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
Have any of you folks done open water swims. There it seems the fatter swimmers are usually faster. I think this is because the real buff guys (and gals) are serious triathletes often while the more blubbery ones are usually just swimmers and have much better technique.
A comment after my own heart since I am one of those blubbery ones with terrific technique (thank the Lord for that one or I would be toast). And a lot of OW swimmers carry a lot more weight than you skinny pool people do; we seem to need it as the miles go by plus a shark might think twice before taking a bite of us because we are large.
Broad: woman who is both beautiful, strong, and takes no crap from the men around her (definition is from all those old movies from the 40s and 50s). Gangsters had lots of broads.
Karen: I would be honored to swim in a Clydesdale Division as I have been called both this and an Athena here on our forum in the past. After the shock of it, I realized it was a compliment!!! And Clydesdales are beautiful even if the Geek fears this new, possible category. Especially, if some Clydesdale's can whip people's behinds in a swim race. Love that thought.:drink:
Have any of you folks done open water swims. There it seems the fatter swimmers are usually faster. I think this is because the real buff guys (and gals) are serious triathletes often while the more blubbery ones are usually just swimmers and have much better technique.
A comment after my own heart since I am one of those blubbery ones with terrific technique (thank the Lord for that one or I would be toast). And a lot of OW swimmers carry a lot more weight than you skinny pool people do; we seem to need it as the miles go by plus a shark might think twice before taking a bite of us because we are large.
Broad: woman who is both beautiful, strong, and takes no crap from the men around her (definition is from all those old movies from the 40s and 50s). Gangsters had lots of broads.
Karen: I would be honored to swim in a Clydesdale Division as I have been called both this and an Athena here on our forum in the past. After the shock of it, I realized it was a compliment!!! And Clydesdales are beautiful even if the Geek fears this new, possible category. Especially, if some Clydesdale's can whip people's behinds in a swim race. Love that thought.:drink:
