At my yearly physical last week a funny thing happened. The doctors staff informed me that swimming is not an aerobic exercise and that I would be better off walking briskly for 20 to 30 minutes a couple days each week.
I explained I try to swim 2 to 3 times each week for 60 to 90 minutes,and my workout is prepared by MO, ya'll might recognise that name. They asked me the distance I cover in that time and I responded with 2800 to 3500 yards or 1.5 to 2 miles depending on time.
Not good enough according to the staff. I should be walking. I will let the facts stand for themselves.
Age 48
Wt 149
BP 120/80
Pulse 60
Body Fat 18%
Total Cholesterol 194 (need to eat better)
Well it is off to the pool for another MO workout. Maybe I will walk briskly from my car to the pool and see if that counts. Thanks for those workouts MO I enjoy them.
Have a great day
Paul
I find this disturbing. I laugh when I hear the most you can expect of some Americans is a 30 minute walk 3 X weekly.
I'm not that old and when I was growing up athletics meant more than walking. Now walking is exercise.
Bug:
My point was only that whereas once exercise was considered active, energetic activity, we now are being told the most we should expect is a stroll around the neighborhood thrice weekly.
I've wondered myself lately about this statement that you don't need as much exercise as originally thought. What does this really mean? I think it means that unless you want to be a bedridden tub of lard it is good for you to walk to the Krispy Kreme as opposed to order in.
Sounds good to me. Give up the swimming for a 20-30 minute brisk walk and in a year the stats will look like this.
Age 49
Wt. 160
BP 140/90
Pulse 70
Body Fat 22%
Total Cholesterol 208
With all numbers on the rise!
:)
It is my experience that people who don't swim, tend to compare the distaces to walking/running the same distance - which we all know is silly. Heck, I have friends who run 3 miles a day who told me that I couldn't do it (I swim 3-5 days a week 3000-4000 yards per day). So I proved them wrong. I ran three miles - immediately after swimming 2400 yards!
They think I am lying, because swimming can't do that!
I agree with Tom, get another Doc. My Doc who is a runner, and a good one, is very impressed with the yardage I do. He would never tell me to walk instead.
Some people who don't swim picture swiming as a lazy float down the pool and back. Possibly this is what your doctor visualizes? Your workout sounds plenty aerobic to me. My doctor, who swims a bit, thinks the fact that I swim is wonderful - says I have excellent blood pressure, chlolesterol, etc, and that I should keep up what I am doing. And so should you! :-)
Originally posted by jean sterling
Some people who don't swim picture swiming as a lazy float down the pool and back. Possibly this is what your doctor visualizes?
Just what i was thinking.
I tell my doctor... No, I don't just bob around, I swim "competetively". That usually gets the point acorss.
It's job security, with numbers like those - you won't be using the doctors services very much - so of course they are going to want you to change things (any MD's out there I'm being sarcastic). Finding another doctor (if possible, not sure of your situation) sounds like some good advice. I know the doctor who treated my father (blind juvenile brittle diabetic on 3 x's a week dialysis,later on 1 leg amputee below the knee) would advise that my dad give up water skiing. The Dr's actual converstaion would be something to the effect of, well I don't think you should do this, but I all ready know that you are so this is what I think we should do to prevent causing some injury or complications should you fall while skiing. So if possible go find a doctor who understands swimming (IMHO).
Keep Swimming !
Jeff
