Can't increase my fitness

[HexBramble]

I've swum twice a week for last 3 months but cannot increase my stamina and endurance in the water at all. I struggle with breathing after about 100m and my limbs get heavy. Every week I try and push myself, but its not working.

Help!

I would slow right down and focus on getting your breathing technique perfect, if you haven't got that (or close to) then you won't improve your fitness because you run out of breath too fast . Maybe get a coaching session to see if an instructor can give you pointers?

If you think your breathing technique is good then try intervals, after you've warmed up do one length as hard and fast as you can, then one length slower, to recover, then fast again, start with about 12 mins, build to 20. That should improve your fitness.

Swimming is so much about technique. If your technique isn't good you will find it very difficult to build endurance, even if fairly fit.

Are you doing any other exercise? Twice a week isn't that much to build aerobic fitness, so that could also be an element.

How many lengths are you actually doing. I used to do a lot of swimming and always found the forst 10 lengths the hardest and then I seemed to get into my stride.....or stroke......and it was fine.

Agree twice a week is not really enough to expect a big improvement. Can you do anything else with it to improve your cardio fitness?