MUCH TO MY DISMAY

[lilkoreangirl]

I was under the misconception that swimming is great cardio and helps you burn fat because while doing it you’re using virtually all body parts. According to a few resources this is untrue. It’s good for individuals in a rehabilitative (easy on the joints) manner. It’s good for individuals looking to exercise their hearts. It works against those looking to burn fat for the following reasons (pulled from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swimming) :
· Water cools the body much faster than air and most researchers believe that subsequently the body aims to maintain a layer of fat under the skin for insulation.
· It is believed that appetite decreases as the body temperature increases, as for example during exercise. However, during swimming the body is cooled down almost instantly as the surrounding water is usually cooler than the body temperature, and some researchers believe that this may actually increase the appetite. This assumption is not yet proven by research.
· Fast swimming requires a high level of effort, meaning glycogen rather than fat is burned. Prolonged exercise at lower intensity is better for fat-burning.
· Some researchers also believe that the metabolism of the body increases at higher body temperature, burning more food energy. Again, during swimming the body is cooled down by the surrounding water, reducing the metabolism, and subsequently the amount of food energy burnt. This assumption is also not yet proven by research.
· There is also a theory that people with a genetically higher body fat content tend to be more successful as swimmers since the increased buoyancy of the fat aids in floatation or the rounder shapes offer less resistance to the water.
Now ain’t that a bitch. Here I was dieting like a madwoman, weights, cardio (swimming) and nada. Has anyone else heard of this???
LKG

 

[asim]

Good old fashioned cardio on bikes, treadmill and cross trainer is the way to go, if cardio is even required.

 

[lilkoreangirl]

Walking. Walking. Walking my ass off. So far, that's the only thing showing me anything...which works for me.

 

[bulldog21]

Walking. Walking. Walking my ass off. So far, that's the only thing showing me anything...which works for me.

Interval training works well too, it is a good way to burn fat as well IMO....

 

[marshall]

brisk walking (low impact) is best for cardio imo, and stay tight with your diet plan.

 

[Big_K]

I would advise against using Wikipedia as a single reference source, it can be somewhat unreliable. I can think of at least one way to refute all of those claims off hand.

Any cardio will help you lose fat, some better than others. I've never seen a regular swimmer who didn't look pretty good.

 

[Steak Helmet]

If you swim, wear those resistantance gloves and fins...so you can cause more stress on the muscles. the gloves are webbed and so are the shoes for added resistnace in the water, and make sure you kick the hell out of your legs. I see tons of swimmers that rely on their upper body too much

 

[thebrick]

A brisk walk is the best for me to burn fat. The long.... slow.... burn... is the most effective IMO

 

[Sesshomaru]

Most people do way more cardio than they need to.

 

[Big A]

I would advise against using Wikipedia as a single reference source, it can be somewhat unreliable.

Agreed. There's so much wrong stuff in Wikipedia is ridiculous. Any moron can put information up on it.

 

[homonunculus]

I was under the misconception that swimming is great cardio and helps you burn fat because while doing it you’re using virtually all body parts. According to a few resources this is untrue. ......


Now ain’t that a bitch. Here I was dieting like a madwoman, weights, cardio (swimming) and nada. Has anyone else heard of this???
LKG

Yep:
1. Gwinup, G. Weight loss without dietary restriction: efficacy of different forms of aerobic exercise. Am J Sports Med. 15:275-279, 1987.

Since obese patients with orthopaedic disabilities are often advised to undertake swimming as a part of a weight loss program, the effect of swimming on body weight was systematically studied. Minimally to moderately obese, otherwise healthy young women seeking to lose weight through a program of exercise without dietary restrictions were randomly assigned to one of three groups in which only the type of daily exercise was different. The three types of exercise were brisk walking, riding a stationary cycle, and swimming laps in a pool. All women slowly but progressively increased the time spent in daily exercise to 60 minutes. After 6 months or slightly longer, the women assigned to walking lost 10% of initial weight, the women who cycled lost 12%, but the women who swam lost no weight. The thickness of the subcutaneous panniculus over the middle of the extensor surface of the upper arm was measured using a Lang skin-fold caliper (Graham Field Co, New York, NY) and showed equivalent substantial reductions in the walkers and cyclists, but no change in the swimmers. The results of this study show that both walking and cycling are effective methods of reducing body fat, but that swimming is not.

-Randy

 

[STORM SHADOW]

I would advise against using Wikipedia as a single reference source, it can be somewhat unreliable. I can think of at least one way to refute all of those claims off hand.

Any cardio will help you lose fat, some better than others. I've never seen a regular swimmer who didn't look pretty good.

I have never seen a lean regular swimmer. lilkoreangirl is actually correct in that swimming in cool pools lowers the metabolism... she didn't mean cals burned during swimming which does take energy. The body likes to be at higher temps to burn fat fast... water strips heat away from the body too fast to be effective. Also reg swimmers body tries to protect itself from cooler temps by holding more fat similar to peeps in high temps body sheds fat to keep the body cool.

Now this is not part of the cryonic method to fat burning which is totally different and it does work. Laying in a tub of ice water until the body chills and the shakes start... when the contractions begin the body will do all it can to raise the core temp costing alot in energy = cals burned. But... pfffffffft who's going to do that when you can just get on a treadmill and read a book? lol

To take lilkoreangirl's point further... to continue fat burning when that is the goal of the person... one should always avoid cold fluids... I know it sucks but it does rapidly slow metabolism until core temp revs back up.

Is swimming good for cardio? it's awesome! is it good for muscles? like totally! is it great for therapy? you bet! is it a great fat burner? nahhhhhh not really. The biggest problem with swimming (the average person that doesn't compete in swimming), it's too anaerobic. It's best to stay in the aerobic zone for 35 mins and above with a heart rate of 135 bpm and up... can you swim for 35 mins non stop with your heart at 135 bpm? most would poop out in less than five because it turns anaerobic and the body peeters out.

THE STORM

 

[strongmind]

Walking. Walking. Walking my ass off. So far, that's the only thing showing me anything...which works for me.

LKG,

High intensity interval training (HIIT) cardio is good for fat loss because it helps get your heart rate up, so try playing around with speeds and inclines on the t-mill, if walking is your cardio of choice. Helps alleviate boredom too.

Unfortunately it's a little harder for us women in the fat loss department. You have to elevate your heartrate and WORK. Flat walking at a steady pace is probably good if you're trying to maintain your weight, but for fat loss, I would up the intensity a little.

But, then again, it also depends on your goals and where you're at right now. And it also depends on your body, so experiment a little. You'll soon learn what works for you and what doesn't.

Oh, and btw, if you ENJOY swimming, you shouldn't stop doing it. It you find something you enjoy, you'll do it consistently. And consistency is the key!!

Good luck!!

 

[STORM SHADOW]

LKG,

High intensity interval training (HIIT) cardio is good for fat loss because it helps get your heart rate up, so try playing around with speeds and inclines on the t-mill, if walking is your cardio of choice. Helps alleviate boredom too.

Unfortunately it's a little harder for us women in the fat loss department. You have to elevate your heartrate and WORK. Flat walking at a steady pace is probably good if you're trying to maintain your weight, but for fat loss, I would up the intensity a little.

But, then again, it also depends on your goals and where you're at right now. And it also depends on your body, so experiment a little. You'll soon learn what works for you and what doesn't.

Oh, and btw, if you ENJOY swimming, you shouldn't stop doing it. It you find something you enjoy, you'll do it consistently. And consistency is the key!!

Good luck!!

Agreed... if a person loves to swim.... SWIM!!!!!! it has nothing but benefits!
I would even say BB'ers should take it up as it stimulates muscles that would not be worked in the gym. Check the Delts on Olympic swimmers... OMG

What turns me on is Female Speed Skater's legs.... grrrrrrr ok cold shower time.

THE STORM

 

[Campeon]

yes its true...the cool water sourrounding the body means you can't burn fat off as much...but i like swimming because it works the entire body whereas the treadmills just pump the legs...

 

[lilkoreangirl]

Thanks...

Thank you all for the insight. I do love to swim and will probably continue doing it just because of all the other benefits related.

In response to StrongMind, I'd rather be breaking a sweat and actually feel like I'm doing something than simply pacing around my neighborhood expecting results to come--I'll definitely kick it up a notch.

SteakHelmet - I totally use webbed gloves and recommend them to anyone looking to further intensify their swimming cardio. It really works your back and shoulders so much more. Also, for even more, don't kick while you swim; bring a kickboard with you for after to make sure you even if out...

LKG

 

[PHIL HERNON]

I KNOW THIS MIGHT NOT HELP BUT....

You have a really nice looking face.

 

[PHIL HERNON]

LUCIAN

NO OFFENSE!!!!

 

[lilkoreangirl]

From what I've heard about you from Lucian, I'll take that as a very nice compliment, thank you....none taken at all

lkg