Ok, I know this problem has probably been tackeled before but I could use some advice for my own personal benifit. I'm 19 and about 50 lbs overweight. I'm 5'3 and weigh 190. I'm not horribly ashamed of my body or anything like that. But I do know that I am horribly out of shape. Ever since I was a kid I've loved to swim and when I was in 6th grade I finally got some training to learn the proper strokes. Durning that time I lost my baby fat and was in better shape than I have been in since. I joined the swimming team my freshman year and got all the way through the training season before I had to quit (due to my slack in grades). I've tried different work out routines, excercise videos, etc. But nothing has worked as well as swimming has. I am again going to start swimming to get into shape but I don't feel I'm ready to begin joining anything like masters. Does anyone have any suggestions for good swimming workouts that I could do 3-4 days a week that will get me back in shape and ready to join something like masters for competitions. Thanks to anyone who can help.
Parents
Former Member
Don't worry about your weight that much. I was over 200 pounds until recently and I'm only 5'4". But now this past couple months I started to swim 4 to 5 days workouts for an hour. But in your situation I would start at 30 minutes for 2 to 4 days a week for a few months and then 45 mintues for some more months at 2 to 4 times a week and then an hour 3 to 5 times a week. Do this thru a lap swim program. I don't swim on a team myself and because of my work I was limted to about 2 days a week and it was hard to do more than 30 to 40 mintues because I had not built up the condition until recently. When I was your age I was only 130 pounds but weight more than most swimmers my age. Anyway, I swam my first meet since 1977 and did fair compared to most people in my age group in the 50 meter breastroke that probably weight less than me.
Don't worry about your weight that much. I was over 200 pounds until recently and I'm only 5'4". But now this past couple months I started to swim 4 to 5 days workouts for an hour. But in your situation I would start at 30 minutes for 2 to 4 days a week for a few months and then 45 mintues for some more months at 2 to 4 times a week and then an hour 3 to 5 times a week. Do this thru a lap swim program. I don't swim on a team myself and because of my work I was limted to about 2 days a week and it was hard to do more than 30 to 40 mintues because I had not built up the condition until recently. When I was your age I was only 130 pounds but weight more than most swimmers my age. Anyway, I swam my first meet since 1977 and did fair compared to most people in my age group in the 50 meter breastroke that probably weight less than me.
