Articles about Swimming not being good for weight loss
Former Member
Hello everyone,
I recently happened to have read a few (probably misleading) articles about swimming and weight loss. I have started swimming 3 months ago as a replacement for other cardio exercises due to knee injury. I enjoy swimming greatly but also I want to lose weight.
What I read is that because of the cold water the body tends to build a layer of fat underneath the skin to heat the body... that also the body doesn't burn as much fat because the cold water keeps it from heating... and that the cold water causes the apetite to rise.
Is any of this scientific? Does it make any sense?
Parents
Former Member
...What I read is that because of the cold water the body tends to build a layer of fat underneath the skin to heat the body... that also the body doesn't burn as much fat because the cold water keeps it from heating... and that the cold water causes the apetite to rise...quote]
Lynn Cox experienced a rise in body fat % without added calories (probably subcutaneous fat) when she was acclimatizing to extremely cold water for her Arctic and Antarctic swims... but few people are swimming in water that cold. A lot of public pools are, in fact, uncomfortably warm.
I gained about 60 pounds after injuries from a car accident took away all my favorite land-based activities. About 25-30 pounds came off gradually, over a period of years, just from swimming. I've been at a plateau for a few years and have taken up running again (very cautiously) to try to get down a few pounds more, but there is no doubt in my mind that I'd have gained even more weight if I hadn't overcome my dislike of swimming and stuck with it.
...What I read is that because of the cold water the body tends to build a layer of fat underneath the skin to heat the body... that also the body doesn't burn as much fat because the cold water keeps it from heating... and that the cold water causes the apetite to rise...quote]
Lynn Cox experienced a rise in body fat % without added calories (probably subcutaneous fat) when she was acclimatizing to extremely cold water for her Arctic and Antarctic swims... but few people are swimming in water that cold. A lot of public pools are, in fact, uncomfortably warm.
I gained about 60 pounds after injuries from a car accident took away all my favorite land-based activities. About 25-30 pounds came off gradually, over a period of years, just from swimming. I've been at a plateau for a few years and have taken up running again (very cautiously) to try to get down a few pounds more, but there is no doubt in my mind that I'd have gained even more weight if I hadn't overcome my dislike of swimming and stuck with it.
