I just recently started swimming. I am 57, a *** cancer survivor, but was always one to exercise until January when I tore a cartidge in my knee. In search of exercise I could do and not affect my knee, I tried swimming laps and absolutely love, love, love it! I am a pretty good swimmer, but have trouble breathing. I have been swimming for about an hour, three times a week for three months. I feel much stronger as a swimmer now, but can't seem to get past the "can't catch my breath" feeling. Any suggestions would help! Thanks
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Former Member
"... let your body get used to swimming, used to the way the oxygen is delivered. Around the 200 mark for me is when it gets a whole lot easier and more effortless."
This is very much the way I have to proceed too.
"... slow exhale breathing naturally"
That description I like too. The first time I read the one sentence from Matt I thought it was real good but the next time I took it more literally. I don't think exhalation is constantly uniform (if that is what was meant) except maybe when I am sprinting or tired. I breathe less at the beginning of each lap so I don't have enough air or need to exhale much continuously and when I'm not breathing every stroke the exhalation is a lot less continuous than when I am. I believe most of us have natural bursts of exhalation. I think one reason I breathe better on my right side in freestyle is because, for some reason, I exhale better and stronger just before I breathe in. When I breathe on the left side, I have trouble blowing out before I breathe in so I don't seem to take in as much air. I suspect this could be asthma related even though it's the same whether my left nostril is blocked or the right is blocked (often one of them is blocked - both blocked is really bad news).
"... let your body get used to swimming, used to the way the oxygen is delivered. Around the 200 mark for me is when it gets a whole lot easier and more effortless."
This is very much the way I have to proceed too.
"... slow exhale breathing naturally"
That description I like too. The first time I read the one sentence from Matt I thought it was real good but the next time I took it more literally. I don't think exhalation is constantly uniform (if that is what was meant) except maybe when I am sprinting or tired. I breathe less at the beginning of each lap so I don't have enough air or need to exhale much continuously and when I'm not breathing every stroke the exhalation is a lot less continuous than when I am. I believe most of us have natural bursts of exhalation. I think one reason I breathe better on my right side in freestyle is because, for some reason, I exhale better and stronger just before I breathe in. When I breathe on the left side, I have trouble blowing out before I breathe in so I don't seem to take in as much air. I suspect this could be asthma related even though it's the same whether my left nostril is blocked or the right is blocked (often one of them is blocked - both blocked is really bad news).
