I think I want to add lap swimming to my fitness/weight-loss tool belt. I’ve evkoyed being in the water my entire life.

While I don’t know “how to swim” like someone whose trained in it, I can swim if by that you mean get from A to B without too much difficulty.

My gym has a 25m lap pool, but I’ve neber “swim a lap”. Is it really as simple as buying a pair of goggles and jumping in and going for it, or is there more I should know? My goal is overall weight loss. This will be added in toma program consisting of weight training, HIIT, some treadmill work, and plain old walks. Everything I do is also aimed at being easy on the knees as I have significant miniscus issues with both of them.

Lastly,I have a big head. Any specific goggles best for those with that condition?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: thumperfbc,

Just swim laps. No sure if you even need a pair of goggles. You're not competing with anyone. This is strictly for health benefit.

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Just swim laps. No sure if you even need a pair of goggles. You're not competing with anyone. This is strictly for health benefit.

I’ve never been comfortable opening my eyes under water. Just a mental thing I guess.

I suppose I am mostly wondering if there is some secret pool etiquette (besides general courtesy) that I’m unaware of.

I swam for an hour daily for about six months last year. It helped in my weight loss. I stopped because I was having numbness in one of my hands.
Turned out to be a pinched nerve in my neck. I was doing the Brest stroke.
I have had two neck injections to combat the pain I started having.
This summer I’m dong the side stroke.
I don’t do the Crawl due to three shoulder surgeries.
I bought goggles last summer and would consider doing the breast stroke without them.
Good luck on your efforts.

Goggles are good for eyes. But take a break and remove them once in awhile. Soap wash and mild rinse can help with fogging. Costco usually has decent pairs for cheap.

Until acclimated, go easy to avoid shoulder stress pain. Get a float for your legs and work your arms and upper body.

It looks bad but I don’t care - I like form fitting tight shorts that don’t allow for air bubbles in your swim suit.

Buy some goggles from a smim shop and buy the book "Total Immersion". This book has a bunch of tips and tricks on how to swim efficiently and faster.

Avoid drowning.

flashguy

Swimming is a great low impact exercise, I also have knee trouble and swimming is how I get a daily workout. I swim for 90 minutes. Goggles are definitely needed. As far as a large head, seams like most goggles have enough adjustment, both head strap and between the eyes adjustment. I buy my goggles at big 5. A workout plan is key for me because swiming for a hour and a half gets really boring. I just need a plan. Like a ladder, 100, 150 200, 250 , 300 descending (Increasing pace). But a planned distance and pace. If I don't have a plan, I will quit early.

Buy decent goggles. It helps to see the lane center line when swimming. Your eyes will also be grateful your wear goggles.

If there is a lifeguard ask them if there is a lane for faster and slower swimmers. Some pools that get lots of lap swimmer have different lanes for different speeds.

I swam for many years but haven't in years. There are lots of workouts you can do. Mostly doing sets of laps at set times. If you're new to swimming I would just get in, swim and work on the strokes you want to do.

All that and just have fun.

Only treading water, I've thrown out a shoulder. Granted, these were 40+ minute power tread sessions, but geez, when ya can't bob in the water without getting hurt ...

I'll limit myself treading now, even when it "feels fine". Diet, a few sit-ups, some stretches with weights, seems to work for maintaining weight.

If not a great swimmer, start at a pool water ex program. Pool noodles and all....

You absolutely need goggles, I prefer some sort of hammer shorts, I won’t go full speedo but it’s impossible to argue with the drag of a baggy swimsuit vs a tighter suit.

You might try watching some of the videos from total immersion or buying their book, swimming in my opinion is more like golf than running, building proper technique goes a long way and will help prevent injuries.

comfortable goggle? barracuda. if you can find a B300 model it has more padding for comfort, and it snap detaches the strap at one eye piece side - quick removal.

Some pools will allow more than one person to use the same lane during busy times. In this scenario, swim to the right of the lane. If a faster swimmer comes up behind you and touches your foot, stop and let the swimmer pass.

Don't expect weight loss without minding your caloric intake. Some of the kids on my son's swim team are twenty pounds overweight and they swim 5000 to 6000 meters a day, six days a week.

Get some Speedo Jammers:

https://www.speedousa.com/men/...durance-style-805014

They are long, so not the typical Speedo look. But they are tight, so they really do help your swimming. I resisted for a while but finally broke down and they do make a difference.

I wish I was a more efficient swimmer. Two laps and you would think I ran a marathon.

Snorkeling with fins is better for me and quite a leg workout.

Former lifeguard here. Not a swim coach, not a PT, but...

With your knee issues, I'd avoid fins entirely, especially if you don't have a solid technical stroke. They'll put all sorts of interesting torsion in your legs, and in your case, probably somewhat unpredictably.

What Suppressed said about lane speed - Definitely figure out the slow lane/fast lane thing before you jump in. The slow lanes are usually going to be closer to the side, since the waves coming off of the wall are generally undesireable and more detrimental to serious lap swimmers. Bottom line - don't worry about keeping up with anyone else, just don't obstruct traffic.

As a less experienced swimmer, if you find yourself short of breath (because of cardio or water), please re-think what you're doing and consider taking a lesson or two for your own safety. In the alternative, you might consider using a kickboard. It will cost you the arms, but you can still get the cardio out of it.

-Rob

I think the danger zones are the transitions getting in and out of the pool.

Buddy of mine that started swimming after his heart surgery swears by this:



Search for "Michael Phelps Snorkel".

Swimming is a great way to get exercise, but be careful and really try to work hard in the pool. I seem to recall hearing about an exercise physiology study where people who swam, but not enough to really exert themselves, actually gained weight during the course of the study. It was thought to be due to the pool water cooling their body temp slightly and tripping the body's hunger switch (which led to increased food intake that was more calories than were burned during the swim) in the hypothalamus. Or at least be aware of this possibilty and watch what you eat after you swim.