Swimmers unite!

Hello. Loving the swimming chat!

I just wanted to say that I got a waterproof MP3 player for Christmas. It took me a few attempts to get it to work for me because the earphones kept falling out , and wearing a swim hat (which I hate) didn't really help as it just rode up over my ears.

I bought an ear band-it (I'm in the US, so apologies if they are impossible to find in the UK). It's a neoprene head band basically that covers your ears and stops the earphones falling out. I love it and now I can listen to music the whole time and no itchy hat!

Happy swimming

Forgive - I too am hoping that more regular swimming will help reduce my ample curves! (and I could easily double what you state)

100 lengths done today but feeling it in the back of my arms tonight.

Does anybody else have trouble with water up their nose? For the last couple of weeks, every Monday evening I have what feels like a runny nose, but blocked sinuses at the same time, plus an itchy nose and sneezing too! In all my years of swimming I've never had my nose feel like this. It will be back to normal tomorrow but this evening it is driving me bonkers

Thank you for the welcome

Dildalli - sorry to hear about your injury - hope you enjoy your swims again soon.

Kaizen - I have joined an open water group on Facebook. Not met anyone yet but they do all seem lovely and very friendly.

In terms of weight-loss - I understand that a bit of buoyancy isn't a bad thing but I have a LOT of weight to loose (could easily lose 4 stone). I'm really hoping that the swimming will help me to achieve that.

Has anyone else used swimming as an aid to weight-loss?

Welcome forgiveme! You've got some great goals there, just keep chipping away at them. Try the open water when it gets warmer, but the idea is to get your stroke consistent in the pool first and then (in theory!!) you can rely on it when it gets trickier in open water.
You'll get fit quick, and weight helps to float and keeps you warm so don't lose too much . Try and find an open water/wild swimming group near you as they are really friendly and inspirational and normally have some channel relayers etc in them. My last advice would be to work on your core strength too if you fancy tidal swims, as it's invaluable to have whole body strength when it gets tough. I'm off now as up early to get in the pool

Welcome forgiveme, !
I have neglected the thread due to a nasty injury, made me REALLY want to go to the pool, but had to wait :)
I don't swim in open water, I am gathering courage to do so, but the other ladies on the thread can help, I am sure!
Such a nice feeling getting back into it, isn't it?

So pleased to have found this thread - may I join? :)

I have been harbouring a secret wish to try open water swimming and have finally taken the 'plunge' (after a few years of procrastinating) and booked myself onto the the Big Cotswold Swim in July.

I am only doing a mile but it's the kick-start I need to get back into the pool. Haven't swam for year and only managed a few lengths of breast stroke so I'm just focussing on improving my fitness and learning how to front-crawl with bilateral breathing.

Managed 40 lengths today (yippee!) and have some 1 to 1 sessions coming up at the end of the month with a swimming coach. Then need to book some open-water coaching.

I'm getting so comfortable in the pool however that I'm now doubting whether I have the resolve to venture into open-water.

My dream is to swim the Solent, then maybe train up to do the Dart 10K, maybe a Channel relay. I'm 43 though, very unfit and overweight so not sure whether any of this is entirely achievable.

Can I have some inspiring stories please?

I have been swimming again tonight and managed the 22 lengths I was hoping for .

I really need to work on tidying up my swimming strokes though - backstroke was always my strength but very difficult to do in a busy public swimming session. I kind of need to see where I'm going .

I have been watching YouTube videos on how to improve my breaststroke legs, as they do go all wonky after a length or two!

I would love to be able to swim like that! I have learnt lots already, like actually swimming to the side, and the leg kick, I don't pay enough attention to coordinating the leg kicks, I just sort of do a free for all with them, but I am going tomorrow so I shall give these tips a try, thank you everyone!

100 lengths today. My right arm was aching a bit throughout the session and I wonder if I was reaching a bit too far with it esp. as I breathe to the left every 2 strokes

That's lovely & looked like amazing sea - I can't wait for summer & sea swimming! I won't give up pool swimming as the sea near me only gets to about 18C (at best) & it's too cold to stay in too long & also can be very choppy. But I love swimming in the sea & we are going to Turkey again later in the year where the swimming is amazing.

vamped not vampt - not sure they were thinking of temptresses......

This is my new favourite video from the re-vampt Total Immersion site - this woman is amazing and where she swims looks gorgeous. I think she's a Swedish TI coach. I think i've been watching it everyday to cheer me up in this grim weather

www.totalimmersion.co.uk

I haven't got a laptop so I look at it before I go & swim. I learnt front crawl 50 years ago (very young!) & it is hard to slow down to that glide & keep that arm ahead of me until the other arm hits the water again, but I am very slowly getting there & it has helped my swimming & enjoyment so much. Am still one sided breathing! And the lack of constant kicking is also great!

oh wow that looks so graceful! I could do with taking my laptop to the poolside and check I am doing it right each length!

Pavlov - I too am a one sided breather - the thing that has helped me most is watching this video (posted by Kaizen:

It has really made me think about how I am swimming & has made me slow down my whole stroke etc. I end up covering more distance with less effort.

I'm doing 36 - 40 lengths 3 times a week. I've been back to that routine for six weeks & to start with could only manage about 14/16 lengths. I'm pushing the big six O - so am quite pleased.

(25 metre pool)

Hi. I have just gone back to swimming as part of a weight-loss, lifestyle change effort.

I used to swim for the school at one time (from age 12-16) but have not swum seriously since (and I am 38!).

On my first visit a couple of weeks ago, I really needed to push myself to manage 10 lengths! I have been three times per week since & am now up to 16 lengths - I have added one length each visit - and am not needing to push my body quite so hard!

My goal for the moment is 22 lengths, three times a week - which will be a mile a week.

I suffer from arthritis & find many other forms of exercise too painful on my joints.

I meant to say, that it try to swim 3-4 times a week now, only manage around 15 lengths but building up, and taint regular breaks from it such as recently, when pain is too high, or, I will just float a few lengths to keep moving. I would love to get back to 100 lengths but that's a dream fir another time!

Hey guys, used to swim a lot. Don't any more but trying to get back to it, following trouble with my back. I prefer front crawl as breast stroke hurts more. I love sea swimming but never done huge distances, mostly doing calm swims from my kayak or with the children, or saving myself from drowning following a bit wave when bodyboarding! Always been my plan to do a sea swim like the burgh island one, but, unfortunately didn't do it before my back problem and while I shall aim for it in the distant future, not nurse that's ever going to happen now.

I am marking my place so I can read your tips for technique as I tire easily at the moment, largely due to being unfit. I am a one sided breather, try to a alternate but often swallow water on my left side. Does that affect muscle tone on one side, it want to end up with uneven muscles?!

Ad, do any of you swim to music, and if so, what player do you use? Do you have a waterproof MP3 player, or do you have a sleeve and waterproof headphones. If you have the later, does the headphone wire get in the way? I have seen a few different ones, but can't have the 'in the ear' headphones as they don't fit. Although I can put them under a swim cap if they will stay in.

hello! i swim at least 3 times a week, 80 lengths a time. Currently i do all breast stroke (my version at least as my hip pops out) but am desperately trying to build up my front crawl. I find it hurts my shoulders too much at the moment so definitely need to work on my technique!

i refuse to wear a cap now as it snapped my hair and i am left with loads of flyaway and fluffy bits that are much shorter than the rest of my hair. i run through some conditioner to protect it then put it in a plait -other than wacking myself on the head when i turn too fast i have no problem! i read nice to drench your hair in the shower first so it has absorbed as much clean water as possible before you get in the pool so it takes up less of the chlorine.. not sure how well it works as my hair always smells of chlorine when i next wash it but every little helps i guess!

I've been using it for at least 20 years (waves to another mature & wise person) & I don't think they've changed anything - except the price!!!

I used to use the vo5 for swimming damage, oooh must be nearly 30 years ago now, I expect they've tweaked the formula since!

I don't think it makes much difference to the hair, Suzanne - but it takes the smell away!

VO5 hot oil treatment, which I use when I remember weekly does make a difference to the dryness problem!

www.boots.com/en/VO5-Nourish-My-Shine-Hot-Oil-Deep-Nourishing-4-x-15ml_870689/

too much

perhaps she wanted the extra drag to give her a harder swim workout

Pretty sure it would slow you down but you'd need to be swimming at a very high level for it to matter much (?)

I hate swimming caps, horrible headache inducing, I also hate the effect of chlorine on my hair, I've got the boots shampoo and it doesn't seem to make much difference :(

I was idly wondering if any of you wear swimming caps?

I don't. My hair is very short & I just give it a quick wash in the shower afterwards (Boots Swim & Gym shampoo - highly recommend for taking away the chlorine pong).

But when I swam on Friday there was a woman there who was obviously very fit & a really,really seriously good swimmer. She had very long hair, well below bra strap line & she was swimming with it tied back in a pony tail. Which is fine, doesn't bother me at all but I wondered if it would slow you down from the drag of it?

Swimming going well - I'm focusing on my stroke and on enjoying it & not making it a competition for myself!