Greetings group
I hope this doesn't come across as 'needing therapy' but I need your collective advice. I've recently rediscovered healthy living. I've lost over 50 pounds since March when I began walking, then running while eating better and cutting back on the booze. Yes, I still cuss and spit. The problem began when I upped my running mileage and did speed work. This brought back many of the old injuries which ended my healthful living in my early twenties. I now feel that running will always be a seconday sport for me. I'm simply too banged up and undisciplined to stretch/PT so as to maintain running health. I've choosn swimming as my main outlet.
Realize that I hate swimming and have yet to hit the pool. My questions are: how do I learn good form? What is a good beginner's workout? Do I really need to wear a speedo? Do I need to stretch? Will I bulk up from muscle gain? Or can I expect to get that sleek build typical of swimmers? What other advice do you have for a beginner?
Parents
Former Member
when I started out I could only do 300 m! Now I'm doing 3,000! I started with Swimming for Total Fitness by Dr. Jane Katz, using her workouts that go from 100 yards/meters on up to 3,000. There is no Masters team close to me so I hired a coach for private lesson (about twice a month.) She helped clean up my technique and this summer (as a treat for myself) she and I worked together once a week. I doubled my 'yardage' in 5 weeks. I can now kick my 30 year old daughter's ass in the pool. If that doesn't make one feel good nothing will. Try not to focus so much on how you hate swimming, but how good you will feel as you progress. And there is nothing that feels so good as climbing out of a pool after a good workout. While you maybe tired, you also feel clean and refreshed and strong (at least I do). Yes, the muscles in my chest and arms and legs are more defined but I wouldn't say I've bulked up, still have some more weight to lose and I have no doubt that will come about in time also.
when I started out I could only do 300 m! Now I'm doing 3,000! I started with Swimming for Total Fitness by Dr. Jane Katz, using her workouts that go from 100 yards/meters on up to 3,000. There is no Masters team close to me so I hired a coach for private lesson (about twice a month.) She helped clean up my technique and this summer (as a treat for myself) she and I worked together once a week. I doubled my 'yardage' in 5 weeks. I can now kick my 30 year old daughter's ass in the pool. If that doesn't make one feel good nothing will. Try not to focus so much on how you hate swimming, but how good you will feel as you progress. And there is nothing that feels so good as climbing out of a pool after a good workout. While you maybe tired, you also feel clean and refreshed and strong (at least I do). Yes, the muscles in my chest and arms and legs are more defined but I wouldn't say I've bulked up, still have some more weight to lose and I have no doubt that will come about in time also.
