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?
I am enjoying this thread and want to interject a question.
How much of these results are affected by age? IOW, someone mentioned fluctuating HDL/LDL levels and other specific health markers. These can worsen with age, especially if you have a genetic component.
My weight is controlled by swimming alone. But I also know that as I age (I am 42 now), my metabolism will slow down and my health markers could worsen.
To what extend would changing up exercise (and eating right, of course) still help these factors, or does age override all?
My LDL was over 20 points lower at 37 than 29, and HDLs were 20 points higher at 37 than 29. The only thing that changed was I started running and backed off my swimming. I did not lose weight, I got older, my diet got worse, yet my cholesterol levels significantly improved.
When I got my horrible reading of 153 LDL this past June (I'm 42), I had been training hard recently in swimming for Nationals. When I got the bad reading, I started running again. Unfortunately, I only have had time to run an average of 5 miles per week. I did not change my diet. I did not lose weight. My LDLs were measured the other day and have dropped to 139.
I am not going to change my diet and will up my running to 20 miles a week starting this week. I will try to get measured in another 4 months and I bet my LDL drops 20 points. I'm still swimming the same, but adding the running to test out my theory. I'll keep y'all posted.
P.s. My diet is not horrible. I was, however, extremely good at 29, yet my levels were higher than 37 when I ate muffins, donuts, and candy bars. Have cut out how much I eat this stuff, but refuse to give it up completely. Also, I do not plan to become a vegetarian.
I am enjoying this thread and want to interject a question.
How much of these results are affected by age? IOW, someone mentioned fluctuating HDL/LDL levels and other specific health markers. These can worsen with age, especially if you have a genetic component.
My weight is controlled by swimming alone. But I also know that as I age (I am 42 now), my metabolism will slow down and my health markers could worsen.
To what extend would changing up exercise (and eating right, of course) still help these factors, or does age override all?
My LDL was over 20 points lower at 37 than 29, and HDLs were 20 points higher at 37 than 29. The only thing that changed was I started running and backed off my swimming. I did not lose weight, I got older, my diet got worse, yet my cholesterol levels significantly improved.
When I got my horrible reading of 153 LDL this past June (I'm 42), I had been training hard recently in swimming for Nationals. When I got the bad reading, I started running again. Unfortunately, I only have had time to run an average of 5 miles per week. I did not change my diet. I did not lose weight. My LDLs were measured the other day and have dropped to 139.
I am not going to change my diet and will up my running to 20 miles a week starting this week. I will try to get measured in another 4 months and I bet my LDL drops 20 points. I'm still swimming the same, but adding the running to test out my theory. I'll keep y'all posted.
P.s. My diet is not horrible. I was, however, extremely good at 29, yet my levels were higher than 37 when I ate muffins, donuts, and candy bars. Have cut out how much I eat this stuff, but refuse to give it up completely. Also, I do not plan to become a vegetarian.
