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.
Parents
Former Member
Two things if read about swimming and women's fat (I was trying to help my wife after are daughter was...I'm not sleeping on the couch anymore, but that's another story):
1. Women's body react to the water temp by storing more fat in preparation of child birth. The assumption is that its natural as the colder temp means winter which means less food.
2. Mommy tummies are not "natural" to women it an accident during pregnancy. If memory serves it has something to do with testosterone level during pregnancy so fat is stored like a man. Since we lose fat in the opposite order we put it on, your body does know its there and so doesn't tap it. There is a way to trick your body into burning it. I'll have to to try and find my research.
Two things if read about swimming and women's fat (I was trying to help my wife after are daughter was...I'm not sleeping on the couch anymore, but that's another story):
1. Women's body react to the water temp by storing more fat in preparation of child birth. The assumption is that its natural as the colder temp means winter which means less food.
2. Mommy tummies are not "natural" to women it an accident during pregnancy. If memory serves it has something to do with testosterone level during pregnancy so fat is stored like a man. Since we lose fat in the opposite order we put it on, your body does know its there and so doesn't tap it. There is a way to trick your body into burning it. I'll have to to try and find my research.
