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?
A pull buoy is a good idea to help your body position. You maybe strong and struggling a lot, which doesn't help. Swimming is not as much about the amount of your flotation as you think. Unlike land based exercises where the ground or weights push back 100%, in swimming water gives way and just moves out of the way when you push on it or apply force - its more like air.
The real trick to swimming is learning how to apply force to the water and hold on to it. Once you realize how to do that efficiently, speed increases and your body rises higher in the water (like a boat starting up).
I recommend buying a pair of medium length swim fins. They'll add "easy speed" when you wear them and allow you to work on head position, breathing, and arm strokes (mechanics) while moving much more easily through the water with the fins on - less struggle, more of a chance to relax, and an elevated body position will all help a great deal. You can also use them with a kick board for kicking drills to gain ankle flex too.
Swim some laps with fins to work on mechanics, and then take them off and swim more laps trying to retain the same stroke mechanics and easy speed. I don't like to end my practices swimming with fins on, preferring to end a swim session without any swimming aids as a memory aid and point of departure.
Seeing a coach/instructor a couple of times per month and working on drills will speed progress up. There are also tons of drills and "how to" videos on mechanics on you tube.
