy about it? He doesn't look underweight to me. Franky, I think we've gotten too accustomed to looking at overweight people and now people who are actually at a healthy weight seem "too skinny" to many of us.
I think swimmers can get away with a higher body fat percentage because we aren't fighting gravity. Yes, pulling more weight through the water means more force needed, but it's not like running.
What's unhealthy about it? He doesn't look underweight to me. Franky, I think we've gotten too accustomed to looking at overweight people and now people who are actually at a healthy weight seem "too skinny" to many of us.
I think swimmers can get away with a higher body fat percentage because we aren't fighting gravity. Yes, pulling more weight through the water means more force needed, but it's not like running.
I think he looks great too. Just leaner than most of us.
I used to have a runners body with somewhat broad shoulders. Now I have a swimmers body. Running is simply much better for shedding fad.
What's unhealthy about it? He doesn't look underweight to me. Franky, I think we've gotten too accustomed to looking at overweight people and now people who are actually at a healthy weight seem "too skinny" to many of us.
Boy, you got that right, along with Fort's observation. What is unnatural is a 6'0" man who is 250+, not a guy committed to fitness.
Yup. But I don't expect much from fashion magazines.
It's not just fashion magazines. It's just about every kind of magazine or ad out there for anything. Just thought it was funny that ya'll were complaining about this when it's been true for women for ages :)
I have runner's legs with a swimmer's upper body. All told, this makes for a pretty mediocre swimmer and runner...In the same boat!
At 6'1" with an arm-span that's 4" longer I would be classified as having an ideal build for swimming. But my legs are too damn long (36" inseam). My only event's I get by with are short ones - though not necessarily a sprinter.
Now having lean build with long legs people say I look like a runner until they actually see me try (imagine rooster's gait).
Former Member
I'd say its easier to be fat and swim than be fat an run. When you're fat you've got some extra buoyancy and when you swim the forces on your body and nothing like running.
That guy doesn't look unhealthy to me. He's no testosterone enraged body builder but he clearly has a lot of muscle.
