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 have to agree with the guys here, looks can be deceiving. My aunt is rail thin (actually very gross thin - I'd guess less than 100lbs and 5'4") she smokes, she eats terribly, too ... my other aunt is the biggest of the 3 girls and workouts out all the time, eats VERY healthy, doesn't smoke or anything ... she is the biggest at about 5'5" and 120 lbs. She is a 2/4 ...
Also, my legs have thinned since I started swimming, they were definitely bigger when I ran ...
No kidding. My sister is 5'5" and a size 0/2. She exercises, but smokes like a fiend. Blech.
My legs were thinner running, FlyQueen. You must have some mutant gene. Swimming only burns enough calories for me if I do major engine burning. Then I'm all happy, but the shoulder isn't. So I'm still running (except not before zones).
And what about general metabolic slowdowns as you age? Those suckers happen once in awhile.
I just read the issue of Swimmers Ear, from my LMSC Potomac Valley, available on the PV website. Lots of photos. I can't say that many of the swimmers, some very very fast, were super ripped. Except for Jeff Roddin who, as we know, has 0% body fat.
I have to agree with the guys here, looks can be deceiving. My aunt is rail thin (actually very gross thin - I'd guess less than 100lbs and 5'4") she smokes, she eats terribly, too ... my other aunt is the biggest of the 3 girls and workouts out all the time, eats VERY healthy, doesn't smoke or anything ... she is the biggest at about 5'5" and 120 lbs. She is a 2/4 ...
Also, my legs have thinned since I started swimming, they were definitely bigger when I ran ...
No kidding. My sister is 5'5" and a size 0/2. She exercises, but smokes like a fiend. Blech.
My legs were thinner running, FlyQueen. You must have some mutant gene. Swimming only burns enough calories for me if I do major engine burning. Then I'm all happy, but the shoulder isn't. So I'm still running (except not before zones).
And what about general metabolic slowdowns as you age? Those suckers happen once in awhile.
I just read the issue of Swimmers Ear, from my LMSC Potomac Valley, available on the PV website. Lots of photos. I can't say that many of the swimmers, some very very fast, were super ripped. Except for Jeff Roddin who, as we know, has 0% body fat.
