Lift weights, swim, and (something else) to slim down
Former Member
I have been lifting twice a week and swimming three times a week and have maintained my weight. When I started to include jogging a mile (three times a week), I dropped three pounds in one week. I started unable to jog twice without stopping (around a 1/11th mile track) but in two weeks I finished a whole mile in under 11 minutes (great for me). Anyway, losing weight is not easy so experiment to find what works best for you. You certainly must add resistance exercises to your swimming and that's a given. What you add to that combination is up to you. It's all about your willingness to make positive lifestyle changes and not making excuses or avoiding trying something new. Good luck!!!
I swam 5x/week for years, with no change in my weight. If anything it seemed to take a very gradual climb upwards, especially when I took the time to really do meets and taper. Holidays didn't help.
About 3 years ago, I started lifting weights. Nothing earth shattering, just maybe 2-3x/week using a home gym and some dumbells. At first, my weight stayed the same, then those gradual climbs upwards stopped, and I began losing weight, very slowly, maybe 1 pound a month.
About 2 years ago, I started to run. Now I was in the US Army back in the day, did my 2-mile PT test in under 11 minutes. Unfortunately, when I got out of the Army, I was so turned off from running that I completely stopped. This go-around, I started with an easy 2 miles, even run/walk combos to get me going. Eventually it was 2 miles of solid running/jogging, then I gradually increased the distance. I'm now continuing my 3x week runs, but vary it with 1 'long' day (about 12 miles now), and 2 'short' days (about 5 to 7 miles). I'm not overly concerned about my pace, maybe eventually that will be something I address.
But since I've been running, I've steadily shedded the pounds. I'm now about 20-25 pounds less than my peak (close to what I was at in college now). I continually get comments from people swimming or at work about less weight, and have had to get new clothes (definitely need to wear a belt now). My goal is to get down to what I was at when in the Army (and almost 20 years younger), not so far off now.
I swam 5x/week for years, with no change in my weight. If anything it seemed to take a very gradual climb upwards, especially when I took the time to really do meets and taper. Holidays didn't help.
About 3 years ago, I started lifting weights. Nothing earth shattering, just maybe 2-3x/week using a home gym and some dumbells. At first, my weight stayed the same, then those gradual climbs upwards stopped, and I began losing weight, very slowly, maybe 1 pound a month.
About 2 years ago, I started to run. Now I was in the US Army back in the day, did my 2-mile PT test in under 11 minutes. Unfortunately, when I got out of the Army, I was so turned off from running that I completely stopped. This go-around, I started with an easy 2 miles, even run/walk combos to get me going. Eventually it was 2 miles of solid running/jogging, then I gradually increased the distance. I'm now continuing my 3x week runs, but vary it with 1 'long' day (about 12 miles now), and 2 'short' days (about 5 to 7 miles). I'm not overly concerned about my pace, maybe eventually that will be something I address.
But since I've been running, I've steadily shedded the pounds. I'm now about 20-25 pounds less than my peak (close to what I was at in college now). I continually get comments from people swimming or at work about less weight, and have had to get new clothes (definitely need to wear a belt now). My goal is to get down to what I was at when in the Army (and almost 20 years younger), not so far off now.
