First off I'm new here and this is my first post so if this question has been answered on a different post, sorry.
I come from a bodybuilding background and recently started swimming and liked it so much that for the summer I'm forgoing lifting for swimming. I've been swiming four times a week now for about four months and I've lost about 8 lbs - as far as I can tell it's all body fat. My question is, can I build muscle mass by just swimming or will I just be reducing body fat? Also is it possible to burn muscle? In other words could some of my weight loss be muscle loss? The reason I ask is that a couple of my friends have told me that my back is getting broader - I haven't really noticed.
I have not lifted in a year and my upper body is bigger now. No question about it. My chest, upper back, lats, tri's, are all considerably bigger. Core is much more toned as well since it is always activated during swimming.
Honestly, I when I was powerlifting and track sprinting, my legs, glutes, hams calves were ALOT bigger. You should incorporate some lower body workouts, or do alot of fin work in the pool.
Here is another truth. I swim every day and I am so sore most of the time that lifting would hurt....certainly not the muscles, but ligaments and tendons and I don't want to risk injury.
I have not lifted in a year and my upper body is bigger now. No question about it. My chest, upper back, lats, tri's, are all considerably bigger. Core is much more toned as well since it is always activated during swimming.
Honestly, I when I was powerlifting and track sprinting, my legs, glutes, hams calves were ALOT bigger. You should incorporate some lower body workouts, or do alot of fin work in the pool.
Here is another truth. I swim every day and I am so sore most of the time that lifting would hurt....certainly not the muscles, but ligaments and tendons and I don't want to risk injury.
