In the False Start thread we got off on a tangent about fat and thin swimmers. I'd like to start a thread about this topic.
Since having my three children (2000, 2002, 2004) I have struggled with losing that belly. My husband, Mr. Exercise Physiologist, guesses I have about 15 pounds in my stomach. The rest of me is back in shape, the extra weight is just in my tummy. And boy do I feel it in the water. I equate it to carrying a 15 pound weight. That's a lot to swim with!
That being said, I get a physical every year (cancer runs in my family, I found out a few years ago). My NP said that my BP (104/62) and HR (56 resting) were good. And to my surprise both my HDL and LDL were really good (I don't remember the numbers). My blood cell counts were good, yaddy, yaddy, yaddy.
My point is that even though I'm 15-20 pounds overweight I'm REALLY healthy. She's never suggested that I need to lose weight. However, as a swimmer, the benefits of losing it are obvious. I'd swim faster.
The fastest FEMALE Master's swimmers I've seen are super thin, but not anorexic (sp?). Laura Val, Alison Zamanian, Laureen Welting, Beth McGee, Karlyn Pipes-Neilson, etc. are all really trim and super fast. Now, I'm not saying that if you're skinny, you're automatically fast... I've just noticed that thin, talented swimmers seem to swim the fastest. I don't consider myself in either category, so these are just my observations.
I've noticed that most swimmers, male and female, are in pretty decent shape below the waist-line. If you swim even 3x a week, how can your legs not be in shape with all of those pushes off the wall?
I think of thunder thighs as muscular thighs. I think another forumite commented somewhere that excessive kicking could cause thunder thighs. My 1994 daughter says that a lot of USS swimmers have "thunder thighs." They don't look overweight at all, just strong.
In my experience or voyeurism, it appears to me that men have more stomach issues and women have the "pear" issues. Just generalizing, of course, many exceptions. We all know of course that Muppet has the 8 pack abs. It's so hard to keep up with him ...
I think genetics is a big issue too.
Can't wait to see FlyQueen in her prom dress. Jules and I purchased the same suit recently and we will have to do a twinsy photo.
I've noticed that most swimmers, male and female, are in pretty decent shape below the waist-line. If you swim even 3x a week, how can your legs not be in shape with all of those pushes off the wall?
I think of thunder thighs as muscular thighs. I think another forumite commented somewhere that excessive kicking could cause thunder thighs. My 1994 daughter says that a lot of USS swimmers have "thunder thighs." They don't look overweight at all, just strong.
In my experience or voyeurism, it appears to me that men have more stomach issues and women have the "pear" issues. Just generalizing, of course, many exceptions. We all know of course that Muppet has the 8 pack abs. It's so hard to keep up with him ...
I think genetics is a big issue too.
Can't wait to see FlyQueen in her prom dress. Jules and I purchased the same suit recently and we will have to do a twinsy photo.
