Swimming Workouts And Weight Loss – Not That Great

I was in my late 30's when I quit swimming because I started to gain weight. Not that swimming helped gain weight, of course. Because swimming was no longer good enough to keep me in shape as I got older.

I wasn't just dipping. For almost 20 years I was a serious, fast-lane swimmer 6 days a week, often 7. It really did keep me in great shape for a long time, until my metabolism started to slow down.

I'd always swim first thing in the morning, then go straight to work with a massive hunger. I was insanely hungry in the morning. Beyond hungry. I usually had my breakfast at 8 am, lunch at 9 am, and a light "afternoon snack" before 11 am which finally filled me up to make it to the meal in the evening.

I couldn't help with my freakish morning appetite. But I couldn't change my routine - morning was definitely the best time to swim when my energy level was at my highest, and the pool would be busier at any other time. Sat in the office at work all day, my stomach started to sag. So I decided to go running in the evening and also to do some weights to get rid of excess fat - that was on top of the morning swimming regime. What am I? Dedicating over 2 hours every day to fitness (that includes travelling to the pool, showering, and getting ready).

As much as I loved swimming, I realised I wasn't carrying a productive lifestyle that way. So I replaced swimming with running in the morning instead to save travelling time. Running helped me lose my excess belly fat, I guess it uses energy a bit more intensely than swimming. My body shape gradually changed (thicker thighs, thinner chest).

Benefits of Swimming Workouts

Having said all that, I'm in no way denying swimming as a means of exercise. There are many benefits.

Flexible Muscles

You use your whole body simultaneously in the water with a lot of "stretching" movements. Whereas with many other exercises, you add heavy pressure to one or two parts of your body, e.g. gym weights. Swimming workouts are really good for preventing injuries such as twisting your neck while sleeping in a bad position. I hardly ever had a stiff neck during the 20 years of my dolphin life (well, not really...dolphins don't eat toast and cereal followed by sandwiches).

Even running adds pressure to your legs and lower back. You move your leg muscles in the same way repetitively. I realised it when I was rushing down the stairs to catch a train and got cramps in my legs!

Breathing Routines

Front crawl, breaststroke, backstroke, and butterfly stroke if you do, also when you turn at the end, the timing to breathe is all different. You see, the faster and more vigorously you swim, the shorter each time breathe in and out. And as you vary the stroke styles, you naturally use different breathing techniques. Great for your lungs.

And of course, there's a higher level of moisture in the air that's good for your lungs too. That's one thing I miss when I'm running and every time a lorry or double-decker bus passes by, exhausting black fumes.

Meditation Effects

I never felt this way but everyone says it, so I'll say it. Swimming exercise allows you to destress and meditate. They say that by moving in the water, your brain produces extra endorphins to relax your system and improve your balance like Yoga.

I was always rather busy counting my laps and trying to finish within the set time, so it was stressful if anything (which was stupid). The solitary endurance game time in the water every day surely played a good part in my wellbeing? I don't know...

Swimming Workouts And Weight Loss

So as I mentioned earlier, I've found a higher level of intensity in running than swimming and much more effective in terms of losing weight. If you're looking to swim to lose weight, I'd say it may take you a long time to achieve. The immediate effect of swimming would be that;

• It makes you tired. "Feel-good" is tired, and makes you sleep well.
• It makes you hungry.

If you're suffering from a late-night snacking syndrome, you can start to swim in the evening to help you lose weight. The reason I never liked swimming in the evening was that I could never have as much energy to power-swim after a hard day of work. But that was just my preference. As long as you;

1. Swim before the meal. You'll feel too heavy to move around in the water otherwise.
2. After the swim, go home and have a light meal.
3. Go to bed fairly early. Straight after the meal like a lion if you want.

Men's Swimming Costume

Essentially I have two types for myself.  Speedo briefs for fast-lane swimming, and some pairs of shorts for leisure.  You don't want to wear baggy shorts for serious swimming, they're too flappy. Whereas you don't need the Speedo functionality for "bathing" in the sea. Unless you want to get every inch of your skin browned right to the groin!

You can wear anything if you're tall and in good physique. Otherwise tall & skinny men should wear shorts with a longer inseam, and short & skinny men should wear board shorts with a shorter inseam. Short & bigger men can wear trunks with higher cuts to make their legs look longer. Ones with vertical stripes can make them look taller too.