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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that swimming is making me bigger???

104 replies

Springheeled · 12/05/2014 19:53

I've started swimming 2-4 times a week, 30-40 lengths of 25m pool and I swear it's making me bigger- I've just tipped the scales at half a stone heavier than 6 weeks ago. How can this be????

OP posts:

SoulJacker · 12/05/2014 21:22

Most people don't swim hard enough to lose weight by swimming.

If I swim on my own that includes me. A club session though is a totally different story. Raises body temp enough that appetite is suppressed rather than starving.

SoulJacker · 12/05/2014 21:23

Most people don't swim hard enough to lose weight by swimming.

If I swim on my own that includes me. A club session though is a totally different story. Raises body temp enough that appetite is suppressed rather than starving.

SoulJacker · 12/05/2014 21:23

Most people don't swim hard enough to lose weight by swimming.

If I swim on my own that includes me. A club session though is a totally different story. Raises body temp enough that appetite is suppressed rather than starving.

edwinbear · 12/05/2014 21:27

I swim, I have a Poolmate swimming computer which counts lengths and calories burned. 2.5 kms (100 lengths of my 25m pool) which takes me about 60 mins, burns 600 calories. I find an hour on the cross trainer burns more, but I like to mix things up a bit.

Glittertwins · 12/05/2014 21:46

I would have thought an hours swimming and 2500m would be closer to 850 kcal...least it is on my Speedo watch (when it works, useless gizmo)

Sleepwhenidie · 12/05/2014 21:47

umm - it would depend on your weight too

Katy1368 · 12/05/2014 21:48

Are you sure? I Have lost quite a bit of weight since starting to swim.

Katy1368 · 12/05/2014 21:54

I Think it is a good point made up thread about how hard you are swimming. You maybe need to rest less. I get in and do 20 lengths of a 50 m pool with no rests, really gets HR and resp rate up. Then I do sprints in sets of 2 with really small rests in between to make it up to 40. Also don't bother with any stroke apart from fast front crawl, think it is a waste of time to bother with breast stroke or back crawl.

magimedi · 12/05/2014 21:56

I've been swimming on a regular basis since January. I am now swimming 1 kilometer 3 x a week.

I don't have scales, so don't know weight but have dropped a full size in clothes (just been shopping) & the local hospice shop has just had a load of clothes from me that are now far too big.

(I'm pushing 60, if age makes any difference).

I do swim at about 11.30 am, have a good breakfast bewfore (yogurt, egg & toast) & feel hungry for lunch (protein & salad) when I finish my swim.

If I swim at other times I do notice that I want something to eat post swim, try yo stick to a couple of oat cakes or a banana.

fatlazymummy · 12/05/2014 21:56

souljacker swimming doesn't make me feel hungry either. Today I had porridge at 8, swam for 80 minutes at lunchtime then had a normal size lunch at 2. Obviously I was starting to feel a bit peckish by then but I would have done anyway as I hadn't had anything for 6 hours.
I was wondering about this the other day - why swimming doesn't make me feel hungry. I guess I must be hitting it hard now.

Summerbreezing · 12/05/2014 22:06

Haven't they discovered that your diet is the only way to lose weight? Exercise tones you but doesn't actually drop the pounds. There was a programme on about it recently and I've read lots of articles also endorsing it.

Glittertwins · 12/05/2014 22:08

I think I need to get myself out of the mindset of being hungry about an hour after swimming, I'm nowhere near as hungry after an hour in the gym. The swimming sessions are hard work, the coach sees to that!

Sleepwhenidie · 12/05/2014 22:14

glittertwins hunger isn't a mindset, its a sign your body needs food !

summerbreezing 'dieting the only way to lose weight' - that's a very extreme stance! Diet is certainly the bigger part of it but of course exercise can play a role. Not to mention all the other benefits it brings...there are few health benefits to being skinny and never raising your heartrate/breaking a sweat or lifting much more than a handbag . It can also help motivate you to nourish your body better, not just by giving you more respect for it but it can seem like a waste to eat a bag of crisps and cancel out the effect of half an hour's swimming (for example).

Glittertwins · 12/05/2014 22:17

I think I'm eating a bit too much though or not enough of the right thing. I have a real weakness for white toast and butter and that isn't going to do too much ;-)

Sleepwhenidie · 12/05/2014 22:23

hmm - probably not ! Come and have a look at the Eating Better thread if you are interested. Lots of us trying to make healthy choices and eat mindfully, no diets, no guilt, no banned food - though most of the time we try and choose the nutritious stuff...white toast would fall into the latter part of the 80/20 split . People who say they need to lose weight are doing so, gradually and happily .

intheenddotcom · 12/05/2014 22:23

Swimming in public pool temperatures isn't good for weight loss, the cooler the better if you are looking for results.

TalkinPeace · 12/05/2014 22:26

Swimming is FANTASTIC for overall cardio fitness and to get all muscles working without damaging joints
combine it with yoga and pilates and the results will start to look how you want

lovingmatleave · 12/05/2014 22:34

swimming hard regularly bulks up my thighs and broadens my shoulders but boy do I feel fit. Weight isn't an issue for me and I would rather be heavier and fit and healthy than lighter but unfit. Have you ever seen a skinny light looking Olympian swimmer? No they look powerful and strong.

missinglalaland · 12/05/2014 22:36

I find this too, and have read that the cold water in a typical pool brings down your core temperature (unless you can swim really fast, which most of us don't, as other posters have noted) and makes you ravenous. So you end up eating more than you would have done after a run or spin class where you would feel hot, tired, thirsty, but not ravenous!

barneychuckles · 12/05/2014 22:40

Well, I lose weight when I swim but probably because I don't eat any more than normal.

Original poster

Springheeled · 12/05/2014 22:52

Right I have had a quick recce and I think my bum and thighs are now larger but shapelier as borne out by trousers feeling tighter. I think I'd better have a go at couch to 5k again and mix it up a bit as well as drinking less wine and not pausing at the end of lengths- how does one do a tumble turn????

OP posts:

SoulJacker · 12/05/2014 22:58

You will be better doing shorter repetitions faster than trying to swim continuously.

MissDuke · 12/05/2014 23:03

I imagine it is because you were running before and are burning far fewer calories swimming, so if you eat the same/ or even more then you will gain weight :-( I would try fast walking first and see how your knee goes.

QuintessentiallyQS · 12/05/2014 23:04

Well I have a theory that your body is drinking water through the skin.

And it mixes with your flesh, due to chlorine content, in the same manner as chicken breasts have water pumped in. So yes it will make you bigger.

I clearly need to have my head examined.

Sleepwhenidie · 12/05/2014 23:07

...what a horrific theory Quint I am never going swimming again

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