I have determined that when I swim, based on my heart rate, I am burning an enormous amount of calories. The other day, I wore my HR monitor and based on my average HR, time spent swimming, and my weight, I burned 1053 calories. Now, the next day, I ran for 40 minutes and burned 453 calories.
I have noticed that when I just swim over a number of weeks, my LDL cholesterol readings go up and my body fat goes up as well. When I just run and don't burn as many calories (according to my HR monitor) my LDL drops, my HDLs go up, and my body fat decreases. I've noticed this now over the course of 13 years.
Anybody know of any studies out there that might explain this? Why would an activity such as swimming that obviously burns a bunch of calories cause an increase in body fat?
When most of us "run," we tend to go longer distances in the aerobic zone, at or just below our lactate thresholds - and, at this rate and over extended periods, the male or female body generates the necessary energy primarily by burning fat. Some swimmers, in contrast, prefer to blast down the pool at top speeds - their heart rate might not race as high, perhaps, as when they run (in part because they are horizontal and cool, among other factors, and in part also because their sprint workouts include recovery time). In the sprint-paced swims, the body is more likely to draw energy from muscle glycogen rather than fat.
If one were to train on the track only for the 100-meter dash, and if one were to build their aerobic base in the pool - in other words, if one were to reverse their training practices - isn't it likely that the effects would be reversed?
This seems like a valid point. However, I've been doing more aerobic work in the pool lately. No difference. I was talking to a triathlete friend about this issue the other day. She said the same thing. Triathlon = skinny; swimming = fat. She said the only time she was thin swimming was when she was doing 10,000+ yards a day. Not happening! It would be theoretically interesting to maintain my same swim schedule and run 5x a week and see if that made a difference. I think it would, but that's really not possible either.
Michael, your studies compare swimmers to the average American for the most part. Not a valid comparison as the average American is overweight. Plus, it's not that the fat has "moved around." I didn't have much before, even after 3 kids. I have more now. Plus, there's the really awful mega shoulder tank effect. Hulk -- you're a body building guy. You look at things differently. It's just damn hard to convince fegirls that bigger is better.
Kristina Cream Puff is a size 2. No fat complaints allowed. Or we will have to post pics of the tight black nike tights!
When most of us "run," we tend to go longer distances in the aerobic zone, at or just below our lactate thresholds - and, at this rate and over extended periods, the male or female body generates the necessary energy primarily by burning fat. Some swimmers, in contrast, prefer to blast down the pool at top speeds - their heart rate might not race as high, perhaps, as when they run (in part because they are horizontal and cool, among other factors, and in part also because their sprint workouts include recovery time). In the sprint-paced swims, the body is more likely to draw energy from muscle glycogen rather than fat.
If one were to train on the track only for the 100-meter dash, and if one were to build their aerobic base in the pool - in other words, if one were to reverse their training practices - isn't it likely that the effects would be reversed?
This seems like a valid point. However, I've been doing more aerobic work in the pool lately. No difference. I was talking to a triathlete friend about this issue the other day. She said the same thing. Triathlon = skinny; swimming = fat. She said the only time she was thin swimming was when she was doing 10,000+ yards a day. Not happening! It would be theoretically interesting to maintain my same swim schedule and run 5x a week and see if that made a difference. I think it would, but that's really not possible either.
Michael, your studies compare swimmers to the average American for the most part. Not a valid comparison as the average American is overweight. Plus, it's not that the fat has "moved around." I didn't have much before, even after 3 kids. I have more now. Plus, there's the really awful mega shoulder tank effect. Hulk -- you're a body building guy. You look at things differently. It's just damn hard to convince fegirls that bigger is better.
Kristina Cream Puff is a size 2. No fat complaints allowed. Or we will have to post pics of the tight black nike tights!
