Getting the motivation to swim daily...

I wouldn't repeatedly do sprint training. If you want to lose weight you want to do more aerobic based training ... like 5 x 100 (or 50) with a rest interval of :05 or :10 ... mix fast swimming in too, but do some easy or moderate distance too ...

I agree with SwimminONandON. If your goal is to lose weight, your first concern would be to maintain an elevated heart rate. Just get in there and swim. Breaststroke, sidestroke, freestyle, doggy-paddle, ... whatever. First get a feel for the water. Get some minimal level of conditioning so that you can actually complete 500 (or whatever) yards without passing out. The techniques and drills and special workouts and sets and all, they can be added in over time.

Ande, thank you for your response. I can see you're a real regular around here. I just went to the gym and worked out with my personal trainer. I'll see how I feel in a few hours. If I am up to it, I'll go swim. If not, I'll go tomorrow. I only goto my personal trainer Tuesday and Thursday. I'll take ya'lls advice and just swim 500 yards. No worries, right? Best, Chris

Two more things ... One, if you just had ACL surgery you might want to stay away from breaststroke that is the hardest one on the knees ... and Two, if you are looking for a way to lose weight, I'd suggest walking and or running more than swimming ...

Originally posted by SwiminONandON Two more things ... One, if you just had ACL surgery you might want to stay away from breaststroke that is the hardest one on the knees ... and Two, if you are looking for a way to lose weight, I'd suggest walking and or running more than swimming ... I walk daily, but I can't run long - my knee can't handle it. My orthopedic surgeon said I can do anything at this point -- besides skiing and soccer. I like the breaststroke a lot. :S Best, Chris

One thing I do when trying to ramp up yardage is add 100 yards a week. So if you are swimming 3 times this week 500 yards each time. NExt week, swim 3 times 600 yards, and continue like that. IF you decide after a couple of weeks to add a 4th day, don't add more yardage that week and go a couple of weeks with the additional day, so you don't wear yourself out too quickly. I combine weight lifting and swimming. I will lift for an hour before work, and then swim on my lunch, or after work. I can definately tell that the weight lifting affects my swimming, but swimming also helps prevent soreness from the weight lifting. Another tip on how to work with the on-line work-outs. I often don't have time for the full 3500, so I break it down and will do parts of each section, or one day I will not do the kick part, and another day I don't do the drills, or I do 2 sets of Main instead of 3, or whatever. Also, don't discount rest days. They are very, very important when doing both swimming and weight lifting. Your body needs a day of just gentle stretching and nothing else, and sometimes depending on the type of week you are having, two days. Swimming helped me lose 35 pounds, and it helps me maintain it, and I am a middle age woman, and mother of two! Good luck, and be persistant, that is what it takes.

Ask the surgeon about the affect of breaststroke on the knees. I was just at the surgeon the other day and there was something on the wall about it but it's not my stroke so... Motivation is very personal and specific to the individual. You refrained from discussing the root cause of your anxiety but whatever it is you'll have to overcome it in order to make progress. You will lose fat, but not much weight, because muscle weighs more than fat and you will be building muscle as you lose the fat. Ask your trainer about it.

Originally posted by PeirsolFan Ask the surgeon about the affect of breaststroke on the knees. I was just at the surgeon the other day and there was something on the wall about it but it's not my stroke so... I didn't go swimming tonight because I was too sore from working out. I will call my surgeon tomorrow and ask. Motivation is very personal and specific to the individual. You refrained from discussing the root cause of your anxiety but whatever it is you'll have to overcome it in order to make progress. My anxiety is stems from paranoia. It's complicated, I don't really want to get into it here. I'll talk to my psychotherapist about it. You will lose fat, but not much weight, because muscle weighs more than fat and you will be building muscle as you lose the fat. Ask your trainer about it. That's what I am looking to do. :) Best, Chris

Originally posted by dorothyrde One thing I do when trying to ramp up yardage is add 100 yards a week. So if you are swimming 3 times this week 500 yards each time. NExt week, swim 3 times 600 yards, and continue like that. IF you decide after a couple of weeks to add a 4th day, don't add more yardage that week and go a couple of weeks with the additional day, so you don't wear yourself out too quickly. This sounds like a sound idea. I'll try that. I'll let everyone know how I feel after I go swimming tomorrow. Best, Chris

Just to echo some others: The only thing that helps me remain motivated is swimming with a group. I swam by myself for a few years, and I'd always fall out of the habit. But having a team engages me more & keeps me coming back. As for weight, when I first started with my team, I lost about a pound a week, going from 190 to 175. (And that was keeping my cupcake and beer consumption at pretty high levels.) Now, I don't lose so much, but I'm hoping that's muscle. Good luck.