Are high yardage/slow aerobic swims a good method? Even the best method?
Sorry, I'm sure this topic has been covered numerous times. I've been away from the forums and the pool for a while. And I've packed on some pounds.
I just got back in the pool the other day after a 6-9 month layoff and have no immediate ambition to compete again. I'm thinking a realistic goal is to complete a 5k this summer and just focus on getting back in shape and not worry so much about the clock and sets and such. Figure I will get too frustrated and just want to swim just to swim for now.
When I was training and competing for a few years in Masters I never got too far above 2000 yards but would do hard sets (for me) of 15x100, etc.. Would I actually lose more weight if I instead swam 3-4k yards of just lap swimming?
....Also, I just read in my swimmer that Leslie Livingston has given up weights and dryland. Isn't that a complete 180?
Swimming helps burn calories, but you can only swim say, an hour or two a day, which gives you 23 hours a day or so to stuff your face. :rofl:
Frankly during my (USA) team's Christmas training, I was putting in super ridiculous (for me) amounts of yardage - we're talking 6-7000 yards a day, up from my usual 4500 or so. I was so exhausted, I didn't have the energy to eat! And I lost about 10lbs. Put it back on of course with egg nog & Valentines Candy!! I really think it's easy to try and justify how much you eat after you have a hard workout - whether a HIT or long distance. I know I do, anyway. My favorite trick: Diet Greek Yogurt (Dannon Light & Fit) - I swim at 5:30 in the morning & have two of them for breakfast. Total of about 160 calories, but 22gms protein. I'm shapin' up. . . .
ALSO - I'm mixing it up - started lifting (light) weights again & I try to play tennis at least once a week - if you get tired enough you fall asleep & forget to eat dessert! :D
Swimming helps burn calories, but you can only swim say, an hour or two a day, which gives you 23 hours a day or so to stuff your face. :rofl:
Frankly during my (USA) team's Christmas training, I was putting in super ridiculous (for me) amounts of yardage - we're talking 6-7000 yards a day, up from my usual 4500 or so. I was so exhausted, I didn't have the energy to eat! And I lost about 10lbs. Put it back on of course with egg nog & Valentines Candy!! I really think it's easy to try and justify how much you eat after you have a hard workout - whether a HIT or long distance. I know I do, anyway. My favorite trick: Diet Greek Yogurt (Dannon Light & Fit) - I swim at 5:30 in the morning & have two of them for breakfast. Total of about 160 calories, but 22gms protein. I'm shapin' up. . . .
ALSO - I'm mixing it up - started lifting (light) weights again & I try to play tennis at least once a week - if you get tired enough you fall asleep & forget to eat dessert! :D
