I am a returning swimmer after taking 30 years off from the sport. I am swimming for fitness primarly. I have lost 180 lbs through diet and exercise but decided to start swimming to finish my weight loss. I still have 80lbs to lose.
Typically I swim 2000-2500 yds per workout. The coach gives the team intervals that are very tight for me. Often times I get only 5-10 seconds between sets. I am having trouble catching my breath when doing freestyle. I do not have this problem if doing breaststroke or backstroke. Should I be concerned? I have been swimming for 4 months.
As a side question, I still have 80 lbs to lose, plus lots of excess skin that needs to be removed. Would this be causing drag that is slowing me down?
Thanks
Wow! Congratulations on your weight loss! That is an impressive number. I'm sure your swimming schedule will help you lose the last 80 in no time and definitely help you keep it off!!
I would probably talk to the coach and my Doctor about the breathlessness during swim sets.
You could try taking a longer rest interval and see if it helps.
I would imagine loose skin causes drag. Basically anything extra will do it.
Good luck and keep up the GREAT work!!!!
Congratulations on your incredible weight loss and keep up (down?!) the good work!:applaud: And, welcome to the USMS forums. The advice you have been given on this thread is excellent, so I am sure you will do great, if you follow it. Good luck! :cheerleader:
Cheers!
:chug:
I definitely agree with Greg, here. I know for certain that excess loose anything, be it skin or suit, will contribute to drag, and thus slow down your speed. I hope that you are seeing your primary provider every three months, and getting an EKG at least once a year, perhaps more if you become symptomatic. Are you swimming primarily freestyle, *** stroke & backstroke?
Congratulation on getting back after 30 years and being able to keep up at all. Keep working on it . You will get more speed as you go. Try some tune ups on your stroke. A lot has changed in the 30 years and you might benefit from some of the stroke changes. Also a rash guard may help keep that extra skin tucked in.
Often times I get only 5-10 seconds between sets.
If you're constantly swimming at a fast pace, I'm not surprised you're out of breath. If you're trying to stay with a group, change the distance instead of the intervals. If it's 4 x 100's on 2:00, do 4 x 75's instead. If you're getting more rest and still out of breath, then I'd see a doc.
1.) Work with your coach to adjust either the intervals or the distance.
2.) Talk to your doctor in any case. Presuming your age, the recent weight loss and diet changes, you should ensure your doctor is up to date with what you are doing before you assume you can take on tight intervals.
Safety first!
Excess skin will slow you down. Tight swimwear and consider wearing men's jammers and/or a sports bra under your swimsuit for compression and to control any flappage. Surgery to remove excess skin can be serious biz.
Make sure you are doing a full exhale on your freestyle. Sometimes on really hard sets I would hyperventilate between repeats, I would continue breathing too fast too long. Breathing into a cap helped me with that. Talk to your coach about adapting the set to accomplish the same purpose but more in line with your abilities.
Congratulations on your MAJOR accomplishment!!! Your shortness of breath could be caused by a number of things. The other posters have given some great advice.
I see that you are from Nashville. I swim with the masters group down in Murfreesboro at MTSU. Hopefully, we can meet up sometime!
The problem is that we are usually 4 or more to a lane and it hurts the flow.
In this case just sit out a 50 when you feel you need to. Just avoid using this technique as a crutch! Obviously you are supposed to be somewhat out of breath.
