Swimming for fitness (part 3). Dive in!

Party - I had lessons last year and it was so worth it! I was in the beginner's course, despite knowing how to swim and lots of excellent swimmers were also having lessons. My pool only does lane swimming and is quite serious so I felt I had to up my game!

Welome minute, party and fairy.

Great progress Fairy – and you might be meaning Swimtag. Yes, it is a bit like a fitbit for the pool. At my pool you get it free with swim membership or can hire one for £1 a session. Not sure whether your pool does it. It is clever in that it works out your strokes, stroke rates, speeds etc. It doesn't keep a count of your lengths that you can see though, so I still need to count (it uploads all the info only once it is docked back in after your swim)! There are others out there (Garmin perhaps) that you can look at see how many lengths you are doing. Or you can be like a man I swim with who has one of those little knitting counters on his arm and moves it on for each length!

Thanks. I went earlier and managed 12 lengths before a break and then did 13, I'm aiming to do six more each time.

I started swimming today, I did 10 lengths then a short (

Thanks Trigirl. I'll have a look and see about swimfit. Meanwhile what are these tags people are talking about? Is it like a swimming Fitbit?

Waves at CMOT not jealous at all on the California swimming oh no hope the lido swim goes well.

I made it back into the pool tonight after 2wk break, only did 25mins but kept going & was tired after a long run (for me) earlier. Trying out the nasal spray after the swim to see if it reduces that "I've got a cold" feeling the next day.

I fell off the other thread! Just back from a trip to California for work where colleague and I snuck off to swim in the ocean. It was amazing! I loved diving through the breaking waves to get out, and then seeing manta rays beneath me.
I have to crack on for my last swimming challenge of the year - 5k in the lido

Welcome party are there swimfit sessions at your pool? They have an instructor on pool side who gives instruction if you want it at our pool. They stand at the end of the lane and give advice, drills to try. It's good if you can swim basics but need technique working on. Alt there's lots of vids on you-tube if you look at the part2 thread I picked up few tips from those. Then it's just lots of pratice, I think as adults we forget how long it takes to "learn" swimming. My kids both spent a good 2-3yrs on the basics I've spent good year+ just trying to crack frontcrawl breathing and I'm still working on it but can now do 20-30L with out a break of FC and then swap to breaststroke. Gd luck.

Been out of the pool the last 2wks due to bugs so hoping I can get back in tonight if this flipping hormonal headache eventually lifts!

Good stuff everyone, you're all getting me psyched up for my next swimtag challenge. Statue of liberty swim, 4084m = 164 lengths. There are prizes for doing it in a single day, so I'm going to attempt it Saturday.

Well that felt good! Really pleased to have made it out and will work towards this being a regular event. 950m (I think-so rubbish at counting lanes...) this morning in half an hour

Hello. Can I join too please? Started in January, with 500m in about half an hour and felt knackered. Now up to 2km in an hour on my best days, and try to go at last twice a week, ideally three times. My breast stroke is wrong and rubbish and slows me down, but I can't front crawl every length and pool is usually too crowded for back stroke. Would really welcome advice on whether adult swimming lessons would be worthwhile - I have tried to self-correct my stroke but it's so ingrained now... Also, any tips on how not to eat everything in sight after a swim would be great because I have toned up quite a bit but put on 4lb since starting

Morning swimmers, can I tentatively join? Planning on adding at least a once per week swim to overall fitness regime. I used to swim a lot when (very much) younger but difficult to get out of the house now with the children to look after. Anyway once a week should be viable.
Is there a swim routine:programme people recommend to swim for fitness?
Any technology which is useful? Ways to count your lanes etc?
Someone recommended waterproof headphones and I think I would enjoy a podcast or music whilst swimming-any recommendations?
Right I'm doing it-off I go to the pool, quite looking forward to it!

Thanks avocado I've hardly done any exercise this week and eaten too many carbs &sugar arrhh need my exercise "fix"

Get well soon, TriGirl.

Sounds like your weekly swim is really good, Bunch. Half an hour to yourself getting endorphins flowing is great!

I am swimming once a week at the moment - gone down to 4 days at work so swim on my day off.

I'm slow as hell and do a crap version of breaststroke, but that half an hour in the morning is bliss. I wish I could fit it in on other days too.

No swimming or running for me for few days as stuffed with head-cold hopefully will be back in the pool next week.

Well done, Ship. (I like the idea of your movie and pancakes routine too!)

How are you feeling, Rights? I can't go swimming tomorrow as my husband is away with work. Got a bit of a scratchy throat so maybe that is a good thing … Our members' changing rooms are getting a refurb over the next 8 weeks so we are all in the main changing rooms and having the wrong coins (we've clung onto the old £1 for the lockers only to find the main changing room lockers have already had an upgrade to the new £1 coins) and forgetting shower gel (it comes provided in the members' changing room!). Gets everyone talking though …

Finished the Channel crossing challenge Saturday morning! Snuck out while DH and kids were watching the usual movie with pancakes and nailed the last 2 km.