Missing the water

well start off easy, do 50's 100's 200's and swim for an hour each day. then make the sets longer and the time in the pool longer also. Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Kelli, I just started back after 25 years, myself. I started with 30 minutes, just freestyle and some kicking and built up from there. I did 30 minutes every other day, 3 times. Then I slowly worked up to an hour, swimming 5 days a week. I didn't want to work up faster than that because I didn't want to burn myself out. You may get there faster. There are workouts you can access on this site, and tweak them to what you feel up to doing that day, or you can search for some on the 'Net. I don't recommend using paddles for quite a while, if at all...they're hard on the shoulders and us old people need to remain in one piece ;). So, just have fun with it. I've been back at it for a whole 3 1/2 weeks and am loving it.

Good luck. I was off for 4 years, and I was swimming between 3-6 times a week for a good two months. Unfortunately, we had a death in the family, and I had a lot of things to deal with for that, so I have been back out for 2 weeks. It feels like a lot longer though. I am anticipating getting back in the water tomorrow with child like glee. I was amazed, once I got back in, how easy it was to get back in the swim so to speak.

Okay - I hope I can get a little guidance here. I have been an inactive swimmwer for the last 30 years and I miss it so. I want to get back into the "swim" of things. I am 100 lbs overweight and when I get in the water I want to know what to start with and what to do. I guess it will be like starting out as a new swimmer. Does anyone have any workout suggestions? I know it is going to be hard but its time, I have dreamt of this for the last 30 years. I have my pull bouys, my kick board, my fins, my paddles, suit, goggles and cap- I just do't know how or where to start. I always had a coach when I was younger. If anyone could please point me in the right direction I would be greatly appreciative. Thank You.:drown: Hi there! I just wanted to say that I am in the same boat. I have been a swim coach forever. I recently stopped so that I could go to medical school. I too have started working out and I am only given 30 min of adult swim at our local pool. I have found that using my zoomers to help me get a little more yardage in has helped. They actually make me work a lot harder with my legs as well. It is fascinatin how much of this sport is mental. The mental workout can sometimes be harder than the actual workout. Best wishes on your quest!

I am also in the same boat. Same all through my high school years, then stopped in college, while changing my focus to basketball to remain in shape. Since college (grad '02) I have really done...*nothing*...to remain in shape. So, recently, as in 5 days ago, I decided to give swimming another try. I haven't swam in 10 years now at least. I worked out twice this week, 1000m the first time, and 1200m the second. I know those distances are very light, but hey, I gotta start some where. My goal for now is to do 3-4 workouts per week, each time building distance and time, until I can get up above 3000m+ per workout. The main reason I wanted to do it is weight control. Since college I have gained about 40+ unwanted pounds, and I would like to get rid of it. I dunno if swimming alone can handle that, but it certainly can't hurt. Since getting back in the water though, that "feeling" has come back to me. Swimming is very much a mental sport and exercise, and I am enjoying that time spent in the water again. Anyways, good luck to you...to all of us! -Todd

Congratulations! I'm new here (duh!) but looking for similar inspiration. I swam, back in the stone ages (68-70), in high school and have done fitness swimming a few time since. When starting back (as I'll be doing this week) I find that the kickboard and buoy are my friend. They allow me to control my warm-ups and focus on thing like kick and stroke. Don't focus so much on distance at this point. Pick a length of time at first and focus on staying active for the entire time period. That's where the kickboard can help, too. Definately have goals but keep them in perspective. Sample workout for a first week from several years ago: kick 50, arms 50, 100 free or choice of stroke (if up to it), then a pyramid (I know, I'm showing my age). Follow this with "sprints", and then warm-down with the kickboard and/or buoy. Good luck.

I also miss the water. Lots or work and being married has kept me out of the pool for a while. I get back in every now and then but its never consitant. I would love to get back into competing again! I am a competative person and miss the thrill of competition. I bought some new swim suits, I think my problem is I don't have a coach pushing me. It can be tough at times when I am in that gym pool all by myself. I can't quiet afford to join a masters team at this time, which I think would help me consistantly working out. That and I seem to have a difficult time getting up early because I have a hard time going to bed at a decent time. Anyway, good luck to all of you who are thinking about or are getting back into swimming! :wave:

Wow, sounds like alot of us are in the same boat out here. Swam from 3rd grade, all thru high school and three years in college before changing to coaching. Now I'm back after a good 30 years off too. Lost 25 pounds so far in the last 6 months and have entered my first competition in the Senior Olympics here in the state of Nevada, (55 to 60 age group) in hopes of going to the Nationals next year in San Francisco. I had almost forgotten how comfortable I felt in the water.

Well...this is what I did and I have lost 34 lbs over 4 weeks so far...I started of at a comfortable distance, which was only 12 laps to begin with...I just got in there and swam until I felt I couldn't swim any more. Over the last 2 months I have SLOWLY over the weeks gotten up to 80 laps...that is 160 lengths if anyone wants to know what I think a lap is :)....The one thing that got me when I started back was breathing...I was having to breath EVERY stroke for a few weeks, then I slowly started forcing myself to do every third stroke for longer distances to where today...its not an issue. I was a little frustrated by some things I read on forums regarding weight loss and swimming...but NONE of that bull has held true for me...I watch what I eat, except one weekend day a week...and swim 5 days a week RELIGIOUSLY!

When I first started back I started with just doing what "used" to be meet warmups for me when I was younger (and slimmer, and faster...get the point?!). So basically 800 swim 400 kick 600 pull 200 stroke drill You can vary these distances and don't feel like you can't stop during any of it. Just doing that is 2000 yards, so its a good start! Just do that until you can do the whole thing without having to stop (except between the swim, kick, pull). Then go from there.