Starting swimming tomorrow

[TheresABearOverThere]

I've put on a huge amount of weight due to medication I'm on and I'm now 5 stone overweight.

I know swimming isn't going to make me lose weight and I know I'm not a fantastic swimmer but I am desperate more than losing weight to feel fitter, to move my body. I haven't exercised in ages (work from home, two kids, maternity leave ended a year ago and my body was destroyed) and I just want to do something I enjoy doing to get started.

So I'm gonna go 3 times a week at lunchtime and do what I can and do Ring fit the other two days and hopefully from there, build up.

Anyone else unfit as fuck and want a buddy?

I love swimming! I have a waterproof MP3 player headset thing and love going to the pool with my music I find it so relaxing. My problem with it though is I find myself so hungry afterwards, so much more than with the gym unfortunately.

I wore a swimming cap, I've got brightly dyed hair which would wash out with chlorine.

And thanks and good luck to everyone else embarking on swimming! I drove there today as I'm low energy from flu but next time I'll cycle which will knock out an extra 20 minutes of exercise.

I wear a swimming hat, but mainly to keep the hair out of my face than any protectiveness. My hair still gets completely wet. I don't fully wash it every time, but rinse under the shower and then add conditioner.
My hairdresser says my hair is in good condition. It's got highlights.

I find putting some leave in conditioner before putting the swim cap on helps. Just wash & condition afterwards as normal 😊

I love swimming, so wanted to offer some words of encouragement!
I think 7 lengths is fine. Just try and make that your minimum from now on.
Just getting in the water is a huge first step.
In due course you can up it to ten, fifteen, twenty lengths, but first you need to make sure it's the right thing for you and if so do it regularly.
Good luck 🤞

I'm so glad I've seen this thread as I'm going to try going for a swim for the first time in years this week!

We live 2 mins from a big pool but I've been putting off going ever since we moved here over a year ago, but DP who has always hated swimming until he found a new love for it on holiday recently has said he would like to go to. I think we are going to go on Tuesday night.

I'm not kidding myself that I'll manage many lengths to begin with (I'm a very unfit 16.5stone) but maybe 7 will be my target!

I have been swimming recently but have back problems and been told not to do breaststroke! My crawl is awful and I don’t like having my face in the water. Gutted.

If you can find a pool with UV treatment rather than chlorine, that helps a lot.

@MidnightConstellation Do you use swimming goggles? They make a huge difference when it comes to putting your face in the water. You should try and learn/ get used to putting your face in. It would be a terrible shame if you let it get in the way of your swimming.
I like Speedo Biofuse goggles personally. They are very comfortable and do not leak.

It’s more to do with not wanting water in my hair as I try not to wash it every time or it gets very dry. I also don’t like chlorinated water on my face. I should try though I suppose.

Back stroke? You don't have to do the whole arm flinging thing, you can just flip your hands by the side of your body. It won't be such a good workout, and you have to be confident other swimmers are aware, and the pool not being too busy, but it's doable.

Just a word of caution though. My daughter caught covid at her local swimming pool. Either the changing room or communal showers I guess. She hadn't been anywhere else that week so she's fairly certain that's where it came from.

You can catch covid and other viruses from anywhere. More people die in the UK from inactivity than smoking. Unless the OP is ECV and avoiding other indoor spaces then swimming is a great choice and no more dangerous than going to the supermarket.

I put a thin layer of conditioner on my hair before I get into the water.

Yes or I will have to get better at crawl!

I’m still managing at least 3 mornings a week and have asked for some swimming lessons for Christmas. I want to improve my technique and work on my front crawl.

I’m stuck in the dark ages, I had no idea such things existed … I’d love to have some tunes while I swim, that’d be awesome! 😲 Can you recommend something decent please?

@HariboReckoning I’ve got a Finis Duo.

The one I have is a bit old school it’s a Sony Walkman mp3 that’s built into earphones. The problem with water is that Bluetooth doesn’t work in it so you have to have something that plays directly into your ear. It works great though!