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Weight loss chat

A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

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Original poster

Swimming - How long?

23 replies

BrokenFlipFlop · 03/04/2009 19:27

Right apologies if this is in the wrong place - I'm fairly new to MN and still finding my way round.

So, if you swim regularly, can you plse tell me how long you swim for? I'm trying to get fit/lose weight and have no idea if I'm doing enough.

At the moment I go 3 times a week and swim for between 60-90 mins each session. I don't charge up and down but do swim fairly quickly. Anyway have no idea how many calories i'm using up or if im doing it for long enough.

I know its not the most interesting thread in the world but any advice/help would be appreciated

OP posts:

LesbianMummy1 · 03/04/2009 20:40

I don't swim regularly but do aquafit which is fab. I would say that 60 - 90 mins 3 times a week is good and if you can keep it up then maybe gradually increase the intensity

Original poster

BrokenFlipFlop · 03/04/2009 20:46

Thank you ... agree re the intensity. I'll try that.

Also, I did an aquafit session for the first time the other day, the other people were lovely and it was a giggle so may do some more. Did make a note to self regarding purchasing a new swimming costume as fell out of tankini!!

OP posts:

nigglewiggle · 03/04/2009 20:47

Are you getting out of breath?

I'm no expert, but you need to be exerting yourself to burn calories.

It's not necessarily the duration of the exercise that counts.

Hello BTW.

Original poster

BrokenFlipFlop · 03/04/2009 20:52

Hi nigglewiggle and thank you.

I generally do find that i am getting out of breath and (forgive me if this sounds dreadfully sad but..) I do try and 'race' others in the pool. By that I mean that I simply try and keep my pace quicker than theirs.

I listen to music (waterproof mp3) and tend to day dream an awful lot whilst swimming but find that 'racing people' helps me to maintain a fairly quick pace.

Appreciate your help.

OP posts:

YumYumMummy · 03/04/2009 20:55

I'm fairly new too! But stumbled on this post so thought I'd give it a go... I would say 3 x 60-90 minutes a week is really good going and should definitely help with fitness and weight loss. And if you're exerting yourself but not going hell for leather you're probably at the right fat burning heart rate. I used to do 3-5 x 1hr sessions a week of aerobics/ swimming/ other activities and was really quite fit (sighs as she remembers) and could eat whatever I wanted for weight maintenance (more sighs). Then I could lose weight by either eating a bit less or exercising a bit more.

There are sorts of resources online and elsewhere to tell you how many calories you burn for particular exercise types. But personally I wouldn't put too much store in them because I found when you're exercising enough your metabolism speeds up generally, so you're burning off calories after the activity too, plus muscle burns more calories too.

Hope that helps - wish I could find a way to do that much exercise these days! Well done to you

nigglewiggle · 03/04/2009 20:55

Oooh what MP3 do you have?

I swim quite a bit and I'm trying to find out which one is best.

ZZMum · 03/04/2009 21:01

this may depress you ...

Swimming weight loss
Research published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine shows that in the absence of a controlled diet, swimming has little or no effect on weight loss [1].

Professor Grant Gwinup compared three exercise programs for three months. Each program began with up to 10 minutes of daily exercise. The length of each workout was increased by five minutes every week.

? Test subjects following the walking program lost 17 pounds of weight during the three-month study.

? Those following the cycling program lost 19 pounds of weight.

? However, subjects following the swimming program actually gained 5 pounds

Original poster

BrokenFlipFlop · 03/04/2009 21:06

I love my mp3 player - its simply brilliant

I spent ages reading reviews and finally settled on the Speedo Aquabeat. Its fab.

Its very small (matchbox size), fits nicely on to your goggles and is very very simple to use. Its only 1gb but tbh thats plenty bearing in mind how long you're likely to swim for per session.

The only very small whinge is that you can't shuffle tracks but if I'm honest, it is a very minor moan.

I believe the rrp is about £70 but I got it from Amazon for around £50. There are a few reviews on Amazon and some of them mention the earphones and specifically state that they don't stay in place - I've never had an issue with them, they are 'in the ear' phones with a small ear band that keeps them in place. No probs.

Go for it, it really does make swimming a lot more interesting (and dancing in the shower afterwards!!).

OP posts:

Original poster

BrokenFlipFlop · 03/04/2009 21:13

Hi YumYumMummy, thats encouraging. I do need to do more exercise ie other forms but I simply enjoy swimming alot so thought I'd start with that.

OMG ... ZZMum .... flipping eck. Defo need to start doing other forms of exercise asap!!

OP posts:

nigglewiggle · 03/04/2009 21:16

I saw a Gadget Show where they raved about that one - that seals it, thanks.

Have a great image of you dancing in the shower in your baggy tankini .

YumYumMummy · 03/04/2009 21:17

Oh dear, ZZMum, that is depressing hey!

It piqued my interest so I looked it up. It seems one of the possible reasons is that swimmers eat more after training, so negating the effect. Plus the type of muscle activity swimming produces is not as effective at raising the metabolic rate as other forms of exercise.

So maybe the answer is to make sure you don't eat more and/or combine swimming with other types of activities in your regime

ZZMum · 03/04/2009 21:19

I put that in as it made sense with me - have swum for years and am fit and lardy.. recently took up running - weight dropping off...so unfair as I love swimming!

Original poster

BrokenFlipFlop · 03/04/2009 21:28

The flipping tankini has to go... im so embarrassed by its super baggy self!.

Trust me, you can't help but dance and just a thought, surely all that wiggling must help to burn more calories??

I am really trying to watch what I eat and what you've said YumYum does actually make sense.

ZZMum... maybe thats the answer... jogging to the pool?!

OP posts:

MarkPT · 03/04/2009 22:12

Look to do interval training.
Do a few lengths steady pace, then 1 length flat out, next lap maybe go on your back and recover, next lap quick as you can etc repeating. for as long as you can or 15-20mins.
This form of training is the best for fat burning and fitness.

Original poster

BrokenFlipFlop · 03/04/2009 22:18

MarkPT thank you for that, will try tomorrow.

OP posts:

MarkPT · 03/04/2009 22:24

go for it! really work hard on the fast length, and really go slow on the next - the idea is to get you HR up high, then rest for recovery so you can work at about 80-90% of your max each time.

You should almost be sweating.....

Ensure you have a low GI carb and protein meal within the 90mins of finsihing though, otherwise your body will start breaking down muscle tissue for energy replacement and repair. Omelette with tomatoes, parma ham, goats cheese always a fave of mine!!

Original poster

BrokenFlipFlop · 03/04/2009 22:34

Wow - thanks for all the info.

Mmmmm sweating in the pool ... nice
Only joking, it makes sense.

Re the meal afterwards, the only issue I have with that is that I tend to go to the gym either v early in the morn or later on the eve ie after 8pm. As a result, I haven't exactly figured out 'how' or what to eat for the best and when ie what time? I think that I need to change things round a bit.

Really appreciate the advice though, thanks.

OP posts:

MarkPT · 03/04/2009 22:39

If it's in the morning, then you should be coming back and having breakfast -porridge with spoonful of whole earth organic (no sugar) peanut butter, or with some raspeberries, or some eggs on wholemeal toast?

If late in evening, back an have oatcake with some cottage cheese?

No trouble!
Am on a course in london all sat and sun, so won't be back on til evenings, but will keep tabs on your progress!!!!

Original poster

BrokenFlipFlop · 03/04/2009 22:46

Thank you again - didn't realise how little knowledge I actually have or at least, I know it but am not putting it in to practice!

The evenings are fine ie thats what I currently do. Mornings are not so good but I can change that.

I'll have a have a go anyway.

Hope the course goes ok

OP posts:

nigglewiggle · 03/04/2009 22:49

You're not Mark Foster are you???

Original poster

BrokenFlipFlop · 03/04/2009 22:56

...

OP posts:

mimsum · 06/04/2009 00:00

swimming can give you a fantastic body - the older boys at my ds's swimming club are all young adonises but they swim much, much harder than I've ever seen someone 'normal' manage

It's very easy to swim along for length after length without really exerting yourself, but you need to make sure you're raising your heartrate otherwise you won't lose weight/tone up

gordonpym · 06/04/2009 07:31

Previous answers are correct,it is not about time but intensity.
Try 300m warm up, crawl or mixing style
then 50m at 50%of your max speed,
then without recovery time, 50m at 60&, followed by 50m at 70%
and last 50m at 100% race speed.
You have already done 500m so far

Then 2 min pause at the wall, start again with 100 m slow swim,no matter the style.
(600m)

Repeat interval twice and you have accomplished a fine 1200 m training. Complete with some acqua-body-sculpt for abs and legs and you'll get an amazing figure. Promise!

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