Get a pair of googles.

A Speedo type suit only if you are comfortable in your birfday suit while in public () but otherwise, a typical pair of swim trunks will work.

Make sure there is an observer who can swim and is training on water rescue (ie, a lifeguard). I'm was an Olympic class swimmer back in the day but even now, I swim with an observer even if it's just my wife armed with a Shepard's crook.

Start of easy for the first month or so working your way up to 2,000 meters then 4,000m 3x/week

Have fun and learn to breath without interrupting your pace

I don't swim much but one of my favorite workouts while travelling is swim a couple pool lengths, get out 10 pushups, couple lengths 10 squats, couple lengths flutter kicks etc. I usually do about 10 sets of that. Between the swimming, the climbing out and calisthenics it is a good workout!

quote:

Originally posted by Jimbo Jones:
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.

I read an article about that study the other day. Pretty interesting. My food intake is planned and tracked so it shouldn’t be a problem, but it is good to be aware of.

Currently, I’m only looking at 1-2 days per week. I’m curious to track my heart rate and see what it looks like.

I was on swim team as a kid, so I knew the strokes when I got back into it seriously about three years ago after a thiry-five-odd year break. I generally do a mile three times a week now. Here are my thoughts:

Goggles are a must -- you want to be able to see what you're doing and where you're going underwater, and the chlorine will do your eyes very quickly. Having your head underwater is also an absolute must to swim more efficiently.

If your budget, time, and ego allow it, get someone to show you how to do the crawl properly -- it's probably the most efficient stroke to work your whole body (the fly maybe better, but far more difficult to master and do), especially side-breathing properly. For breaststroke, if you're doing the official kick (frog kick), then it's easy to do it improperly and mess yourself up.

The folks I swim with (5:45 am types) run from really old folks who are basically treading water to off-season college swim team types to 30-40 something triatheletes to middle-aged guys like me trying to stay in shape. We also sometimes get the various ROTC groups doing their swim quals (which can be quite entertaining).

From observing that grouping, I really hope you learn the strokes properly -- it will really help you in your quest and make you feel better accomplishing something new. Regardless, good for you for pushing yourself.

In addition to the goggles I also use nose clip and ear plugs. I go in spurts with swimming. I like the workout but really don't care for the whole process.
People at my gym seem to go full retard in the pool area. Coming out of the steam room or sauna to cool off while you try to swim laps. Noooice.

The biggest thing you need to do is shower before and, especially, after you swim in that pool.

https://www.news4jax.com/news/...r-person-doctor-says


MIAMI - If you're excited to spend your summer relaxing in the pool, you may want to read this first.

A doctor says that most swimming pools contain one to three ounces of urine per person... that's right, per person.

Dr. Anessa Alappatt of Premier Health in Dayton claims the chlorine you smell when approaching a pool is not always a good thing.

"The odor that you smell in a public pool, is not the chlorine, but it's the chlorine reacting with all the urine in the pool." Alappatt told WKEF.

Almost 40 percent of adults have admitted to urinating in the pool, but most bacteria from urine is killed in seconds due to the chlorine.

However, it can up to a week for the bacteria from stool to be destroyed.

"That's why you should take a shower afterward." said Alappatt.



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quote:

Originally posted by TigerDore:
The biggest thing you need to do is shower before and, especially, after you swim in that pool.

Since he brought it up, I'll encourage you with this as well...

Yeah, public swimming pools are nasty. I spent years as a pool operator and lifeguard and I won't go in them.

You should understand that the smell of chlorine and the burning in your eyes is NOT the chlorine that's killing bacteria. That all comes from chloramines, which means that the chlorine/pH/alkalinity balance in the pool is off, that there's likely too much combined chlorine and not enough free chlorine (the kind that does the sanitizing), and that the pool water may or may not be properly sanitized.

Happy swimming!

-Rob

I went to my gyms pool when they had a "a pool is more than swimming "training event. The trainer give ma a nice pool workout that I really enjoy.

1. After your pre shower, go a couple laps swimming, dependent on your skill level.

2. Put on some water proof weights or water exercise devices on you ankles. Do a few running jogging laps in the pool. Concentrate on lifting knees.

3. Do some stretching exercises using the deeper water and edge of the pool.

4. I do all my martial arts kicks. Works on my form and balance without the normal train on my old body.

5. Do some punches and elbows in the deeper (5 foot deep section). I also do some of the sections of martial arts forms.

6. Finish with a couple more laps of swimming, some time in sauna/steam room, hot tub, and post shower.

I usually hit the pool now after a BJJ or boxing workout. Really keeps me from feeling super sore the next couple days.

Here is a Bas Rutten Pool Workout that is similar to what I do:

quote:

Originally posted by BurtonRW:

quote:

Originally posted by TigerDore:
The biggest thing you need to do is shower before and, especially, after you swim in that pool.

Since he brought it up, I'll encourage you with this as well...

Yeah, public swimming pools are nasty. I spent years as a pool operator and lifeguard and I won't go in them.

You should understand that the smell of chlorine and the burning in your eyes is NOT the chlorine that's killing bacteria. That all comes from chloramines, which means that the chlorine/pH/alkalinity balance in the pool is off, that there's likely too much combined chlorine and not enough free chlorine (the kind that does the sanitizing), and that the pool water may or may not be properly sanitized.

Happy swimming!

-Rob

This is what I was referencing in my "whole process" comment above. Shower in, shower out and still know that the water you swim in is plain nasty.

Best advice is to look up a local Masters Swim team and maybe get a few lessons first.

Four laps, then some sauna and finally the hot tub are all how I cap off my workouts at the gym every time.
Not a big swimmer myself either but I just do it for the relaxation and to supplement my workout.
Sometimes I wear goggles but not usually, all pretty simple.

Most pools have life guards who can give you tips on swimming. He is nowhere near ready for any masters program. Best to just swim most days and work on your stroke. Lessons may be helpful but free help at the pool may be enough.

I swam 8-10 miles a week for a while, burned a tremendous amount of calories. Only issue is sun damage, but that can be mitigated by swimming early in the morning, or near the end of the day.

When swimming, each day you will get better and be able to swim longer. Takes about two months of swimming 5x/week until you can comfortably swim 2,000 yards a day. Absolutely need goggles.

quote:

Originally posted by c1steve:
...He is nowhere near ready for any masters program. ....

Maybe I am spoiled with my team, but our team has everyone from former D1 and former Olympic trail swimmers (and some olympic medalists) to people that are straight up beginners. We have 3 to 4 "groups" in the pool at the same time doing basically the same work-out but at different levels of fitness. So dont discount masters just yet.

Last month, in the morning I was swimming with a former gold medalist, former bronze medalist from different Olympics at one end of the pool and at the other was a woman in her 70's rehabing after knee surgery. And everyone in between. Point is, everyone is "ready" for masters if it is a good program.

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:
Avoid drowning.

flashguy

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I picked up a pair of Aqua Sphere goggles after reading several times they are generally big-head friendly and swam for about 45 minutes today. No sun as it was 4:15 in the morning when I entered the water.

I didn’t keep track of how many laps I saw... maybe 20ish? I don’t know. My heart rate tracker is swimming compatible so I am able to compare the swimming to other workouts I do and it was pretty much in line with a similar amount of time on the treadmill, but absent boredom and sweat, so that is a plus.

I was doing a “breast stroke like” thing for most of the time but the last 15 minutes I switched to the more traditional style, I’m not sure what it is called. That style ran my heart rate up much faster.

All in all it went quite well. I’ll probably do 1-2 days a week.

quote:

Originally posted by thumperfbc:
but absent ... sweat

Congrats! Give it time. The dedicated ymca swimmers tell me they do work up a sweat, even though the water is cool.

Me, I cannot fathom sweating in water.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodman:

quote:

Originally posted by thumperfbc:
but absent ... sweat

Congrats! Give it time. The dedicated ymca swimmers tell me they do work up a sweat, even though the water is cool.

Me, I cannot fathom sweating in water.

Yea, I can’t fathom how one would noticeably sweat in cool water, and I’m a sweater!

Between my swim, my physical therapy session, and a short bike ride I’m at 2900 calories of active burn for the day. I meant to get in a lifting session but it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen today.

I'd seriously consider the Michael Phelps snorkel or some variant thereof. When you start including more and more American Crawl into your swimming routine, I think you'll find it will enhance your workout. I know I personally WASTED a LOT of energy in my swimming workouts some years ago because I just had poor technique and there was really no one around to teach me correctly. Pretty much why I gave up swimming and just stayed on the tennis court twice as long.

Congrats so far, though, on what you're doing!!!

quote:

Originally posted by erj_pilot:
I'd seriously consider the Michael Phelps snorkel or some variant thereof. When you start including more and more American Crawl into your swimming routine, I think you'll find it will enhance your workout. I know I personally WASTED a LOT of energy in my swimming workouts some years ago because I just had poor technique and there was really no one around to teach me correctly. Pretty much why I gave up swimming and just stayed on the tennis court twice as long.

Congrats so far, though, on what you're doing!!!

It’s an interesting concept and I get that it would allow me to concentrate on technique, which I need a lot of help with.

But isn’t using something like that, at my stage, like soneone learning to shoot a rifle for the first time but the rifle has an Aimpoint so the person learning never learns the basics of using irons?