If I swim 20 lengths of an Olympic-sized pool 4 times a week

[wallyfeatures]

• how long before I am absolutely gorgeous?!?

I am 5'3' and in the last year, due to a job change, have piled on a stone and several inches. I look like a blob and none of my clothes fit. I hate diets, but want to up my activity levels. Swimming is a good one as if I buy a monthly card, I'm so tight, that I feel motivated to get every last penny's worth from it. So, will it make a difference to my weight and figure?

Ive done it! Finally swam again after a couple of months break. Meant to swim with 6 year old yesterday but eldest forgot swim kit and it didn't happen.

Did 56 lengths - 8 off a mile but the pool closed for school lessons. I'm nowhere near as fast as I was - or a lot of you, it took me nearly 50mins!

Looking forwarda to getting stuck in :)

Ive been inspired by this thread so grabbed my old cossie and headed off. Just swam 40 lengths of 25m pool!
Not been for ages but I'm going to try and go once a week at least. So thanks everyone

This is wonderful to see so many people joining in. All I ask is that we all maintain good lane discipline and not too much splashing!

Welcome InTheNavy and Kazzymac and BoogieFeet! And well done AdventuringThroughLife on completing your first session.

And thank you paperbattles for the info on technique. I do need to get some one to look at how I'm swimming, I'm sure as I was never taught. Sometimes it feels just right but other times I seem to catch a crab with my foot and I get neck ache. I need to work up the courage to ask as I am a bit shy. Plus I am abroad and my language skills are not up to discussing the technicalities of swimming. I think my legs are working ok though as I do seem to have lost some inches around my thighs going on trouser fit.

No swimming from me yesterday folks and just half a kilometre this morning. I ate something that didn't agree with me on Sunday and was recovering yesterday. Still feel yuck today. So that's 648 lengths of the pool to go on the Aspire challenge.

ps roundturnandtwohalfhitches I have swim bag envy!

Fully back on it today with the full 20 lengths, 1 km. Decent time although I still feel rubbish. Remind me not to eat wild foraged mushrooms again! 628 lengths to go.

How's everyone else getting on?

I have done 7 miles now but I missed yesterday. My DH is away for 10 days from Sunday so I'll need to get a solid 4 days in before he goes but I've a full on head cold. I might do a half sessions instead- which is making me feel anxious. I think I've become addicted 😱 I've been looking at technique videos online and my arms are fine but I could do with sorting my legs out if I want to go faster. Thing is I'm not really in it for the speed - I'm not racing anyone so as long as I push myself that suits me.

I'm back to being unwell so have not been swimming yesterday and today. Really cross with myself as I had managed 4 straight weeks 4 times a week. I'm giving myself the weekend to recover and then back on it on Monday. Feeling let down and betrayed by the old corpus.

You've done the right thing @wallyfeatures There really is no point going if you feel awful. The cold and the wet just make you shudder instead of energising you.
Rest and get better- you'll soon be back in the swim!

Hello! I’ve just found this thread and am in similar position to you OP. Also 5”3, and currently weigh 12.8 stone (gulp! Heaviest I’ve ever been - in fact I was lighter at 9 months pregnant with my now 5 year old).

I’m confused at all the posters saying running burns more calories. What are you basing this on? I have an Apple Watch and on a 5k run (currently takes me about 34 mins) I burn 285 calories. On a 1km swim (takes about 30 mins) I burn 476 calories. So for this reason I have chosen swimming 4/5 times per week and running 1/2 times per week as my ratio. Is my Apple Watch wrong? I’m baffled as to why the general consensus is that running burns more...?

I also swim in an outdoor 50m pool, there’s this one Middle Aged bloke that is often there in same lane, and he really tries to intimidate me! Why do they do it?! I’m ever so slightly faster than him, so if I get stuck behind him I am swimming more slowly than I’d like, but it’s a struggle to overtake and then put enough distance between us (although I do do this but it stresses me out!). Yesterday it was just him in the lane when I got in, so I waited until he was nearly at the other end before starting so there was a full 50m between us. Good for a few lengths, then what does the fucker do? Sits fiddling with his goggles until I’ve caught up, then pushes off just before me! So I’m either on his heels or I have to stop and wait to put some distance but why should I pause my workout when he’s the one caused the problem? So we ended up bunched up for the rest of the fucking swim. I put up with it because it makes me swim faster but also gave me rage!

Anyway that turned into a rant! 😂

I think some runners perpetuate the whole swimming burns no calories thing. I believed it for years but Google says otherwise and I'm seeing more difference with swimming than when I ran.

They are just wanting you to go away so they can have it all for themselves. Someone tried to do the same thing to me last night by swimming at me every length-I just ignored and carried on in my lane until he got bored.

Ive done my second swim! Only 47 lengths as the session ends but it counts. Will see what my 6 year old can do with me sunday then will aim for 3 sessions next week.

A lovely 80 year old today told me she swims 3 x a week and its kept her fit. Im v obese so felt v encouraged!

(To clarify mines a 25m pool! I know a lpt of you are swimming far more!)

I so want to get back to swimming- have shoulder bursitis at the moment and can't. Couldn't even get in/out of my cossie right now:( I walk a lot but find swimming great for clearing my mind as well as getting exercise. Hopefully not too much longer now!

Have just read this whole thread and was so inspired I want to go swimming.... Problem is I can't really swim . Will people at the pool judge me for my Hodge podge method combining a little bit of all the strokes??

On the exercise board there’s a swimming for fitness thread, you might like it.

But weight loss is 80% what you eat. I get loads of exercise and feel good for it, but because I eat more calories than I burn up don’t lose weight.

I did 8 lengths with the kid and then a few more myself. Not able to do a lot but logged it as Im already behind!

So I did 45 minutes swimming today-2nd time going . It's easier if I don't overthink it and just get my swim stuff packed and get in the car!
I did ache a lot last week (in a good way) and I'm aching now so something must be happening!

I'm back! Still sick, but not as sick. Sorry for the absence. Well done to all those who have kept up the good work. I hope that you are all feeling the benefit.

So, first day back after more than a week and I did 10 lengths and then sat in the steam room for 10 minutes. Still feeling not right, sort of bilious and hungry-sick so starting off again gently. I optimistically purchased a 3-month swim ticket this time so that is a reflection of my mental commitment. Just need my body to sort itself out properly. An unexpected bonus of being poorly is I've dropped another 2 pounds meaning I am now 6 pounds down on my starting weight. 638 lengths to go on the challenge.

Have a great week peeps.

And I can't do basic maths. 618 lengths to go

Just to add I love running but have wrecked knee joints. I wish I enjoyed swimming and I just add if I could swim 20 lengths of an Olympic sized pool I would lose weight- you go! I’m impressed just don’t give up. Ps I’m yet to see an overweight regular swimmer and you can keep it up until you’re at least 90!

Husbands away and I havent had so much opportunity to swim. I did swim 10 lengths with little miss 6 at the weekend but wanted to do more!

They're trying out for the swimclub this week. I wish i was as young and fit!

I can testify to seeing elderly people swim. Im hoping iy will get me fit (once I can actually do it again.) Im a little worried im quite behind but hoping I can get more in once husbands home to watch kids!

AdventuringThroughLife Well done on fitting some in around the kids. I used to go swimming with the children when they were little but bugger all swimming was done by me as I was mostly fast walking running after them as they both headed off in different directions. So much kudos to you in getting 10 lengths done! And every little bit helps (that's my mantra!) oopsadaisy77 I can also testify that there are many elderly swimmers in the pool I go to and most of them are hobbling along but once they get in the water they are surprisingly nippy !

14 lengths today, so working back up slowly, plus I had to be back in time for the other half to have the car for a doctor's appointment. We are not usually such a plague of sickness.

Hope to get 20 lengths in tomorrow. Now down to 604 lengths to go on the challenge. Where is everybody else at?

I'm still here. 15 miles done. I had an awful swim this morning- don't know why. I felt like I was a bag of spuds in the water but I kept going only because it was quiet. I think I just don't like morning swims- I haven't loosened up or something.

15 miles is amazing roundturnandtwohalfhitches that's inspiring. Commiserations about today but well done at keeping at it. I have a day sometimes where it just ain't happening, I think it is normal. Could be that the mornings are getting darker?

20 lengths done and dusted this morning. Still feel rough but powered through motivated by all the splashy swimmers getting in my way ROAR!

584 lengths to go. So far I have swum 12.4 km or 7.7 miles, which means I can probably still see the White Cliffs of Dover and am also n danger from shipping.

Apart from roundturnandtwohalfhitches is anyone out in the channel with me still at it?