Swimming?

lampshadebrown

Any tips on starting out swimming for fitness?

Ive got a three month pass for a really good deal for unlimited swimming. But ive never done swimming for fitness before.

Mr_Singleton

How's your swimming generally? what size pool are you using? how busy is the pool likely to be?

If your budget stretches to it then a Garmin Swim is worth it to log your drills and see your progress.

Mr_Singleton

Dork_Lard wrote: »

Swimming is IMO the best way for an unfit (or fat) person to get fit (or slim)..

Don't really agree with that. Walking or a C25K depending on your level of fatness.

miffedatparkingcharge

Have a look at www swimming org (you need to fill in the two dots)

They have a 'myswimfit' page that offers plans to follow at various levels of ability (free). Good luck.

FBaby

My only tip is to be prepared to go regularly, ideally more than once a week. I started swimming for fitness 18 months ago. I couldn't even do one pool length of the front crawl then and absolutely hated it, but that made it the perfect challenge to prove myself I could learn to enjoy something I had hated all my life. It only took about 6 go before I could do 40 length without stopping and then up to 100.

I have been going 2 or 3 times a week since and it is hard to believe that there was a time I struggled with just putting my head under water, I now love it, which has proven especially enjoyable when snorkeling in a lovely places.

lampshadebrown

Mr_Singleton wrote: »

How's your swimming generally? what size pool are you using? how busy is the pool likely to be?

If your budget stretches to it then a Garmin Swim is worth it to log your drills and see your progress.

I am an OK swimmer, generally I only swim when I am on holiday. But I would consider myself a beginner. My technique isnt great. The pool is 50m.

lampshadebrown

miffedatparkingcharge wrote: »

Have a look at www swimming org (you need to fill in the two dots)

They have a 'myswimfit' page that offers plans to follow at various levels of ability (free). Good luck.

Thank you I will check it out!


EDIT - Wow, this site is fantastic, i love it thanks!

lampshadebrown

FBaby wrote: »

My only tip is to be prepared to go regularly, ideally more than once a week. I started swimming for fitness 18 months ago. I couldn't even do one pool length of the front crawl then and absolutely hated it, but that made it the perfect challenge to prove myself I could learn to enjoy something I had hated all my life. It only took about 6 go before I could do 40 length without stopping and then up to 100.

I have been going 2 or 3 times a week since and it is hard to believe that there was a time I struggled with just putting my head under water, I now love it, which has proven especially enjoyable when snorkeling in a lovely places.

Thanks, the pool is a two minute walk behind my house, so I'm hoping to go for a quick swim after work. How did you manage to improve? Did you follow a specific training plan?

Im worried I will get bored without having specific goals and drills but I don't know where to start.

miffedatparkingcharge

Ok, for the first couple of sessions or so, just get in there and enjoy. Can you one work on set such as 2xbreaststroke, 2xbackstroke, 2xfrontcrawl as a warm up?
Work for 4-6 lengths if you can, (if not work 2 lengths). Rest. Repeat. Think about your breathing (v v important, I see many holding people their breath).
The website will give drills and goals from beginner to advanced - or is there any scope to have a lesson at the pool?
I find regular swimming is works fantastically on my posture, breathing and eventually my shape, just consistency wavers after 2or 3 months.

miffedatparkingcharge

You have access to a 50m pool? (just re-read). WOW - Jealous, I have to drive a good 30 miles to get to one (summertime).

Also an idea, how about looking at all the swims that are now organised up and down the country? There are sponsored swims for charity or there are many outdoor/lakes events across uk and work towards one of these to keep your interest?

FBaby

How did you manage to improve? Did you follow a specific training plan?

I didn't, my initial goal was to increase the number of lengths. Then I concentrated on technique. Oddly, what I needed to do to increase my technique came naturally the more I swam.

I do now find it boring in a way, but also quite relaxing. I just go without questioning whether I want to or not and then look forward to getting into the shower (I swim in a heated outdoor pool). In the summer, I swim in the sea and that certainly brings new challenges!