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.
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Former Member
Gerdrick - If your doc and your coach say you are fit, and like SS says, you like what you see in the mirror and feel fit and healthy, be happy.
I think it's how good you feel that's important. I'm 5'9" and weigh around 165 now. Last summer I was 30lbs heavier and was unfit, unhealthy and felt unattractive. Rather than focussing on the pounds, I focussed on eating well (Dieting for Dummies is a great book on losing weight the non-fad way) and getting moving.
I got two major learnings out of this experience: One, being fit is far more fun and rewarding than weighing less. I fit into clothes I haven't worn since Reagan was president, but I don't want to wear them anymore...they were too baggy and frumpy! Same weight as back then, but a much better body-image. Second, I haven't lost any more weight since January, but I can now comfortably fit into pants I wasn't able to even button then. My weight hasn't changed, but through swimming, it's being redistributed. Cool beans.
So if you're feeling good and are healthy, trust your body and not the scale. Let's cheer for swimming and health! :groovy::banana::groovy::banana::groovy:
Gerdrick - If your doc and your coach say you are fit, and like SS says, you like what you see in the mirror and feel fit and healthy, be happy.
I think it's how good you feel that's important. I'm 5'9" and weigh around 165 now. Last summer I was 30lbs heavier and was unfit, unhealthy and felt unattractive. Rather than focussing on the pounds, I focussed on eating well (Dieting for Dummies is a great book on losing weight the non-fad way) and getting moving.
I got two major learnings out of this experience: One, being fit is far more fun and rewarding than weighing less. I fit into clothes I haven't worn since Reagan was president, but I don't want to wear them anymore...they were too baggy and frumpy! Same weight as back then, but a much better body-image. Second, I haven't lost any more weight since January, but I can now comfortably fit into pants I wasn't able to even button then. My weight hasn't changed, but through swimming, it's being redistributed. Cool beans.
So if you're feeling good and are healthy, trust your body and not the scale. Let's cheer for swimming and health! :groovy::banana::groovy::banana::groovy:
