Some questions about swimming's contribution to fitness
Former Member
Hi,
I am a new member here. Due to a serious knee injury (4 time dislocation), I am interested in taking up swimming. It is especially appealing as it is a low impact sport and involves all parts of the body.
How good is swimming for the heart? I know it forces my heart to work, but is it good to keep it in shape?
Is swimming good for strengthening a knee?
Lastly, swimming is the only sport/exercise I do. As a result, I assume I would have to do quite a lot of swimming to make up for the lack of other exercise. How many hours a week would I have to put in (assuming I swim constant lengths with some rest in between - or as far as I can, but not just standing in the pool).
Sorry for all the questions on my first post
Thanks
Former Member
The reason swimmer's "can't lose weight" it because of their diet.
Any form of exercise uses calories. For every 3500 calories burned more than you take in, you burn a pound of fat.
With that said, runners, bicyclists etc. exercise in a warm environment. When they exercise their body temperature raises.
Swimmers swim in a controlled environment, and have a lower body temperature while exercising.
When you exercise your body has a hunger mechanism, to replace the fuel you've spent working out - calories. For runners and bicyclists their hunger mechanism is blunted because of the higher body temperature. Swimmers don't get quite that same benefit.
Check this chart:
www.brianmac.co.uk/fatcent.htm near the very bottom.
Personally I'm losing weight just fine. I am 6'4" and weighed 185 pounds in high school. In high school I bicycled 35-50 miles 5 days a week and swam 2500-5000 yards a day 5 days a week (depending if we had 2-a-days or not).
Three weeks ago I weighed 227.5 pounds after not swimming or bicycling for several years. Now, watching my diet and swimming 5,000 yards roughly 6 days a week I am down to 222.5 pounds.
The secret? Burn more calories than you take in, it takes discipline.
