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
...well, for me an inch or two of wiggle on a girl is nice and pleasing to the eye... it's all down to taste and your own hapiness with who you are.
Swimmers have good bodies even if they have a little fat on top...
No way. Look at the pictures of her from the first issue of Playboy. She was in no way huge. Yeah, she put on a little weight the final years of her life, but she definitely was never huge.
Kirk, I mean compared to today's standard for rail thin girls. MM always had "junk in her trunk" and was superly curvy...not fat.
No way. Look at the pictures of her from the first issue of Playboy. She was in no way huge. Yeah, she put on a little weight the final years of her life, but she definitely was never huge.
As an aside (sorry for the brief hijack)....back in Marilyn's day the average model or celebratie (sp) was 8% thinner than the average woman...today the average is 25% thinner.
What's this? Your waist should be double your neck circumference? Ah, hell- now I gotta start lifting weights to make my neck bigger!!! :p
Peter- I noticed your avatar was the construction of the Death Star- dun dun dun, dun du dun, dun du dun, ...(Darth Vader's march). Just put a little picture of the Pacific Masters Swimming logo next to it ;)
Ya' know at that last Berkeley meet, Kari, it was hard to tell whether the steam coming off the pool was because I was in it, or it was just FRIGGIN' cold!!!!
I can safely say it was low 50's and friggin' cold (insert freezing smiley here!).
Anyway, Kari, I'll pay you later ;)
You Kari, are the CA Girl. Blond, blue, in-shape- you're the hottie :banana:
Are you planning to go to Nationals? I thought you said you were, but I talked to two other people I haven't seen in awhile, who said they were going, but I can't remember who said what! Must have been that cold water!
I fear a real hottie would remember :thhbbb:
For men, the infallible, scientific test to determine whether you're overweight is the shoelace tie challenge: if you are sitting down and then bend over to tie your shoes and your gut gets in the way enough to cause you to exhale involuntarily then you are overweight. If you can't reach your laces, you are verging on obese. If you are wearing loafers or sandals to avoid the problem, you're probably already there.
Hey girlfriend!! I also meant to say it fun to bump into you at the meet!
Yes, it was friggin cold and I had a parka on....!!!
I'm not going to nationals, but I will be at the PMS meet this month - how about you?
By the way, the steam coming off the water was because you had just raced...:notworthy:
Throw out the scale! Seriously, the only true way to know is to get tested to see what percentage your body fat is. There is a way to measure your neck compared to your waist (I think) and this is supposed to be fairly accurate without the expense of water submersion. If I can find the link to the article I read, I will post it.
I think the best thing to do is to go by how you feel and what size clothes you wear - can you "pinch an inch"? What about "jiggly parts"? Blood pressure low? Cholesteral level low? Other blood counts normal? IMHO this is what really matters, not the number on the scale.
Everything in moderation (except swimming of course!). Exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, watch your calories, and live life to the fullest you can!
I know if you are trying to size pants you can take the waist band and put it around your neck the two ends should touch, not have a huge overlap OR have to be really stretched to touch ... so your neck should be about 1/2 the size of your waist?
