The State of Master Swimming.

Swimming causes me to gain weight. I would be (and have been) better off running. Fort,I can believe that swimming causes you to gain weight.I know that you gripe about it's effect on your shoulders and I suspect much of that gain is muscle.If you attack running with the intensity you put in to swimming I am sure you will be burning mega-calories and lose weight.Does running at the same intensity as swimming cause greater weight loss,maybe:is it as much fun,not in my opinion:is it harder on the joints and not as conducive to continuing for years,yes.

Also, to be fair Fortissimo, when you ran were you as sprint-centric as you are when swimming? It would be interesting to compare if you were.

Peter -- I'm afraid you'll just have to concede that running is far better for weight loss/weight control! I can't comment on running since my knees won't let me. But I have mixed cycling, running and weights in various amounts, from largely cycling-dominated (with many long aerobic efforts) about 10 years ago to almost entirely swimming + weights at present. And my own experience is that, as long as I am exercising daily with intensity for a pretty reasonable duration, my weight control efforts are determined almost entirely by the nature and amount of my food intake and not by the specific mix of exercising I was using. And apparently the "nature" of the food isn't all that important. YMMV of course, just adding one datum to the mix.

Fort,I can believe that swimming causes you to gain weight.I know that you gripe about it's effect on your shoulders and I suspect much of that gain is muscle.If you attack running with the intensity you put in to swimming I am sure you will be burning mega-calories and lose weight.Does running at the same intensity as swimming cause greater weight loss,maybe:is it as much fun,not in my opinion:is it harder on the joints and not as conducive to continuing for years,yes. I would imagine there is a lot more muscle loss with running (only) than there is with just swimming. So depending on what your goals are, I'm not so sure running is really better.

As a doctor I can say that most doctors are woefully ignorant about nutrition and energy metabolism.Also most people are ignorant as to what constitutes swimming(vs floating around,noodling,playing Marco Polo etc.) Ayup... I can believe it.

And my own experience is that, as long as I am exercising daily with intensity for a pretty reasonable duration, my weight control efforts are determined almost entirely by the nature and amount of my food intake and not by the specific mix of exercising I was using. Yea... earlier we were talking about "no exercise vs. Athletic type swimming workout" as a part of 'diet and exercise combo for weight loss, for people who are overweight' Running vs. Swimming for maximizing one's sports/athletic conditioning or optimizing muscle mass or similar is a whole different can of :worms:

As far as joining USMS, I haven't done it, yet. I'm so busted up that being competitive swimming isn't an option, my local Masters team "strongly encourages" competition so I've been hanging back and waiting to see if my shoulders and mangled knee will be able to handle any increased workout load.

I think a partnership between USAT and USMS is as natural as USA-S and USMS.Good point ... USAT + USMS makes even more sense given the overlap of people, I think. If the number of USMS members who compete in USMS meets is small, the number who then compete in USAS meets is even smaller.

Swimming causes me to gain weight. I would be (and have been) better off running. Me too. I was the same weight for 5 years, but dropped 6-7 lbs one month after running. I think a partnership between USAT and USMS is as natural as USA-S and USMS. My tri team is thinking about hosting a swimmeet and having the final event be a "splash and dash" Post meet party at the track. Those not participating in the "splash and dash," can head to the party early and cheer on the runners?!?!