Outside swimming anyone?

[HumphreyCobblers]

Does anyone do outside swimming? I have started having a daily dip. I am working up to actually swimming, at the moment I just slowly inch my way in up to my neck and then stay as long as possible. Then I tread water for a minute or so but I am trying to stop myself hyperventilating as soon as my feet leave the ground. It was 7 degrees today .

Can anyone tell I am not a natural cold water fiend? This is an attempt to improve my mental health/ decrease anxiety. It will also give me a bit of focus in lockdown as I don’t work and the kids are at school, and all the stuff I do normally has just stopped.

It does make you feel great afterwards.

@HumphreyCobblers

HelloThere19999. I was scared too. But I honestly feel that if can do it then anyone can. But start small, the first time I went in I simply dipped under and got straight back out. Apparently that is called being a teabagger according to an article I read .

A teabagger you might want to consider that it has other meanings

If you enjoy the exhilaration and health benefits of a cold water dip then try following Wim Hof, the ice man.
Be careful as it's easy to feel ok in water but be in too long. 1 minute per degree is a good rule of thumb.
It is very important to warm up from the inside out. Do not go for a hot shower as this draws the heat away fr rom your core and major organs.
To warm up - get out of wet things. Get dry. Lots of layers including hat. Warm drink and eat something.
Look up cold water shock and afterdrop.
Take a tow float, whistle and phone in a waterproof case if alone. Even better, go with a friend.
Yes, jump in any body of water but be aware of dangers such as fast flow, rubbish or debris, sewerage, tides and currents. Don't swim in rivers after heavy rain.
Lakes are colder than the sea at this time of year.
Wear a swimming hat to keep you warm and visible.

@Orangesarenottheonlyfruit yes I looked, nearest one is around 40 miles away. I grew up on the coast but I’m now I’m very landlocked, all the water that I can think of near me is pretty much national trust -apart from the duck pond in the local park- and only gets above knee deep. I think I would alarm the local dog walkers trying to submerge myself in any water near me.

Good luck OP. I went in an open water lake last Saturday at a pre-lockdown event, but only up to my middle before retreating back to the sauna which was the main focus of the event. Those who regularly swam in the lake were straight in.

Arundel lido was doing cold water swims right up until 430pm the evening before lockdown and we have asked them to consider continuing if they are allowed to open in December. I also think Beccles lido in Norfolk was doing them right up to last week as well.

There's a really good outdoor swimming group (Outdoor Swimming Society) on facebook that's worth a look and people often buddy up on that.

I usually swim in a lake, which has unfortunately closed for lockdown, or a lido as am miles from the sea. I do use a wetsuit this time of year though, I'm not that brave! Neoprene socks do make a massive difference though.

DipSwimSwoosh has great advice!

This has become so popular with - ahem - ladies of a certain age where I live! As I am also now a lady of a certain age I am finding myself ever more drawn to the idea of cold water swimming. Something about it just looks so appealing!

What's holding me back at the moment is that I don't have a decent wetsuit and they're expensive and I don't know if I'll like it... I imagine it feels great after though.

I’m in the Scottish Highlands and swim in the Atlantic most days, all year round. Quite a few people around here do, it’s great exercise and very invigorating.
You could maybe try a different stroke - I’ve been a backstroke swimmer all my life, can go on and on and it’s really calming.

Really wish I lived close enough to the river or sea to do this all year round- I do get to do it in the summer and love it. It's my favourite way of experiencing the landscape- from the water level.

@ilovepixie my top tips are:
It will feel cold when you get in, like really really cold. But amazingly that only lasts for about a minute and then the endorphins kick in and it's brilliant.
Dont stay in too long, I normally say 2 mins per degree but others do less.
Read up about hypothermia and afterdrop symptoms, I know experienced swimmers who have got cocky and needed help.
When you get out, don't have any fiddly laces, bras or fastenings, too hard on you fingers.
Have a hat and a thermos of something hot for afterwards. There always seems to be cake around swimmers as well!
Wrap a hot water bottle in you clothes. It will make your clothes toasty and be something to cuddle after!
Dont jump into a hot shower straightaway. It can bring on afterdrop.
Never swim alone.
Understand where you're swimming, tide times, reed banks etc. Knowledge is power.
That's it I think. I'm sure others will have more tips.

This is all great advice , thank you so much!

Am planning a dip this afternoon. Water temp 7 degrees according to the thermometer but not sure how accurate that is.

If you can support learning from home in this time perhaps you should

And be taken to court for non attendance? No thanks.

It is also the case that DDs mental health is much better if she is at school than not. The powers that be have decided on the balance of harms, having schools open is better than not. Some random on MN won't convince me not to.

My dd goes about 3-5 times a week
She says only to stay in as many minutes as sea temp
So 7 degrees , 7 minutes

Maybe once your body gets used to a doing this, then begin to increase the time.

I’ve got a thermal rash vest and gloves which help a lot, not a bad halfway house between skins and a wetsuit. I find a wetsuit too restrictive because they’re more for front crawl swimmers and I prefer a leisurely breaststroke.

Badger where did you get the thermal rash vest? It sounds good

This one

www.twobarefeet.co.uk/womens/womens-clothing-accessories/womens-thermals/two-bare-feet-unisex-thermal-rash-vest-long-sleeve-black.html

What's the sizing like, Badger?

Fantastic. Just ordered. Thank you Badger!

I went in for seven and a half minutes! The water was about 8 degrees. Feel great now. I trod water for a whole minute.

I did it until a month ago but it's now 10 degrees and I don't have a wetsuit!

I am pretty cold atm to be honest 🥶

I swim every early morning in a sea lake and sometimes in the sea. The lake is about 7 degrees now. I swim in a costume and wet shoes. I've just got used to it and it's addictive. It really boosts my mood and I've met loads of like minded women friends. I love swimming at sun rise the sky was amazing pink then orange this morning. I just do breaststroke and watch the local wildlife. I swam next to a young razorbill and watched him dive and pop back up. If it's windy there's always a little flock of waders huddled at the end of the lake and I often say hello to them. I get really close and they just ignore me. I just love swimming surrounded by the great outdoors.
Sometimes I just float about and bob with friend (keeping our distance which is easy in a massive expanse of sea). We do eat a lot of cake afterwards though and have hot drinks.
You soon get into a nice warming up routine dancing about, warm layers, hot water bottle, wooly hat, large flask of coffee.
Wear whatever you want to swim in wetsuits are fine. There's loads of groups springing up now. I used to feel like billy the swimmer but not any more.

Frippit that sounds absolutely wonderful. I hope I manage to start swimming soon, but the benefit of simple immersion in the cold water is amazing. My mood is the least stressed I have known for about ten years.

I did it for the first time in September. Really enjoyed it but won’t go again until next summer- took me ages to warm up!!

Hello fellow outdoor swimmers. I am a sea swimmer, I usually swim April - October, but because the pools are locked down I'm still sea swimming. I use neoprene gloves and socks and normal swimsuit (could not do it without the gloves and socks). The sea is about 11-12 degrees at the moment, which isn't too bad, it's about the same as April. I stay near the shore and only swim for about 7-8 minutes.

I tried a shorty wetsuit but found it too cumbersome. However I saw this yesterday (didn't know they existed) and ordered one. It may get sent back, but I thought it was worth a try.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07VLHMTJ8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8