Looks like this site if set up for die-hard swimmers, so I hope it's ok I post here.
I'm a 34 year old male (crap - actually almost 35 :cane:), about 6'-1" and weigh about 220...I used to be pretty active with hiking and so on but moved to the Dallas area and it's just not really a hiking-friendly area. Anyway, I need to get in shape. I've got the love handles, my abs are hiding behind a layer of protective fat, and I've lost any stamina I had from my hiking days.
I would say the top drawing is a pretty good example of my body type lol:
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I joined my local 24 Hour Fitness with the intention of swimming laps to build endurance and strength and hopefully trim down in the process. I've been four times over the past week and a half or so. The first time I did four front crawl laps, second time I did five, third time I did 20, fourth time I did 30. All of these were done with brief rests/stretches between each lap. I felt totally weak and out of shape the first couple of visits. The last two I felt a lot better.
Lot of information I guess for a simple question...Am I on the right trail? Will swimming front crawls at least get my strength and stamina up and trim me up in the process?
I chose swimming because I enjoy it, I've been dealing with an on-going pinched nerve thing for some months now, and figured swimming would be a good way to reach my goals.
Thoughts?
Thank you in advance...
Parents
Former Member
Lot of information I guess for a simple question...Am I on the right trail? Will swimming front crawls at least get my strength and stamina up and trim me up in the process?
To answer your questions, yes and yes.
I grew up swimming in a household of swimmers. I gave up swimming and water polo midway thru high school b/c I was burnt out. I played football in college, and with that, I put on weight (304 lbs. at my heaviest). To lose weight after college, I began running and biking, but not swimming, b/c that meant I had to join a gym, and I was still burnt out.
I swear by swimming now. I've been back at it for almost a year, and I feel much better all around (physically, mentally, better health). Keep building up your base, set goals, break them, repeat. You'll notice that swimming will increase your lung power when hiking. It does for my jogging. I've lost over 60 pounds, and the majority of that is from swimming.
Lot of information I guess for a simple question...Am I on the right trail? Will swimming front crawls at least get my strength and stamina up and trim me up in the process?
To answer your questions, yes and yes.
I grew up swimming in a household of swimmers. I gave up swimming and water polo midway thru high school b/c I was burnt out. I played football in college, and with that, I put on weight (304 lbs. at my heaviest). To lose weight after college, I began running and biking, but not swimming, b/c that meant I had to join a gym, and I was still burnt out.
I swear by swimming now. I've been back at it for almost a year, and I feel much better all around (physically, mentally, better health). Keep building up your base, set goals, break them, repeat. You'll notice that swimming will increase your lung power when hiking. It does for my jogging. I've lost over 60 pounds, and the majority of that is from swimming.
