Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Exercise

Chat to other fitness enthusiasts on our Exercise forum.

Original poster

Any regular swimmers?

152 replies

aristocat · 23/12/2011 01:07

Hello,I swim 3 or 4 times a week doing usually 30 lengths each day and wondered if there are any fellow swimmers out there?

OP posts:
sybilfaulty · 28/12/2011 18:46

Hello aristocat

Just you and me then?! I swim 3 times a week, usually do a mile and a half (about 100 lengths of our pool), am trying to get into running as well but just LOVE the swimming. Do you have an aquabeat? Best thing for swimmers ever.

I can crawl, but tend to do (proper) breaststroke instead as my lats and shoulders are quite big anyway! What is your stroke? Are you swimming for any purpose (fitness, weight, in training for event etc) or do you just love it? I find the swim keeps the weight down and the arms and legs trim. Stomach taken a pounding with the festive wine but 3 days of upset tum seem to have got rid of that! Hurray!

Look forward to talking chlorine with you.

sittinginthesun · 28/12/2011 18:52

Hi. I am joining you, if I may. I am feeling fat and rubbish, as I haven't been able to do any exercise since august, due to a bad back, but I have got to do something, as I am struggling to fit into my clothes.

I started swimming again last week, and am planning to swim at least twice a week, probably 30 lengths at a time.

A swimming buddy would be good!

sybilfaulty · 28/12/2011 18:58

Hello sittinginthesun, good to have you on board. I am sorry you feel fat and rubbish. I often feel like that too but a few trips to the pool sorts me out.

Sorry I can't stop to chat more. Need to dish up kids' supper. Back later. So glad to find another water babe Smile.

culturemulcher · 28/12/2011 19:06

Hello, can I join in?

I do a once a week, intensive(ish) one hour session (swimfit) with a couple of of other swimmers and a coach. The number of lengths varies from week to week depending on the programme, but when I was doing normal lane swimming I used to do 60-80 x25m lengths per session.

I'm hoping to find the time and the will power to up my sessions to twice a week in the new year - god knows I need it!

culturemulcher · 28/12/2011 19:08

I've just realised that this is the first time I've ever ventured anywhere within even shouting distance of the Sport and Excercise topic Xmas Shock Xmas Grin

sittinginthesun · 28/12/2011 20:02

Grinme too!

Original poster
aristocat · 29/12/2011 23:52

Oooooh hello fellow water babes Smile

I have been swimming regularly for 18 months, originally it was to lose weight but I love it and would be unable to stop anyway. At the moment I am only doing breaststroke, I also did backstroke but I am having vertigo/ dizzy spells and can't do it ATM.
The school hols are disruptive for my swim, I do go with DCs but can't manage to swim much (we play and I try to help them)

Back soon.

OP posts:
watersign76 · 30/12/2011 14:09

Hello

Not a regular swimmer (although was a competitive swimmer as a child) but hoping to get back into it for 2012.

sybilfaulty was interested to read your recommendation for an aquabeat - LOVE the idea of it. Did you try to waterproof your ipod (if you have one) first? Or did you just go for this? Amazon reviews are a bit [humm]... I also normally wear ear plugs, do the earphones mainly stop water getting into your ears?

Here is to a year of swimming to you all :)

WS

MamaChocoholic · 30/12/2011 14:28

Good to see some swimmers :)

I am an ex-regular swimmer. Used to do 2km 2-3 times/week, pre kids. Now I am back to work post maternity leave I need to get back into it again, but don't have the luxury of a whole hour for lunch anymore (need time to get there/back, shower).

Anyone who has suggestions of how I can get a good swim workout in 20mins or so, I'd love to hear them. I used to do 1.5k straight crawl in 25 minutes, but would be slower now, and would rather vary things a little to work on a few different muscles, but that slows it down further.

sybilfaulty · 30/12/2011 14:51

Hello water babes!

Aristo, I don't count the times I go with my DC as well. Mine are quite wee (3, 4 and 6) so I need to be on hand to cajole, splash, encourage, save from drowning etc. It's useless in the hols, I agree. Still, school next week.

Watersign, I have to say I was a bit doubtful about my aquabeat but I love it and wouldn't go back. I didn't try to waterproof the Ipod as I thought that, if it didn't work, I'd have ruined something costing £150 whereas if the AB was crap it was only £50 and I could flog it on Ebay as used anyway! It's brilliant. I use it for running too. I don't get water in my ears either (well, not the lasting, annoying type of water, which you wear earbuds to prevent). Try it!

Mamachoc, I would just try to do as much as you can as fast as you can in a 25 m workout. I bet each week you will manage to do a bit more. It's a faff with the hair drying etc in y our lunch hour but so worth it.

Pool tomorrow - hurray - at 6.30am - boo! Can't wait.

Original poster
aristocat · 30/12/2011 15:08

hi sybil i too was intrigued by your aquabeat, i just swim and swim. it has helped me lose weight but i still have more to go ......

i also found that for the first 12 months i didnt wear goggles but now cannot do without them, not sure if the chlorine has changed or my eyes have become more sensitive Hmm any ideas?

my DCs are a little older 9 and 7yo but sadly dont have the same passion for swimming that i do. we go and swim/splash/play in rapids too .... cannot wait until tuesday when they are back at school and i can swim properly again!

also in January the pool is so busy with new people joining (obv a NY resolution to get-keep fit), sadly they disappear after a few weeks/months and we have the same faces - is this the same at your pool?

OP posts:
watersign76 · 31/12/2011 17:31

Thanks sybil that all sounds good. Will have a look at the aquabeat - thanks :)

Mama I am no fitness teacher/expert, but when I swam as a kid (used to train 4 or 5 times a week) we used to do sets of strokes. When I swim now I still do a bit of that so I can keep track so; 4 crawl, 4 breast, 4 back then rest and do again and again. If you are looking to intensify in a short period what about intervals, so do some races against the clock in amongst the "sets"? I am still way slower than I used to be for 25m, but I enjoy the focus and want to get under 20 seconds. I find I have to mix it up or I get really bored...but an aquabeat (see above) might help with that!

Ifancyashandy · 02/01/2012 23:15

Checking in! Regular swimmer here, do
40 x 25m 3 / 4 times a week, along with pilates and circuits but love the swimming!

Am very impressed by those of you doing 100 lengths plus!! How long did it take you to get to that level and how long does it take you to swim that distance? I'm bang on a minute per 50 metres (so 40 lengths takes 40 mins). I'm a goggle wearing breast stroker!

I also find it quite meditative - I count the length number I'm on constantly! So, 'one, one, one.....two, two, two....' etc! Anyone else?

May have to investigate the Aquabeats thingy!

bruffin · 02/01/2012 23:30

I do an advance swimming lesson a week but don't get a chance to really do much more. Ive been doing the lessons for 9 years but it's the same people and have lunch afterwards. I should really go earlier and do some more lengths before the lesson.

dustlandfairytale · 02/01/2012 23:39

I swim about 4 times a week. I just swim to a time, usually 30 mins as I cant bear to count lengths and would rather use the time as thinking time. I think I am probably a bit odd but it works for me! I've been doing it for about 18 months and the improvement in my back pain and posture has been fantastic not to mention lack of bingo wings!

Original poster
aristocat · 03/01/2012 09:58

Just a quick hello to everyone and a Happy New Year Smile

It was my birthday on Sunday and I asked for a new swim costume (how sad am I??) Just on my way out now to brave the wind and rain ......

OP posts:
Ifancyashandy · 05/01/2012 19:32

Blimey, I swam with a float board today. Now, I swim 40 x 25 three to four times a week, no problem. But using a board? Oh. My. God! It killed my legs! And it's much more cardio. Exhausting!

Any tips?

MamaChocoholic · 05/01/2012 19:54

I used to alternate a couple of leg only lengths followed by arm only. allowed me to really work on technique as well as muscles. then you put it all together and it feels like turbocharged swimming :)

posey · 05/01/2012 20:10

How nice to see a swimming thread Smile after all the running ones!
I always swam as a youngster, not speed but a lot of stamina, and did all the survival levels (so enjoyed swimming in pjs and through hoops under water etc)
Anyway dd who is now 14 and a club swimmer, encouraged me to get back in the water. So 3 years ago I took out swimming membership at the local pool and have kept it up, swimming 3 or sometimes 4 times a week.
I generally do around 30 minutes, and mainly breast and back stroke. I had 3 lessons which were included in my membership, and got them to teach me front crawl (I was taught to swim breaststroke, never crawl). So I do a bit of crawl but still find it quite tough to coordinate arms legs and breathing!
I also quite like using a float and working just legs for a few lengths.

Tomorrow is my first trip to the pool since Christmas. I don't expect it to be easy Grin

bruffin · 05/01/2012 20:13

Went to my lesson yesterday, did 12 length warm up of 4 front crawl,4 backstroke and 4 breast. Then we did 2 lengths catch-up and 2 lengths one arm stretched out in front and the other one normal stroke followed by two lengths full stroke.
Then as the pool was empty I did 15 minutes of breaststroke

MrsHoarder · 05/01/2012 20:39

Pregnant and trying to recover from the "utterly exahusted" 1st trimester I did a grand total of 14 laps (450m) this morning. In the slow lane, with about 1/3 being legs only with a float to give my arms a break.

Well its a good baseline...

Ifancyashandy · 05/01/2012 21:04

mama how do you do arm only with a float Confused .

Do you put float between legs?

MamaChocoholic · 05/01/2012 21:08

Ifancy, yes, indeed, between your legs. Or leave on the side and just trail your legs behind you till you come back to collect it :)

Original poster
aristocat · 05/01/2012 21:14

DCs have been back at school since Tuesday and I have resumed swimming! I do mine in batches of 10 lengths and then rest for a minute, another 10 & rest and so on up to 30 or 40L.
Our pool is also 25m but there is a Sauna and a Steam Room which I sometimes go in for 10mins or so afterwards.

Lovely to see all you swimmers Smile Pool was very quiet this morning.

posey you will be fine, once you hit the water Grin

OP posts:
Ifancyashandy · 05/01/2012 22:34

Thanks! I'll try!

Swipe left for the next trending thread