In cycling, it is a widely held view that losing weight yields faster times (yes, I read the steroid thread). How about in swimming?
I could imagine a theory where carrying a few extra ice cream sundaes in swimming might make you faster due to the increase in bouyancy. In fact, I had this very theory after my freshman year in college. Hey! Who doesn't like ice cream.
Having suffered two separate broken wrists in the last two years, my case could be used as a decent example. I was in fairly decent shape before each of the accidents (LCM Nat's '04 weight was 185), but the subsequent inactivity coupled with my 6-9 meal/day grazing-style eating habits and fattened me up pretty good (~215 and ~205 respectively) by the time the plaster was sawed off.
After each accident, which occurred in fall 04 and summer 05, I was out of commission for about 6 weeks, then started doing legs in the weight room and kicking in the pool (waterproof cast). Then would work my butt off to get in good shape in time for SCY Nats.
13 Months after the last break, I am the fastest I have ever been, but my weight has yet to get lower than the 191-194 range. Its pretty heavy for a swimmer, but I am also the leanest I have been since a kid.
While I agree with previous posts about having bettered technique over time, the last two years have produced nearly all my lifetime bests, and these have all been MASSIVE time drops, even for the 100s. This all leads me to believe that when it comes to weight/fat and speed, its not the fat or the weight - its the muscle. I weigh more, but have less fat (and muscle weighs more than fat). That extra muscle I put on got me through the pool faster.
Make sure you wear a helmet!!
Having suffered two separate broken wrists in the last two years, my case could be used as a decent example. I was in fairly decent shape before each of the accidents (LCM Nat's '04 weight was 185), but the subsequent inactivity coupled with my 6-9 meal/day grazing-style eating habits and fattened me up pretty good (~215 and ~205 respectively) by the time the plaster was sawed off.
After each accident, which occurred in fall 04 and summer 05, I was out of commission for about 6 weeks, then started doing legs in the weight room and kicking in the pool (waterproof cast). Then would work my butt off to get in good shape in time for SCY Nats.
13 Months after the last break, I am the fastest I have ever been, but my weight has yet to get lower than the 191-194 range. Its pretty heavy for a swimmer, but I am also the leanest I have been since a kid.
While I agree with previous posts about having bettered technique over time, the last two years have produced nearly all my lifetime bests, and these have all been MASSIVE time drops, even for the 100s. This all leads me to believe that when it comes to weight/fat and speed, its not the fat or the weight - its the muscle. I weigh more, but have less fat (and muscle weighs more than fat). That extra muscle I put on got me through the pool faster.
Make sure you wear a helmet!!
