This has been something I've wondered the last few years. I used to be a college swimmer, fit and trim, but the 10 years since then I've drank my fair share of beer and ate plenty of cheeseburgers. Just curious what peoples' take is on how much the extra baggage really effects swim races.
I don't really fit the swimmer mold anymore. I'm 31, 6'2", and 270lbs with a huge beer gut. I got some strange looks since the meet i was in recently was a USAS meet and I outweighed my competition by 100lbs in many cases. My first race in about 5 years i went 23.4 in the 50y free. I didn't expect to be that fast at this weight but at the same time I almost wonder if the added intertia is helping me more on the start and turns. Followed it up with a low 52 in the 100y free but I had a horrible reaction on the start and incorrect pacing. I think if i raced again today that'd be deep in the 51 range. For reference, typical non-taper times for me in college were in the low-mid 22 range at just a tick over 200lbs but I was obviously a lot stronger, younger, and doing a TON more yards at the time, that's why it makes me wonder just how much the weight is actually holding me back.
How much time do you think I stand to drop if i were 50lbs lighter? Could it be a measurable difference or something just slight? I guess I ask that to see if it'd be worth my while to drop that much weight quickly by dieting in addition to the swimming i'm doing. I don't really like dieting, and i generally eat what I want, when i want. Not gorging myself at every meal doesn't really seem to fit into my lifestyle :blush: Anyone have a similar story? "I dropped XX lbs and went XX seconds faster because of it."
Maybe it's an immeasurable, but I thought I'd ask for opinion anyway. I'm hoping it doesn't turn into a "to diet or not to diet" discussion though.
Swimming is not the optimal activity for losing weight. .
I see this comment made alot, and I've never seen it actually proven as the result of any scientific study.
The biggest factor in getting thinner is diet. This is where most of your weight loss will come from. While exercise does burn calories, it also makes you hungry. I've had non athletic friends drop dozens of pounds through nothing but proper nutrition while I swam 20k yards a week and stayed the same.
I can only relate my story, but I found success in weight loss through a low carbohydrate, high protein, moderate fat diet. Dropped 65 lbs or so over 6 months approx 6 years ago, and have managed to keep it off. My swimming performance was not optimal during the weight loss time, because as we know, you need carbs to be able to exercise, but the results on the scale kept me committed. I'm 43, 6'3", around 235 lbs (14% body fat) and eat pretty much eat what I want "within reason" on a daily basis. I also swim about 20,000 yards a week. I competed at around 200 lbs in college.
I can't say I've noticed any increase in sprint swimming performance as the result of the weight loss. My 100 back currently actually is a close to 2 seconds slower than my best as a masters, but that was swum 11 years ago and I think that is most likely the biggest factor. My 200 performance in the back and IM as well as 400 IM have improved as well as my ability to train harder (holding 2:20 for 9 x 200 scy back vs 2:40 10 years ago).
If you want to lose the weight, you need to find an eating plan the works for you. That will get you the biggest bang for the buck.
Also note, if you don't address the weight issues, you will most likely be looking at Type 2 diabetes as well as Hypertension issues by middle age. This is what finally kicked me into getting serious about the weight loss.
Swimming is not the optimal activity for losing weight. .
I see this comment made alot, and I've never seen it actually proven as the result of any scientific study.
The biggest factor in getting thinner is diet. This is where most of your weight loss will come from. While exercise does burn calories, it also makes you hungry. I've had non athletic friends drop dozens of pounds through nothing but proper nutrition while I swam 20k yards a week and stayed the same.
I can only relate my story, but I found success in weight loss through a low carbohydrate, high protein, moderate fat diet. Dropped 65 lbs or so over 6 months approx 6 years ago, and have managed to keep it off. My swimming performance was not optimal during the weight loss time, because as we know, you need carbs to be able to exercise, but the results on the scale kept me committed. I'm 43, 6'3", around 235 lbs (14% body fat) and eat pretty much eat what I want "within reason" on a daily basis. I also swim about 20,000 yards a week. I competed at around 200 lbs in college.
I can't say I've noticed any increase in sprint swimming performance as the result of the weight loss. My 100 back currently actually is a close to 2 seconds slower than my best as a masters, but that was swum 11 years ago and I think that is most likely the biggest factor. My 200 performance in the back and IM as well as 400 IM have improved as well as my ability to train harder (holding 2:20 for 9 x 200 scy back vs 2:40 10 years ago).
If you want to lose the weight, you need to find an eating plan the works for you. That will get you the biggest bang for the buck.
Also note, if you don't address the weight issues, you will most likely be looking at Type 2 diabetes as well as Hypertension issues by middle age. This is what finally kicked me into getting serious about the weight loss.
