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.
Former Member
I know that's your point, but I still disagree with it.
Anyway, neither Marilyn Monroe nor Hilary Duff swam/swims competitively, so I guess we're off topic here.
OK..Esther Williams! ;)
Former Member
I've gone from 193 at Thanksgiving to 178.5 as of this morning. I am eating what I like. I have a little belly blubber but it is good for buoyancy....
Are you now weighing yourself down to the tenth like ande? Great job on the weight loss though. I'll try to capture the new you at zones if I attend -- to watch only of course.
Most masters swimmers are just fatter than masters runners or tris. Fact of life.
Thin is better than fat, but an athletic body is best.
Former Member
For Newmastersswimmer perhaps we should add a stand up comedy and/or karaoke to Lindsay's aquatic festival?
I don't know Karen....Rich is a better standup comedian than me. There are a "few" things British people are good at I suppose LOL! (just j/k of course)...but think of John Cleese for example. I will play guitar perhaps...and Karaoke sounds cool too....only I will leave it to the actual singers out there to participate in that one LOL!
Newmastersswimmer
Former Member
Are any of us ever happy with our bodies, I mean really? After giving birth twice (1993 & 1996), I have a permanent "mommy belly". I say it's permanent because I can't make it go away--tried personal trainers, exercise classes, videos, fad diets, etc. For the most part, I'm lean and trim, but I would love to lose the mommy belly (and 15 lbs.--I'm a girl, I always want to lose at least 10...).
If my FSII kneeskin is any judge, I guess I have thunder thighs (who are they kidding with the super tight band at the bottom?). If my husband heard me say that he would freak.
Last night I went to the kid's spring clinic dry land workout. What a blast! These kids were complaining after a few crunches and leg lifts. One would think they had never worked out before by the time we started 10 minutes of step-up leg lifts. All of them have zero body fat and a 20-25 year handicap on me, but I was the one making all the reps and keeping pace without complaining.
Am I a "fat" swimmer? Maybe, but my FS sucks in my mommy belly (referred to elsewhere as "jiggly parts") and camoflages my thunder thighs, so I like to think of myself as a "phat" swimmer. :wiggle:
Dana
Ok, so my affinity for Twizzlers and Cold Stone "mud pie mojo" isn't helping, but every once in a while we all deserve a little reward for all the hard work we put in.
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.
Former Member
There is a way to trick your body into burning it. I'll have to to try and find my research.
Slowswim-
Please do. I love playing tricks. Gotta keep 'em guessing! (SS--that's PLAYING tricks--not turning them. No dirty PMs!:laugh2: )
Seriously though, I would love the info if you can find it.
Thanks!
Former Member
(SS--that's PLAYING tricks--not turning them. No dirty PMs!:laugh2: )
*GASP*
What kind of guy do you thinkI am?? :thhbbb:
Former Member
Since Donna often loses power where she now lives, I'll answer for her. Not sure why the word "qualify" needed to be in quotes ...
She was a 1968 Olympian swimming for the United States. Her specialty was backstroke. Donna was also featured in the last issue of USMS magazine. She's a distance swimmer now.
I'm not trying to associate Donna w/ a thread entitled "fat" swimmers, but since it was mentioned here is a great article.
Yay Donna - You are an inspiration to us all. :woot:
www.marrder.com/.../travel.html
It's a rare woman whose body doesn't change at least somewhat after having 3 kids (1992, 1994 and 2000 for me).
Beth McGee has the skinniest legs ever. But I thought most female swimmers had thunder thighs?
My secret nemesis is really fast, tall and skinny too.
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?
