Swimming for fitness (part 4). Everyone welcome.

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Old thread here

Anyone interesting in swimming for fitness welcome here.
Newbies, experiences, the fast, the slow - we're all sharing, learning and most of all supporting each other.

Can I join please?

Just signed up to the Bournemouth pier to pier swim

6 years ago I was swimming 2km twice a week. I have not really Swan properly since - what have I let myself in for xxx

Tentatively dipping my toe in here! I used to swim regularly until my first was born nearly 12 years ago!
Never got back into it but miss my toned arms and stomach!
Can anyone a swimming cap that’s not horrendous? I could squeeze a swim in here and there if I didn’t have to faff about with my hair afterwards

Sorry ^ can anyone recommend a swimming cap

Tiger I like Speedo long hair swimming hats. My hair's not that long, but the extra space helps get it on and off!

I don't think there's a hat that will keep hair dry, though, if that's what you're after?

Recommend the Effortless Swimming app for tips on techniques

Did 25 lengths mostly breast stroke. Bit knackered now but enjoyed it.

Tiger what sort of hair do you have?

I have lots of thick hair so after a swim I tend to bung it in a plait and get on with my day it takes about a day to dry this way but at least I don't look like a witch

Has anyone done the Shaw method? I have done 2 short courses.
Just started again last week, and my knees are creaking less already!

chat I bought a book on the Shaw method last year but didn’t get around to reading it fully- someone on here did mention it - what do you do differently?

Went for a swim yesterday, was really struggling with heart hammering hormonal anxiety sat in the car outside the pool — flipping menopause— but made myself go swim calmly and did feel a lot better afterwards.

It's all about gliding and rotating and keeping your head straight. I used to swim more aggressively, and this is so gentle. It feels very Zen. Tiger and eagle poses in the water, putting the key in the lock when you lift your arm :) Very slow and measured at first.
It's also taught me to breathe underwater properly.
I don't know how helpful a book would be: there are youtube videos, and Steven Shaw is on DS' twitter.

Glad you went in and felt better. Sometimes I find it hard to get out of the house, but I never regret it.

I have a fine bob. Can’t pull it back into pony tail. Need to dry it and straighten it style it a bit

I go at least 3 times a week and would go more often if I didn't have to faff with my hair! I use Philip Kingsley swimcap cream under my cap but long for something that keeps your hair totally dry. I'd pay a lot for one!!!

Tiger Oh, that's about the most swim-incompatible style. Really short and you're good to go, really long and you can tie it back - it's the mid length which is a bugger.

I know I would swim less if I had that issue to deal with. Sorry...not helpful, but I do understand how you feel. When my hair was that length, if I let it dry naturally it would just get bigger and bigger and wider and wider!

Can I tentatively join? I used to be a regular on these threads a couple of years or so back when I used to do 1k front crawl in my lunch break.

I changed jobs to an office nowhere near a pool and then had in succession a knee problem, hip bursitis and most recently a frozen shoulder. The shoulder has been very painful but treatment has helped a bit. I don’t have much movement and can’t raise my arm much.

I’ve just started swimming again doing a sort of breaststroke- can’t get my arm out of the water to do crawl. I’d forgotten how blissful it is.

Uhhh plans totally scuppered today after one of the heaviest periods I've ever had. No cramps but so heavy I really didn't feel comfortable going into the water. Hoping it will ease off and I'll get back tomorrow. Instead I'm curled up on the couch feeling sorry for myself and contemplating chocolate to cheer me up lol

I've given up on swimming caps and just build my hair washing routine into my swimming routine 😂🙈 so to correct myself I'm sitting on the couch, curled up, feeling sorry for myself, considering chocolate with greasy hair cause I should have washed it after swimming tonight 😂

Congrats to all that made a swim today and hi to all new posters joining! Nice to see the thread so active. 😊

Just got back. I'm exhausted but glad I went. Took a lot of prising to get me out though.

Well done chat!

Someone once pointed out to me that you never regret going for a swim. It's so true - even when I'm knackered and just do some gentle breaststroke I'm always glad I went.

I've been toying whether to go for a late swim all day. I used to go a lot, but since DS1 went to Uni can only go if he's about (am single parent) to mind DS2.

It's only just dawned on me that I don't actually have the car. I drove it to the garage this morning and ran home, leaving it there overnight for its MOT. What a twit. It's just the sort of thing I'd do - get all togged up, bag packed, DS2 in bed...leave the house and then see the empty car park spot.

We three are all going for a nice walk in a little while.

Hi everyone (waves)

I’m pleased to have found this thread. I’ve just got back from my third swim, having not swum properly for years. I’ve never been a club swimmer but wish I had been as I think swimming suits me better than a lot of other sports.

I’ve started to go to our local Swimfit sessions (just lane swimming, no informal instruction available I don’t think). Am currently doing 20 lengths of FC each time (plan is to build up gradually - am 10 months post partum of fourth and final child, and fitness levels are pretty low!). I am pausing for a short time between each length but will try to cut this out. 20 lengths took me 25 mins tonight, which I know is pitiful compared to some on here!

Can I ask - the equipment some of you use, e.g. pull buoys and floats - do you take your own, or does your pool provide them? I have seen online plans for swimming which involve such things, and I have none.

I’m hoping to take part in the 2020 Swimathon next March (2.5K) to raise money for charity.

I’m sure I have loads of other questions, but can’t think of them at the moment!

Oh, I’ve remembered one... do you all do any kind of stretching out of your muscles after a swim session?

And also: how many strokes do you take before breathing in FC? I breathe on every 5 but most people I see do every 3. But I just can't seem to blow all the air out of my lungs within 3 strokes.

Hello cabbage and welcome. Well done for getting back to the pool, I bet it feels great doesn't it?

re equipment. I have my own pull buoy which has helped me with positioning in the pool. I do 4 lengths w/o it and 4 with (which helps me keep count). I'm mainly a runner so I like that the buoy allows me to rest my legs and work on my upper body.

Stretching? Nahhh.

Breathing - every 3.

I breathe every 3. For years I was holding my breath, but the Shaw method taught me to start expelling water more or less as soon I was under the water. It's hard to explain.
I think I would find 5 difficult.
Learning to breathe has really really helped me more than anything else.

Hello - can I join in? I only manage two swims a week at most but it’s the only form of exercise I really enjoy. I do 1 - 1.5k per session and I’m trying to build stamina at the moment. I swim in a local private school pool and I don’t think they do any form of technique coaching but I think I could do with some.

Interesting to hear about others breathing issues - I can ONLY breathe on the left!,