anyone here swim laps for exercise?

[iamme]

i've been thinking about starting up swimming as a low impact cardio exercise. anyone do this on a regular basis?

 

[J0hnny]

Actually, I do once every other workout. It is by far the best workout I can get in terms of impact on the muscle tone. I swim continuously for at least 45 minutes alternating with various strokes. The one stroke I can't get down however is the butterfly.

 

[Ricochet]

Are there any affordable gym with an olympic size pool in SoCal?

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: J0hnny
Actually, I do once every other workout. It is by far the best workout I can get in terms of impact on the muscle tone. I swim continuously for at least 45 minutes alternating with various strokes. The one stroke I can't get down however is the butterfly.

after 45 minutes are you out of breath as if you did 45 minutes of "regular" cardio? (running, jogging, etc)

 

[Imdmn04]

Originally posted by: iamme

Originally posted by: J0hnny
Actually, I do once every other workout. It is by far the best workout I can get in terms of impact on the muscle tone. I swim continuously for at least 45 minutes alternating with various strokes. The one stroke I can't get down however is the butterfly.

after 45 minutes are you out of breath as if you did 45 minutes of "regular" cardio? (running, jogging, etc)

Yes, if you can swim for straight(no rests) 45mins, you be pretty good in shape.

Swimming is a harder workout than running because not only do you have to move forward, and use all of your limbs, you would also spend effort just to stay afloat.

 

[J0hnny]

Originally posted by: Imdmn04

Originally posted by: iamme

Originally posted by: J0hnny
Actually, I do once every other workout. It is by far the best workout I can get in terms of impact on the muscle tone. I swim continuously for at least 45 minutes alternating with various strokes. The one stroke I can't get down however is the butterfly.

after 45 minutes are you out of breath as if you did 45 minutes of "regular" cardio? (running, jogging, etc)

Yes, if you can swim for straight(no rests) 45mins, you be pretty good in shape.

Swimming is a harder workout than running because not only do you have to move forward, and use all of your limbs, you would also spend effort just to stay afloat.

Well, I take sporadic rests which are no longer than 30 seconds. Usually, you just slow down if you get tired.

 

[Koing]

My mum swims 20x 25m laps.

Being able to swim 25min non stop is good for your 'cardio' and swimming but you would also be out of breath running for 45mins straight. You got to train 'xxx' cardio to be good at it. Your HR may be able to take it but your muscles won't due to the motion of the cardio.

Koing

 

[megataxi]

Try kayaking or canoying, you get a good workout, if you tip you're swimming anyway plus you get to c cool stuff like deer and squirels (as if you don't c enough of those already )

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: Imdmn04

Originally posted by: iamme

Originally posted by: J0hnny
Actually, I do once every other workout. It is by far the best workout I can get in terms of impact on the muscle tone. I swim continuously for at least 45 minutes alternating with various strokes. The one stroke I can't get down however is the butterfly.

after 45 minutes are you out of breath as if you did 45 minutes of "regular" cardio? (running, jogging, etc)

Yes, if you can swim for straight(no rests) 45mins, you be pretty good in shape.

Swimming is a harder workout than running because not only do you have to move forward, and use all of your limbs, you would also spend effort just to stay afloat.

You will actually get a much better workout if you don't just swim continuously but rather come up with a routine including reps of various lengths with a bit of a break between each one. Of course switching strokes as you said you do (don't feel bad about butterfly, that stroke kicks my ass every time).

CHekc with someone in charge of the swim area or a local high school/college swim coach or even a web site and get ideas for a routine you can follow that will maximize your workout.