Hello all. I'm not sure there's a "cure" for me here, I just thought I'd share my frustrations with swimming (the small bit of experience I've had) and see what you all thought.
So, First things first, I am not a swimmer. I do not have a swimmer's body. I'm a stout, powerlifter, who these days is overweight as well.
However, even when I was in much trimmer shape, I was never a good swimmer. I actually lack boyency quite a bit. I told a friend of mine how I was far less boyant than the usual person, and they had me lay back and float with their arms below me, and even when my lungs were filled with air to the max, I was sinking.
I'm not sure if this is due to my weight, or having a background in powerlifting, or just a thing that you're born with, but I cannot distance swim because I sink. The only way I can swim are basically sprints, because I have to keep stroking faster and faster to stay above water.
Of course, this causes breathing issues, and water getting into my mouth and throat when I breathe.
I've recently began cardio again, and I've run into some knee issues. So, I've considered getting back into the pool, however, I'm not enthused, given my circumstances.
I mean, it's a furious endeavor for me to swim. I get gassed right away. The farthest I can do is down-back-down-back. I watch these other swimmers just go non-stop, working and stroking but also pacing.
Should I just keep up my clunky, desperate swimming? LOL Have you ever heard of other people who just appear to be human bricks?
Yeah, your situation is not uncommon. When I was in the Navy I was frequently my command's fitness coordinator/tester and occasionally encountered extremely fit (i.e. very muscular) guys who'd suddenly decide to try the 500 yd swim for their semi-annual fitness test instead of the 1.5 mile run. They'd think "I'm in good shape. I can power thru a 500 yard swim." I'd advise them against it but they'd insist. Usually, about 100 yards into the swim they'd surrender, realizing that they were figuratively and literally in over their heads. As I read your post I was thinking "sounds like he's got a higher percentage of muscle"...which sinks as opposed to fat which floats...and then you mentioned that you're (or were) a power lifter. So it's going to be a bit harder for you to become proficient at swimming. But, not impossible. People with lower percentages of body fat (i.e. buoyancy) will sink which presents them with the additional challenge of keeping themselves on the surface AND/WHILE propelling themselves through the water. And by people with lower body fat I mean both large musclar people, and very skinny people. But, extremely fit people, like Michael Phelps who has a body fat percentage of just 5%, can be capable swimmers. Clearly Phelps has other attributes that help make him an extremely efficient swimmer...attributes that you and I don't have. Consequently we have to work harder at keeping our bodies from sinking, and getting it through the water. That's where a coach or swim instructor can lend assistance in perfecting your technique and mechanics. It'll just take some time and determination on your part. Good luck.
Dan
Michael Phelps been swimming since childhood and developed the skills to compensate for low body fat. I was not a great floater as a kid or teenager and was probably heavy for a swimmer when I did age group and high school swimming as a kid but developed the swimming skills since age 10 from swimming red cross lessons and competitive novice swimming starting at age 12. I came back to some swimming at age 42 and even lost the breaststroke kick and redeveloped that and also being able to swim fly again. Now, at 59 working out the most in years I can do all the strokes. I'm not skinny still overweight. You might try breaststroke which is more friendly to heavy set people or backstroke instead of freestyle as much but some folks don't like back since you can't see what you are doing and you need to learn to count your strokes with the flags.
Yeah, your situation is not uncommon. When I was in the Navy I was frequently my command's fitness coordinator/tester and occasionally encountered extremely fit (i.e. very muscular) guys who'd suddenly decide to try the 500 yd swim for their semi-annual fitness test instead of the 1.5 mile run. They'd think "I'm in good shape. I can power thru a 500 yard swim." I'd advise them against it but they'd insist. Usually, about 100 yards into the swim they'd surrender, realizing that they were figuratively and literally in over their heads. As I read your post I was thinking "sounds like he's got a higher percentage of muscle"...which sinks as opposed to fat which floats...and then you mentioned that you're (or were) a power lifter. So it's going to be a bit harder for you to become proficient at swimming. But, not impossible. People with lower percentages of body fat (i.e. buoyancy) will sink which presents them with the additional challenge of keeping themselves on the surface AND/WHILE propelling themselves through the water. And by people with lower body fat I mean both large musclar people, and very skinny people. But, extremely fit people, like Michael Phelps who has a body fat percentage of just 5%, can be capable swimmers. Clearly Phelps has other attributes that help make him an extremely efficient swimmer...attributes that you and I don't have. Consequently we have to work harder at keeping our bodies from sinking, and getting it through the water. That's where a coach or swim instructor can lend assistance in perfecting your technique and mechanics. It'll just take some time and determination on your part. Good luck.
Dan
Michael Phelps been swimming since childhood and developed the skills to compensate for low body fat. I was not a great floater as a kid or teenager and was probably heavy for a swimmer when I did age group and high school swimming as a kid but developed the swimming skills since age 10 from swimming red cross lessons and competitive novice swimming starting at age 12. I came back to some swimming at age 42 and even lost the breaststroke kick and redeveloped that and also being able to swim fly again. Now, at 59 working out the most in years I can do all the strokes. I'm not skinny still overweight. You might try breaststroke which is more friendly to heavy set people or backstroke instead of freestyle as much but some folks don't like back since you can't see what you are doing and you need to learn to count your strokes with the flags.
