Hello folks,
I'm 20 years old and have been swimming occasionally in the last years -- sometimes twice a week, sometimes not even one time in months.
Last week I've enlisted in a local swimming club. I'm going to train three times a week, one time for 1 1/2 hours, the other ones for one hour. The emphasis of our training is put on front crawl. Besides this I'm doing martial arts.
Due to the fact that I've done sports regularly for years, I consider myself as being in good form. So the primary cause for me to go swimming is simply because I like being in water.
Do you think that swimming helps in increasing the chest's size?
I wasn't 100% certain if you are talking for female or male (sorry). The ideal male form usually calls for a very broad chest, and narrow hips/waist. I have always noticed that swimmers can have decieving bodies, compared to other sports. The most muscular and "toned" bodies in the pool are not always or even often the fastest. Either way, I have always tried to incorporate some resistance training (usually stretch cords or bands) as well as body weight resistance (puch ups, cruches, pull ups) to supplement the swimming I do. I stay away from free weights as I am somewhat injury prone doing them. I would assume a similar regimen would work well for any female as well not wanting to "bulk up" but rather just stay in good shape.
can swimming increase my chest's size?
possibly
but weight lifting is what will make your chest bigger
exercises like:
bench press: incline, flat and decline
pec fly's
work your back muscles for symmetry
lat pull
row
work your arms for more symmetry
good luck
ande
Hello folks,
I'm 20 years old and have been swimming occasionally in the last years -- sometimes twice a week, sometimes not even one time in months.
Last week I've enlisted in a local swimming club. I'm going to train three times a week, one time for 1 1/2 hours, the other ones for one hour. The emphasis of our training is put on front crawl. Besides this I'm doing martial arts.
Due to the fact that I've done sports regularly for years, I consider myself as being in good form. So the primary cause for me to go swimming is simply because I like being in water.
I also like the body most swimmers got. And the only thing I dislike about my body is that -- compared to my waist -- my chest is pretty slim. Do you think that swimming helps in increasing my chest's size?
Yours
Fulli, Austria
Former Member
If the goal is to increase the size of the chest cavity (skeleton) - it is probably too late. The broad, deep chest of many swimmers is probably developed during the growth years when the bones are still growing.
If the goal is to develop larger chest muscles ("pecs") then swimming can probably help. But swimming rarely develops overtly muscular pecs. Benjamin Wilman-Tobriner has a cut, developed chest. Phelps is fairly typical of elite swimmers.
Some of a swimmer's chest size is probably really due to large lats (middle and upper back).
Note I am not a doctor nor an expert in physiology.
Former Member
Thank you for your answers so far.
Former Member
Swimming tends to increase the chest size. After being out of the pool for a while, I started swimming to get in shape for my wedding. It was a poor choice because I bulked up a bit in the chest/shoulder area and caused all sorts of problems with my wedding dress measurements, they had to alter it.
So, if you work hard and swim a lot - more than likely you will see some increase in muscle mass in that department.
Have fun!
Former Member
You're really asking about bodybuilding. Look into it.
But as hofffam put it, most swimmers probably got their broad chest in their childhood and youth.
Wait, you're 20 and giving up on a big chest?
When I was 20 I was benching 195. When I was 25 I was benching 325 and got stretch marks.
bone structure and chest cavity is largely genetic. Bone density can be improved, but I don't know of a link between swimming and "chest cavity" size. The muscle stacked on top is up to you.
IMO swimming will develop EVERYTHING. Posterior and anterior, upper and lower.
Wait, you're 20 and giving up on a big chest?
When I was 20 I was benching 195. When I was 25 I was benching 325 and got stretch marks.
almost same thing for me too. I swam until I was 21 weighed roughly 176-180lbs and was maxing around 225 flat and 275 decline.
at age 25 I was able to max at 335lbs but weight closer to 195lbs.
I'm 34 now and haven't done any real workouts with weights in over 2 yrs, as I am trying to get smaller these days, but I do go in from time to time for my "disco" workouts, I can still put up 90lbs dumbells on the bench and 80lbs dumbells in shoulder press.
as far as getting bigger with swimming. I can't say that I have notice that Ihave gotten bigger since I started swimming again 2 yrs ago, but you can see my muscles now, the fat around the chest and shoulders area so going away, my collar bones are starting to be visible. and I had to buy new dress shirts, since they were way too loose around the neck.
