Here's my question: Should one intentionally loose muscle mass and weightlifting strength in order to be more streamlined and potentially go faster in the water? How much mass would one have to lose in order to present less resistance in the water?
Maybe on a related note: Let's say a swimmer has a muscular build, and their technique is very good, would they benefit from losing ten lbs. of extra muscle mass and maybe becoming a more streamlined vessel?
Any thoughts? :weightlifter::banana::weightlifter::banana:
losing fat and muscle = less weight, which should be easier to pull through the water, but you've got less muscle to do the pulling, are more dense (and probably lower in the water), so it takes more energy, you get tired faster and as a result, probably die (in the water) and go slower.
On the other hand, fat helps with buoyancy, which makes you float a little better, which should make it easier to pull through, except that you've got this exess weight to pull through now, so you have to get stronger, add more muscle and weight...
its a never ending circle of fitness decision hell. :doh:
I've competed at 4 SCY nationals' with four different weights and fat contents over the last several years, and I've had lifetime bests at ALL those meets. I've come to the conclusion that no matter how much appreciate the presence of abs and that swimmer V on my front side, I'll probably swim pretty fast regardless of how well defined those are. :weightlifter:
losing fat and muscle = less weight, which should be easier to pull through the water, but you've got less muscle to do the pulling, are more dense (and probably lower in the water), so it takes more energy, you get tired faster and as a result, probably die (in the water) and go slower.
On the other hand, fat helps with buoyancy, which makes you float a little better, which should make it easier to pull through, except that you've got this exess weight to pull through now, so you have to get stronger, add more muscle and weight...
its a never ending circle of fitness decision hell. :doh:
I've competed at 4 SCY nationals' with four different weights and fat contents over the last several years, and I've had lifetime bests at ALL those meets. I've come to the conclusion that no matter how much appreciate the presence of abs and that swimmer V on my front side, I'll probably swim pretty fast regardless of how well defined those are. :weightlifter:
