I'm 59 and started swimming laps in January. It takes me 50-60 min. to swim a mile. I swim 3 times a week. I started swimming to strengthen my back and it has certainly helped. I had also hoped to see some overall change in my body (more toned, less sag), but that hasn't happened.
Do you have to swim fast to reap the benefits of swimming?
I don't have much power in my kick and am not sure how to improve it. I've tried using a kickboard, but am not able to kick as vigorously when I swim without the kickboard.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Parents
Former Member
If you haven't started a resistance training regime in addition to your swimming, you’re short-changing yourself. Cardiovascular health and muscular fitness and strength go hand-in-hand as far as a person's quality of life is concerned. The average 70 year old man and woman cannot lift a 5lb bag of sugar off of a shelf above their head.
I think that resistance training can be accomplished with a pair of stretch-cord and a dumbbells. The swimming you're doing is great and as long as you're not trying to compete in some swim meets, master’s meets, or triathlons, you’re doing very well in the cardio dept.
I suggest that you workout opposite muscle groups and a series of twelve exercises done in a progressive manner and with the permission of your physician, will get you some great results in a matter of six of eight weeks. You will notice a feeling of greater strength in less than two weeks, - a great motivator.
The muscle groups that you need to grow are:
Stomach
Lower Back
Biceps
Triceps
Quads/ Thigh
Hams/ Back of the upper legs
Shoulders
Lats
Calf muscles -Gastrocniemius and Soleus
Chest
Upper Back
Forearms - Gripping
These exercises represent opposite muscle groups that will allow you to maintain flexibility and body symmetry. Good luck Marsky, we’re in this boat together, and nothing that you're going through hasn't been experienced by some of our brothers and sisters in this forum. Coach T.
Two websites that you can look through so you can develop your own exercise routine, - tailored specifically for you. I think you'll enjoy it.
www.exrx.net/Exercise.htmlhttp://www.exrx.net/
If you haven't started a resistance training regime in addition to your swimming, you’re short-changing yourself. Cardiovascular health and muscular fitness and strength go hand-in-hand as far as a person's quality of life is concerned. The average 70 year old man and woman cannot lift a 5lb bag of sugar off of a shelf above their head.
I think that resistance training can be accomplished with a pair of stretch-cord and a dumbbells. The swimming you're doing is great and as long as you're not trying to compete in some swim meets, master’s meets, or triathlons, you’re doing very well in the cardio dept.
I suggest that you workout opposite muscle groups and a series of twelve exercises done in a progressive manner and with the permission of your physician, will get you some great results in a matter of six of eight weeks. You will notice a feeling of greater strength in less than two weeks, - a great motivator.
The muscle groups that you need to grow are:
Stomach
Lower Back
Biceps
Triceps
Quads/ Thigh
Hams/ Back of the upper legs
Shoulders
Lats
Calf muscles -Gastrocniemius and Soleus
Chest
Upper Back
Forearms - Gripping
These exercises represent opposite muscle groups that will allow you to maintain flexibility and body symmetry. Good luck Marsky, we’re in this boat together, and nothing that you're going through hasn't been experienced by some of our brothers and sisters in this forum. Coach T.
Two websites that you can look through so you can develop your own exercise routine, - tailored specifically for you. I think you'll enjoy it.
www.exrx.net/Exercise.htmlhttp://www.exrx.net/
