Swimming without other exercise?

Hey DDL, I think this all depends on your goals and how patient you are. You can certainly lose weight and develop an improved physique swimming alone. For me at least, these things are greatly accelerated by a wieght lifting program I've done for years. (I took my body fat % from 16 to 12 in 6 weeks with a combination of 2-3 days of lifting and 3-4 days of swimming per week. I only lost 2lbs, so I built quite a bit of muscle.). A prudent lifting routine can help prevent injury by providing balance to the areas that might overdevelop through swimming alone. I also feel much stronger in the water when I lift. I strongly believe in shock value when you train, whatever your goals may be. This is easier to achieve if your workouts take place in two arenas (pool/gym or pool/bike) because you can lift heavy and swim aerobically on the same day even. Just my two-cents worth. Mike

Totally agree. Swimming makes me fat, no question. I've spoken to many other women who feel the same. I'm much bigger now as a swimmer than a runner. I must be in the minority, as I am the complete opposite. It obviously varies from person to person. I can drop weight, and keep it off swimming much faster than I can cross training--and cross training takes way more time than swimming does. It feels like I'm working harder cross training with little results than I am swimming with fast results.

No man does. -LBJ LOL, Leonard, you are as witty as ever! Great thread everyone. I was diagnosed with RA in my mid forties. I have been a swimmer since childhood, thank goodness! I knew exactly what I needed to do when I got the diagnosis. Swimming has helped me tremendously. I can certainly tell it when I have to miss a day or two. I think it does help with weight maintainance even if you don't do a lot of weight bearing exercise. Lainey

Totally agree. Swimming makes me fat, no question. I've spoken to many other women who feel the same. I'm much bigger now as a swimmer than a runner. If all I did was swim and taper for meets, I'd truly be a tank (although perhaps I'd be a better swimmer). Cross training is the ticket to good health, endorphins and staying fresh. I prefer running, biking, weights, drylands, etc. Has to be weight bearing, and I like being outside. I'm in a snit this week not cross training as I rest my legs for Geek 9:27. Oh, I'm trying yoga this season too. Against my will ... I am required to take my daughter. :agree::agree: the swimming alone maybe did it for me in my 20's but not now. i cross train with pilates and sometimes yoga. as well as weight (before i got hurt). i look huge next to the triathletes and i am not fat.

:agree::agree: the swimming alone maybe did it for me in my 20's but not now. i cross train with pilates and sometimes yoga. as well as weight (before i got hurt). i look huge next to the triathletes and i am not fat. Maglischo knows nothing about women.

Maglischo knows nothing about women. No man does. -LBJ

The "evidence" about which exercise is best to prevent osteoporosis is all over the board.As far as i know the only study done on Masters swimmers showed swimming alone did improve bone density.I know of no study saying weight lifting doesn't help bone density and no good study showing running to be better than lifting. I lift weights and spin primarily to swim faster.I hate running,but to those who don't,go for it. Swimming is my first love,but for ease of exercise I can use my Fit Ball and stationary bike while watching TV. To answer the original question,depending on your goal,swimming may be all you need.

The "evidence" about which exercise is best to prevent osteoporosis is all over the board.As far as i know the only study done on Masters swimmers showed swimming alone did improve bone density.I know of no study saying weight lifting doesn't help bone density and no good study showing running to be better than lifting. I lift weights and spin primarily to swim faster.I hate running,but to those who don't,go for it. Swimming is my first love,but for ease of exercise I can use my Fit Ball and stationary bike while watching TV. To answer the original question,depending on your goal,swimming may be all you need. I think if a person does at least three of the four strokes, he/she can get very basic all-round conditioning. Or at least back stroke and front crawl, to balance out the muscles on both sides of the torso. In a foolish moment, I recently decided to accompany my beloved cycling up a 35km mountain pass road, into a headwind, not having been on a bike for four weeks. Yes, I hurt for a few days afterwards, but not nearly as much as I thought I would. (*** stroke kick is good cross training for cycling and vice-versa.) Whenever I read of a study comparing swimming to other forms of exercise, I always wonder what the researchers mean by "swimming". Serious training, fitness swimming, paddling around at slow speeds with one's head out of the water? They never seem to specify. Maybe they don't know there's a difference. Does anyone know if resistance training with stretch cords is considered as good for bone density as weights?