Swimming for fitness (part 2). Jump in!

[rightsofwomen]

We've filled up the first Swimming for fitness thread, so here is the new one.

Everyone welcome.

Exciting CMOT! Love it when a race pack comes through!

You and raah are both right, it's takes me ages to warm up too. My best swimming, when I manage my two whole lengths strung together , is after about 30 mins swimming. How do I replicate a warm up on the lakeside ? Hopefully going for a swim first thing tomorrow, haven't managed to squeeze any in for about 10 days (Have been running and cycling a bit so still doing some cardio). I'm telling myself that my body will be better for the rest!

Whoop! Managed 4 lengths in a row front crawl!!! Have started to rotate my body very slightly as I reach forward. For a fleeting moment I could actually feel myself swimming faster!! No idea if that's the correct technique but it seemed to help. I also stuck to just breathing on one side. Progress!!!

Well done bee I was actually dreaming last night about that floating feeling when you actually are swimming in the zone - but alas woken up with DD full of headcold today so no swimming today for us. I'm hoping I can go Monday and try freestyle again just to see if it wasn't a fluke!

For technique I tried doing something they tried out on my DD, scoping the water underneath then it felt like sliding my palm up my side hip/body so my elbow pointed up before pulling my hand out of the water. It felt bit odd but when I watched 9yr old DD training it really speeded up her stroke afterwards and she got a 21sec PB on her freestyle which she was super about, I'm happy just getting to the end of the lenght!!

Ive been going to the gym every other day for 2 weeks now. Its an egym where everything is set specifically for you.
Anyway my teacher commented on how breaststroke has improved. Today i did 72 lengths with a lot more freestylr and i can feel the difference as well, but my body has changed shape as well.
Last year i lost a stone and half just swimming and diet.
Ive only lost 2lb in 2 weeks but already lost 2 inches off my waist. Also been doing pilates and aqua.

That's inspiring bruffin. My mid 40s body has got rather poddgy lately and I've really struggled to lose a lb despite running and swimming every week. So I've now started doing a yoga routine in the morning and trying really hard on the low carbing...again...
it sucks being perimenopausal sometimes but at least swimming is helping!

Well done skibike . I tried the pulling back rather than under and then elbow bend last week. So much harder on the muscles but super effective. It showed me how lazy I am with my stroke. I could only manage a few lengths of it and then reverted back to lazy tugboat mode . Well done your DD too. My DCs love swimming but sadly seem to have inherited my coordination issues!

bruffin that is impressive. I have always been tall and a fairly athletic shape but since DC3 and hitting late 30s I have noticed a bit of middle aged spread creeping on. We were at a party last week and it seems as though all of of our peers have either submitted to middle aged weight gain whole heartedly or are fighting it tooth and nail. Not yet decided which camp I will fall into.

I did it! Third out of the 23 people in the challenge. Really pleased!

Fantastic well done avocado

Brilliant Singing Avocado

Congratulations Avocado!

Managed a swim this morning and didn't forget anything, even had an old-style £1 for the locker! 650m, two others in my lane so couldn't do sets easily, but definitely starting to return to form. Will try for Wednesday when there's 3 lanes again.

Well done avocado impressive!!

Had a run this morning & a swim tonight. Was really pleased that something has definitely clicked with the front crawl managed few more lengths tonight. After two years I'm really pleased I didn't give up. Just need to keep building it up now. I've also taken out a 12m swim membership as they had free month offer

Well done Avocado, that's great.

Did 80 lengths tonight and practiced crocodile eyes. I realised that I had been a complete chump and had been raising my entire head out of the water to sight . So much easier once I had got the hang of it. Knackered tonight but DD2 seems to have a sixth sense for when I am tired so sat here with a hand through cot bars. Yawn.

Any good swim hat recommendations? Mine keeps working it's way off.

Silicone hat from decathlon

like this with mesh lining

Thank you Bruffin.

Well I would have chickened out today as my joints are playing up, but the shower has died so I had to go to the leisure centre and enjoy their hot showers anyway! Did 700m slowly and carefully, and definitely getting stronger and fitter already. And mostly had the lane to myself.
Nose clip wouldn't go on to start with and fell off a couple times though. Might need to do it before the pre-swim shower.

2km / 40 mins this morning. Done and dusted until Monday now which is a good feeling.

Had to chuckle as I left the leisure centre as there was a stationery bike exercise class going on (don't know what that is called) and the coach was shouting loudly over the pounding music 'keep pushing, keep pushing, you're nearly there'. I told the receptionists that it sounded like someone was in labour which made them laugh … Swimming feels a bit more dignified and a lot less sweaty!

Its called Spinning Singing Avocado I tried it a few weeks back, but found it too much hard work.
Went to fitball pilates this morning which is a laugh and still quite hard and had a 40 minute swim in the over 50s sessions. They have a lane section but some people think they can swim a long chatting, but after a few excuse mes as i swam past they finally got the message and moved to the main part of the pool.

Wow Singing that's good.

Sitting in the car trying to galvanise myself to get into the leisure centre for a swim. Feeling really unmotivated and sluggish.

Hope you went in raaaah?

I had to miss my outdoor swim today, was gutted but just too full of headcold hoping I can go again Monday now.

I did! Did 80. Last 20 felt slow but I think that may be due to the swimmer who came in next to me. There was nothing stylish about her stroke but boy was she zippy.

Went to aqua aerobics and did 16 lengths after. Third week in a row now and it's feeling more of a routine :) breathing is easier in front crawl now I've given I. To every second stroke!!!

Well done Raaaah (80 lengths!), Caterpillar (nothing wrong with breathing every second stroke) and Bruffin (thanks for reminding me of what the spinning class was called!). Get better soon Ski.