So Special K, maybe there's a misunderstanding here...
I don't want to be a bodybuilder. I think Michael Phelps is HUGE... because compared to ME, he is.
YOU may think Michael Phelps is SKINNY. But really, his body size is what I'm targetting.
So Special K, maybe there's a misunderstanding here...
I don't want to be a bodybuilder. I think Michael Phelps is HUGE... because compared to ME, he is.
YOU may think Michael Phelps is SKINNY. But really, his body size is what I'm targetting.
azazyel
Diamond Member
- Oct 6, 2000
- 5,872
- 1
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Start with a 400 IM at your own pace and take rests as you need them.
Do 5 100s Free and give yourself 15 seconds rest between sets
Do 5 50's and give yourself 10 secs rest
Do 4 100 IMs 20 seconds rest
Do 2 200s with bouy rotating strokes on the 25 give yourself 15 seconds
Do 4 50s with the kick board go through all the strokes
Do a 400 warm down.
I don't really think you'll be able to do this but it's something to shoot for. Worry about your stroke before you worry about completing a set. Start recording how fast you are going and set goals. (Lear to read the clock and keep that time in your head) Instead of giving yourself a set rest time you will eventually will be doing the set based on time. Like doing a 100 on the minuet. All of the strokes will build up your shoulders but the one that will truly add mass is butterfly.
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Alphathree33
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Special K
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Xylitol
You get lots of muscles from swimming.
My friend who is an intense speed swimmer is stronger than many football players at my school.
You will NOT get cut though. You need to do bodybuilding to sculpt your body to look more defined.</end quote></div>
Have you looked at olympic swimmers? Most are thin and have very low bodyfat, both of which are an advantage in their sport. I'm not saying all swimmers are weak, but I'd be surprised if any of them could put up any heavy weights on the squat, bench, or deadlift.
To build muscle, you need to lift heavy and eat big. To lose fat and become more defined, while holding onto the muscle, you need to lift heavy, and eat in a moderate caloric deficit. Doing tons of cardio, as swimmers do, may get you ripped, but it is not conducive to building muscle.
"Sculpt" and "tone" are BS/myth terms.
</end quote></div>
So Special K, maybe there's a misunderstanding here...
I don't want to be a bodybuilder. I think Michael Phelps is HUGE... because compared to ME, he is.
YOU may think Michael Phelps is SKINNY. But really, his body size is what I'm targetting.</end quote></div>
OK, well let me put it this way then: the only difference between gaining 5 lbs. of muscle and gaining 50 is the duration of time that you follow the program. The approach is exactly the same. If you only want a few lbs. of muscle, then eat big and lift heavy for several months, then once you get to your "desired" size, cut back on the eating.
Your body isn't going to grow unless you feed it, so just eat less and maintain once you reach your target.
Oh and another myth - all your muscles can do is get larger or smaller. You cannot change their shape, which is determined by genetics, muscle insertion points, etc. You could change your relative proportions and have some muscle groups develop more than others, but your total shape is going to be determined by your own genetics. You can't follow one particular person's workout and expect to look just like them.
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Special K
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Xylitol
You get lots of muscles from swimming.
My friend who is an intense speed swimmer is stronger than many football players at my school.
You will NOT get cut though. You need to do bodybuilding to sculpt your body to look more defined.</end quote></div>
Have you looked at olympic swimmers? Most are thin and have very low bodyfat, both of which are an advantage in their sport. I'm not saying all swimmers are weak, but I'd be surprised if any of them could put up any heavy weights on the squat, bench, or deadlift.
To build muscle, you need to lift heavy and eat big. To lose fat and become more defined, while holding onto the muscle, you need to lift heavy, and eat in a moderate caloric deficit. Doing tons of cardio, as swimmers do, may get you ripped, but it is not conducive to building muscle.
"Sculpt" and "tone" are BS/myth terms.
</end quote></div>
So Special K, maybe there's a misunderstanding here...
I don't want to be a bodybuilder. I think Michael Phelps is HUGE... because compared to ME, he is.
YOU may think Michael Phelps is SKINNY. But really, his body size is what I'm targetting.</end quote></div>
OK, well let me put it this way then: the only difference between gaining 5 lbs. of muscle and gaining 50 is the duration of time that you follow the program. The approach is exactly the same. If you only want a few lbs. of muscle, then eat big and lift heavy for several months, then once you get to your "desired" size, cut back on the eating.
Your body isn't going to grow unless you feed it, so just eat less and maintain once you reach your target.
Oh and another myth - all your muscles can do is get larger or smaller. You cannot change their shape, which is determined by genetics, muscle insertion points, etc. You could change your relative proportions and have some muscle groups develop more than others, but your total shape is going to be determined by your own genetics. You can't follow one particular person's workout and expect to look just like them.
azazyel
Diamond Member
- Oct 6, 2000
- 5,872
- 1
- 81
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Special K
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Xylitol
You get lots of muscles from swimming.
My friend who is an intense speed swimmer is stronger than many football players at my school.
You will NOT get cut though. You need to do bodybuilding to sculpt your body to look more defined.</end quote></div>
Have you looked at olympic swimmers? Most are thin and have very low bodyfat, both of which are an advantage in their sport. I'm not saying all swimmers are weak, but I'd be surprised if any of them could put up any heavy weights on the squat, bench, or deadlift.
To build muscle, you need to lift heavy and eat big. To lose fat and become more defined, while holding onto the muscle, you need to lift heavy, and eat in a moderate caloric deficit. Doing tons of cardio, as swimmers do, may get you ripped, but it is not conducive to building muscle.
"Sculpt" and "tone" are BS/myth terms.
</end quote></div>
Sorry dude, you have no idea what you're talking about. Pound for pound a swimmer would easily be able to keep up with a weight lifter. I could easily do 20 - 30 pull ups while my weight lifting football playing friends couldn't do more than 10.
Edit:
When I was in school I would actually attach a 25lbs to myself and do Pull Ups and dips.
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Xylitol
You get lots of muscles from swimming.
My friend who is an intense speed swimmer is stronger than many football players at my school.
You will NOT get cut though. You need to do bodybuilding to sculpt your body to look more defined.</end quote></div>
Have you looked at olympic swimmers? Most are thin and have very low bodyfat, both of which are an advantage in their sport. I'm not saying all swimmers are weak, but I'd be surprised if any of them could put up any heavy weights on the squat, bench, or deadlift.
To build muscle, you need to lift heavy and eat big. To lose fat and become more defined, while holding onto the muscle, you need to lift heavy, and eat in a moderate caloric deficit. Doing tons of cardio, as swimmers do, may get you ripped, but it is not conducive to building muscle.
"Sculpt" and "tone" are BS/myth terms.
</end quote></div>
Sorry dude, you have no idea what you're talking about. Pound for pound a swimmer would easily be able to keep up with a weight lifter. I could easily do 20 - 30 pull ups while my weight lifting football playing friends couldn't do more than 10.
Edit:
When I was in school I would actually attach a 25lbs to myself and do Pull Ups and dips.
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: azazyel
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Special K
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Xylitol
You get lots of muscles from swimming.
My friend who is an intense speed swimmer is stronger than many football players at my school.
You will NOT get cut though. You need to do bodybuilding to sculpt your body to look more defined.</end quote></div>
Have you looked at olympic swimmers? Most are thin and have very low bodyfat, both of which are an advantage in their sport. I'm not saying all swimmers are weak, but I'd be surprised if any of them could put up any heavy weights on the squat, bench, or deadlift.
To build muscle, you need to lift heavy and eat big. To lose fat and become more defined, while holding onto the muscle, you need to lift heavy, and eat in a moderate caloric deficit. Doing tons of cardio, as swimmers do, may get you ripped, but it is not conducive to building muscle.
"Sculpt" and "tone" are BS/myth terms.
</end quote></div>
Sorry dude, you have no idea what you're talking about. Pound for pound a swimmer would easily be able to keep up with a weight lifter. I could easily do 20 - 30 pull ups while my weight lifting football playing friends couldn't do more than 10.
</end quote></div>
What do you squat? How about deadlift and bench? I'm not talking about endurance/bodyweight strength, I'm talking about power moves.
Squat, bench, and deadlift are the 3 basic powerlifts, and max lifts are used as a gauge of strength.
Also I'm curious to know what you define as "serious muscle" in your earlier post. Again, I've never seen any 6' 225 lb. <10% bodyfat swimmers, which would meet my definition of "serious muscle".
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Special K
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Xylitol
You get lots of muscles from swimming.
My friend who is an intense speed swimmer is stronger than many football players at my school.
You will NOT get cut though. You need to do bodybuilding to sculpt your body to look more defined.</end quote></div>
Have you looked at olympic swimmers? Most are thin and have very low bodyfat, both of which are an advantage in their sport. I'm not saying all swimmers are weak, but I'd be surprised if any of them could put up any heavy weights on the squat, bench, or deadlift.
To build muscle, you need to lift heavy and eat big. To lose fat and become more defined, while holding onto the muscle, you need to lift heavy, and eat in a moderate caloric deficit. Doing tons of cardio, as swimmers do, may get you ripped, but it is not conducive to building muscle.
"Sculpt" and "tone" are BS/myth terms.
</end quote></div>
Sorry dude, you have no idea what you're talking about. Pound for pound a swimmer would easily be able to keep up with a weight lifter. I could easily do 20 - 30 pull ups while my weight lifting football playing friends couldn't do more than 10.
</end quote></div>
What do you squat? How about deadlift and bench? I'm not talking about endurance/bodyweight strength, I'm talking about power moves.
Squat, bench, and deadlift are the 3 basic powerlifts, and max lifts are used as a gauge of strength.
Also I'm curious to know what you define as "serious muscle" in your earlier post. Again, I've never seen any 6' 225 lb. <10% bodyfat swimmers, which would meet my definition of "serious muscle".
yllus
Elite Member & Lifer
- Aug 20, 2000
- 20,577
- 432
- 126
You're tempting me to start doing the same. I'm a pretty awful swimmer and have always wanted to fix that, as well as keep my lean frame but improve strength.
How did you get started? Join a club, or public pools and started using the semi-public lap time? Details please!
DrPizza
Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
I think you'd be fine with the swimming, especially if you intend to increase it to more days per week. Maybe you could take up another sport that would work your legs a little more - bicycling to your swim practice instead of driving. The most important thing is that you're physically active.
Well I misunderstood then. You claimed in your OP that your primary goal was muscle building. Yes, you can build muscle by swimming a lot and eating a good diet. No, you will not gain 20lbs of muscle in a year just swimming. You need to weight train to gain that kind of muscle typically. A swimmers muscles and body is far different than a weight lifters body.
I would have to agree, pound per pound swimmers are very fit. Special K is confusing overall who can lift the most I think. I swam for years, and was strong for my size but I have a relatively small build. Most guys are stronger than me but they also have a bigger build. So if you increased my size and my muscle increased equally to equal their build I would have been stronger. But that was a long time ago....
azazyel
Diamond Member
- Oct 6, 2000
- 5,872
- 1
- 81
A lot of pools will offer adult swim lessons. It's probably pretty hard to get started but remember, if you're not touching the wall or the ground you're exercising. For me I was a tall and kind of lanky kid and swimming was the one place were I felt graceful. Plus it's can be quite meditative.
lol - well, we are both right in a sense. You will gain long lean muscle just swimming, but certainly not 10-20lbs in a year b/c you are doing so much cardio. So yes, you will gain muscle, but no you will not get "big".....although it's hard to define big.
Maybe we're just arguing semantics here. However it possible to be strong in the power movements and still be very lean. Being good at endurance strength while being big is pretty tough though.
purbeast0
No Lifer
- Sep 13, 2001
- 53,654
- 6,532
- 126
Alphathree all I can tell you is that if you want some real advice steer clear of the guys in this thread saying that you can build the muscle you want by swimming.
You should listen to SVT Cobra, Special K, or Amused. They all know what they are talking about. So do others, but those telling you that you will build muscle by swimming have no clue wtf they are talking about.
You should listen to SVT Cobra, Special K, or Amused. They all know what they are talking about. So do others, but those telling you that you will build muscle by swimming have no clue wtf they are talking about.
azazyel
Diamond Member
- Oct 6, 2000
- 5,872
- 1
- 81
Oh great we have a self proclaimed expert! Thread over then huh?
Swimming is resistance training built upon a cardio work out. The guy is skinny right now and this will build muscle. Will it happen as quickly as lifting weights? Of course not but if he keeps with it he will see mass in the places that I have already mentioned.
You will build muscle from swimming, as long as you don't wimp out and do crappy stroke. However, eventually I think you'll reach a plateau at a certain point, in which case you'll need something extra to increase muscle again. That is just from my experience.
Most swimmer's weight programs that I know are geared towards power.
If you need workouts let me know. I've got about 16-17 months of them I wouldn't mind letting you see and helping you adapt for your own means.
Most swimmer's weight programs that I know are geared towards power.
If you need workouts let me know. I've got about 16-17 months of them I wouldn't mind letting you see and helping you adapt for your own means.
I think what's going on here is just a difference in opinions of what constitutes "serious muscle" and "huge". Obviously anyone who thinks Michael Phelps is "huge" with "serious muscle" is going to argue with me when I say that swimming won't build any serious muscle, because my idea of "huge" is about 6', 225, with <10% bodyfat. You will not achieve those stats just by swimming.
purbeast0
No Lifer
- Sep 13, 2001
- 53,654
- 6,532
- 126
Yah but dude ... this guy is 140lbs @ 6ft.
When I started lifting and was ripped to shreds w/5% bodyfat and an 8 pack, I was 5'11 @ 155lbs. I was far from huge. I maxed bench like 175lbs at that time.
But yah I guess you are right. Swimming won't build any seriuos muscle whatsoever - it will only cut you up.
So your muscles just atrophy if you swim huh?
Swimming is more like calisthenics in that it will build up strength and endurance (with some mass gain in someone who swims daily AND eats properly). Any form of consistant excersice is going to take whatever nutrients you put into your body and try to convert that to muscle.
I don't think anyone here's told him he'll get "bodybuiler/lifting big" by swimming. Swimming is NOT a substitute for weights if you wish to gain substantial mass/definition.
Your arrogance still continues to astound me.
Swimming is a great exercise, actually one of the best. It will definitely tone your body, and will slightly build on muscle (or if you are a novice and swim everyday, it will build on muscles that you probably haven't used in a while).
One thing that happens with swmmers though, is that they experience a little bone loss. The lack of resistance has the same effect as astronauts in zero gravity if you swim too often, so if you do it as an exercise, weight training and running are good intermitent exercises to put it as well.
One thing that happens with swmmers though, is that they experience a little bone loss. The lack of resistance has the same effect as astronauts in zero gravity if you swim too often, so if you do it as an exercise, weight training and running are good intermitent exercises to put it as well.
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