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Swimming, can I loose weight without changing my diet?

36 replies

Movingforward123 · 17/03/2013 20:31

I need to loose at least a stone. I have a very badly sprained ankle with torn ligaments and I want to exercise to loose weight. I don't feel able to go on a diet right now while I can't walk and im stuck at home.

But I do want to start swimming once I can walk. Just wondering if I could loose weight by swimming around 3 times per week without changing my diet. I do the breast stroke btw. Grin

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Earlybird · 17/03/2013 20:35

How long do you propose to swim for each time?

What if you ate as normal, but cut out alcohol, rice, potatoes, bread and sweets?

stargirl1701 · 17/03/2013 20:35

I did. I didn't change any aspect of my diet at all. But...

I swam 50 lengths, in a 25m pool, every day (inc the weekend). After one year I had lost 3 stones. I swam at 6am so I was hungry for breakfast afterwards. I had a banana before swimming and then fruit, porridge and toast afterwards.

It was hard work - especially in the winter Grin

notnowImreading · 17/03/2013 20:35

I don't know, but I would urge you to do whatever you can to boost your immune system when you start - 3 times a week in germ soup is asking for minor ailments and then you will just want to sit on the sofa and eat crisps (speaks the voice of experience). Good luck, though. There's nothing nicer than becoming a strong swimmer. Take vitamins. Dry your hair. Wink

BigRedBox · 17/03/2013 20:36

I think you have to work quite hard at swimming to lose weight. Generally to get benefit from any exercise your heart rate has to be raised for 20 mins. My experience with swimming us that it's really easy to stop at each end for a rest.

However, I think everything helps. I've just started swimming as an exercise and aim to just keep going for 20mins even if I'm going quite slowly.

aPseudonymToFoolHim · 17/03/2013 20:48

I think if you are exercising frequently you will go one of two ways

  1. To think: I've exercised today so can "reward" myself for being "good"

  2. That the hard work, dedication, cost and effort you are putting in to exercising will automatically mean you are thinking about your health and the food (fuel) you are putting in and will make more informed choices - what's the point of killing yourself at the pool to just undo all your good work by eating too much of the wrong foods?

    Swimming will be great whilst you recover, but I would recommend, once you get back on your feet properly, that you do some weight-bearing activity. this tones, burns calories, helps with red blood cell production and helps prevent osteoporosis (brittle bone disease, which women are more susceptible to)
    Good luck!
Movingforward123 · 17/03/2013 21:00

I'm planning on starting swimming for around 45 mins and building upto an hour!

OP posts:
Movingforward123 · 17/03/2013 21:01

Stargirl / wow well done Grin

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Movingforward123 · 17/03/2013 21:02

Not now - what vitamins do you recommend? I never take vitamins but think now would be a good time to start.

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5madthings · 17/03/2013 21:02

I did. After ds2 I swam for an hour, about 80lengths, doing breast stroke, two or three times a week and lost about a stone and a half :)

Movingforward123 · 17/03/2013 21:03

Bigred - maybe we could keep each other informed on our progress? Although I can't start swimming until I can walk as I'm not allowed crutches by the pool. Hmm

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Movingforward123 · 17/03/2013 21:04

Tofool - I was thinking once I am feeling stronger I would start body pump again Grin

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Movingforward123 · 17/03/2013 21:07

5mad - that's exactly what I would like to do Grin how long did it take to loose that weight? Did it help you belly a lot? As mine is in bad shape right now Hmm well done I'm very Envy

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BigRedBox · 17/03/2013 21:15

Deal! Well done if you do 45 mins, my biggest problem is boredom. I wish I could run and not look like a clumsy elephant and then at least I could listen to music...

Beamur · 17/03/2013 21:17

I'm curious about this too - I am on a diet (hate that word!) and have changed how I eat and am swimming as part of a plan to be more active and I wondered how many calories you burn. Looking at a couple of websites seem to suggest in the region of 260/280 calories for half an hour of light/moderate swimming - which I think would cover breaststroke without too much dallying and resting.
It takes 3,500 calories deficit, or to burn up extra, in order to lose a pound of fat. So on that basis, 7 hours of solid swimming would burn enough calories to lose one pound, so it would take 98 hours of swimming to burn off a stone.
So swimming 1 hour, 3 times a week, it would take you nearly 33 weeks to lose a stone.

Pollykitten · 17/03/2013 21:17

Vitamin D, B complex and fish oils - that's what I would start with on the nutritional front

Anifrangapani · 17/03/2013 21:18

Try not to fall into the reward trap. Half an hours swimming is about 250 kCal. A 100g of bananna is 110 kCal.
Good luck.

sparkle12mar08 · 17/03/2013 21:22

I doubt it to be honest. You can't out train a bad diet.

BigRedBox · 17/03/2013 21:28

Now could be a good time to eat differently. Stuck at home could mean eating more creatively? Since starting using 'my fitness pal' in early Jan I've lost 18lbs with almost no exercise at all. It has truly opened my eyes to the amount of pointless calories I used to eat. You can set whatever daily limit you like and adding foods is really easy.

I know you said you don't want to diet but it might be worth a look?

ErikNorseman · 17/03/2013 21:29

Swimming 3 times a week won't burn enough calories by itself to cause significant weightloss. And all you need to do is eat a thick slice of toast or a chocolate bar extra on the days you swim to cancel out any calorie burn. You really need to calorie count as well as exercise to lose weight.

Beamur · 17/03/2013 21:31

I've been on a weight management course for 10 weeks and it has opened my eyes to how many hidden calories I was eating in my 'normal' foods. It's been slightly depressing! But, I do feel more in control of my body now. But even what seems like a tiny amount 'extra' food will stop you losing weight.

happybubblebrain · 17/03/2013 21:34

Very unlikely. I sometimes gain weight when I exercise more, now that I'm getting older. It's easier just to stop weighing yourself and stop worrying about it. I think exercise is great for other things though, so just do it anyway, it makes you feel better, stronger and healthier.

Movingforward123 · 17/03/2013 21:56

I have got myfitness pal and before Xmas lost about 8lbs which I have put all of it back on and more Hmm

Using mfp gives me only 1200 cals per day, which I find difficult to do long term!

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Movingforward123 · 17/03/2013 21:57

Pollykitten - are there any combined vitamins you could recommend?

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gostraighttojail · 17/03/2013 22:03

You can't really generalise with swimming. Are you a really good swimmer? If so, you can lose a lot if weight swimming. If not, you should consider having a few lessons as incorrect technique can cause neck, shoulder or knee problems and inhibit weight loss.

5madthings · 17/03/2013 22:34

I lost the weight quite quickly, within two months and yes it helped me tone up. I did do some stretching and toning exercises as well, sit ups etc for ten mins every other day. They were some from a Davina DVD.

I did distance swimming as a teen so it was my thing.

I find swimming really good for toning etc and I really enjoy it. Am doing couch to 10k at the moment but once the weather is warmer will go swimming as well, I don't fancy biking to the pool and then swimming and then biking home in the evenings at the moment, too cold and wet!

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