I'm sure many of you are already aware of this article on about.com It reviews a couple of studies that try to explain why swimmers tend to have more body fat than other athletes.
Thought if you weren't aware of the article you might find it interesting.
swimming.about.com/.../offsite.htm
Lainey
Parents
Former Member
I could be wrong (it happens far more often than I like to admit), but the % body fat thing has issues both ways. Too much is not good, too little is not good. Some runners seem to have so little that they don't look healthy. I don't know how the numbers in the article compare to the accepted standards though.
In the end, it may not matter too much. I have a friend who was a swimmer in high school and college. He's in his 40's Now he runs and swims. He is in good shape, not heavy at all, but also not too skinny. And he has a heart of gold. Yesterday his left kidney was removed - it is wrecked from cancer. He also has spots showing up on his left lung. They don't know what that is just yet. Test results are expected soon......
Swim hard. You don't know how long it will last..
I could be wrong (it happens far more often than I like to admit), but the % body fat thing has issues both ways. Too much is not good, too little is not good. Some runners seem to have so little that they don't look healthy. I don't know how the numbers in the article compare to the accepted standards though.
In the end, it may not matter too much. I have a friend who was a swimmer in high school and college. He's in his 40's Now he runs and swims. He is in good shape, not heavy at all, but also not too skinny. And he has a heart of gold. Yesterday his left kidney was removed - it is wrecked from cancer. He also has spots showing up on his left lung. They don't know what that is just yet. Test results are expected soon......
Swim hard. You don't know how long it will last..
