New York Times magazine article on the best exercise
"Let’s consider the butterfly. One of the most taxing movements in sports, the butterfly requires greater energy than bicycling at 14 miles per hour, running a 10-minute mile, playing competitive basketball or carrying furniture upstairs. It burns more calories, demands larger doses of oxygen and elicits more fatigue than those other activities, meaning that over time it should increase a swimmer’s endurance and contribute to weight control.
So is the butterfly the best single exercise that there is? Well, no. The butterfly “would probably get my vote for the worst” exercise, said Greg Whyte, a professor of sport and exercise science at Liverpool John Moores University in England and a past Olympian in the modern pentathlon, known for his swimming. The butterfly, he said, is “miserable, isolating, painful.” It requires a coach, a pool and ideally supplemental weight and flexibility training to reduce the high risk of injury."
I swim butterfly because I'm good at it. :banana:
When I was 7, I did the 25. At 8, added the 50. 9 or 10 years old...the 100. As soon as I turned 13...:applaud: 200 Fly!!! Yippie! I was a natural.
Then came Masters swimming after a little time off (about 8-9 years) from the sport.
Day 1: Couldn't do a 25 Fly!
Couple weeks later: working towards the 50.
Almost 2 months later: Attempted a 100 in a meet...and OH BOY!! :afraid: That last 25 was a killer. Apparently it was a little tougher that I had last remembered.
It took me almost 1 full year before I could actually do a 200 Fly in a time that I considered "decent". (Most of the others thought I was good from Day 1).
1 1/2 years into Masters, I was finally able to break into the "greatness" stage of my 200 Fly, and now at 2 years...we'll just have to wait 2 more weeks to see. :D
I don't think Butterfly is the worst exercise...just an exercise that the "average joe (or jane)" can't just get in the water an do with any proficiency. It's just like any exercise or skill, it takes practice.
IMO...running is the worst exercise...and I can list my whole list of reasons, but that a whole other :worms:!!
I swim butterfly because I'm good at it. :banana:
When I was 7, I did the 25. At 8, added the 50. 9 or 10 years old...the 100. As soon as I turned 13...:applaud: 200 Fly!!! Yippie! I was a natural.
Then came Masters swimming after a little time off (about 8-9 years) from the sport.
Day 1: Couldn't do a 25 Fly!
Couple weeks later: working towards the 50.
Almost 2 months later: Attempted a 100 in a meet...and OH BOY!! :afraid: That last 25 was a killer. Apparently it was a little tougher that I had last remembered.
It took me almost 1 full year before I could actually do a 200 Fly in a time that I considered "decent". (Most of the others thought I was good from Day 1).
1 1/2 years into Masters, I was finally able to break into the "greatness" stage of my 200 Fly, and now at 2 years...we'll just have to wait 2 more weeks to see. :D
I don't think Butterfly is the worst exercise...just an exercise that the "average joe (or jane)" can't just get in the water an do with any proficiency. It's just like any exercise or skill, it takes practice.
IMO...running is the worst exercise...and I can list my whole list of reasons, but that a whole other :worms:!!
