Does swimming build muscle?

[DrPizza]

Swimmers are among the most fit athletes out there. Who really cares if you can bench press 400 pounds. There's a lot more to being in shape than brute strength. Swimming will build up plenty of strength, albeit not bulky muscles.

 

[thepd7]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
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 are an idiot.

Special K and azazyel are both right.

I am a american red cross water safety instructor (ie I teach swimming lessons).

Any activity where you are using your muscles that much will build muscle (ever look at a runner or soccer player's legs?).

But as special K pointed out, it is different. not a different kind of muscle, but a different kind of muscular. You will be strong but not as strong as if you lifted weights like special k said.

However, as others pointed out you will gain muscle and get cut. I was swimming about 1000m a day for a while and after only 3 weeks I saw improvements in my chest, shoulders, and back. A little longer and I think my abs would have started showing too.

For what it seems that you want, swimming 5 times a week for 30 minutes to and hour will be more than sufficient.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: thepd7

Originally posted by: purbeast0
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 are an idiot.

Special K and azazyel are both right.

I am a american red cross water safety instructor (ie I teach swimming lessons).

Any activity where you are using your muscles that much will build muscle (ever look at a runner or soccer player's legs?).

But as special K pointed out, it is different. not a different kind of muscle, but a different kind of muscular. You will be strong but not as strong as if you lifted weights like special k said.

However, as others pointed out you will gain muscle and get cut. I was swimming about 1000m a day for a while and after only 3 weeks I saw improvements in my chest, shoulders, and back. A little longer and I think my abs would have started showing too.

For what it seems that you want, swimming 5 times a week for 30 minutes to and hour will be more than sufficient.

The OP wants to put on 10-20 lbs of muscle.

That is NOT going to happen from swimming.

He is NOT going to gain 15% of his current in lean muscle by swimming.

 

[Alphathree33]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: purbeast0
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: thepd7
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: purbeast0
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.</end quote></div>

You are an idiot.

Special K and azazyel are both right.

I am a american red cross water safety instructor (ie I teach swimming lessons).

Any activity where you are using your muscles that much will build muscle (ever look at a runner or soccer player's legs?).

But as special K pointed out, it is different. not a different kind of muscle, but a different kind of muscular. You will be strong but not as strong as if you lifted weights like special k said.

However, as others pointed out you will gain muscle and get cut. I was swimming about 1000m a day for a while and after only 3 weeks I saw improvements in my chest, shoulders, and back. A little longer and I think my abs would have started showing too.

For what it seems that you want, swimming 5 times a week for 30 minutes to and hour will be more than sufficient.</end quote></div>

The OP wants to put on 10-20 lbs of muscle.

That is NOT going to happen from swimming.

He is NOT going to gain 15% of his current in lean muscle by swimming.</end quote></div>

Maybe 10-20 pounds of muscle is a lot more than I think it is.

I honestly have ZERO CONCEPT of how much a certain "volume" of muscle weighs.

Aside from being healthy, I want my APPEARANCE to be LEAN and DEFINED, not HUGE, not SKINNY. Just lean with muscle definition.

So keeping in mind that I'm 140 now, I figure if I were 160, I would basically have achieved that appearance.

Now I could be wrong... maybe at 160 I would actually be HUuuuuuuuuge, and I just have no concept of what 20 pounds will do for me.

So maybe I only want 10 pounds. I don't know. Is 10 pounds of muscle really going to show on my physique?

EDIT: And when I said 10-20 pounds, I meant overall weight gain, so obviously some of that will have to be fat... but the idea would be to build muscle, not get a beer belly. =)

 

[Kelemvor]

I was on the swim team for 4 years on High School. Would love to keep swimming but just don't have the time or will power to really work out much.

That being said, having muscles and being big are two completely different. I was very skinny but I was strong. Not weight lifting strong (as in bulky) but strong as in athletically strong. You wouldn't have known it from looking at me though. And this was swimming for 2 hours a day on a set schedule from the coach.

See if you can have your trainer come up with a workout for you that will take you from 1 hour to 1.5 hours. See how that goes. Then see if you can increase it again if needed. Once your routine gets too easy, step up the time. Instead of doing 100s on 1:45, do them on 1:40. Then when that's easy, go to 1:35, etc. (or whatever times you are currently at).

Swimming is generally considered the best possible workout you can ever get because it works cardio and muscles and works pretty much every muscle in the body at some point.

 

[Alphathree33]

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
I was on the swim team for 4 years on High School. Would love to keep swimming but just don't have the time or will power to really work out much.

That being said, having muscles and being big are two completely different. I was very skinny but I was strong. Not weight lifting strong (as in bulky) but strong as in athletically strong. You wouldn't have known it from looking at me though. And this was swimming for 2 hours a day on a set schedule from the coach.

See if you can have your trainer come up with a workout for you that will take you from 1 hour to 1.5 hours. See how that goes. Then see if you can increase it again if needed. Once your routine gets too easy, step up the time. Instead of doing 100s on 1:45, do them on 1:40. Then when that's easy, go to 1:35, etc. (or whatever times you are currently at).

Swimming is generally considered the best possible workout you can ever get because it works cardio and muscles and works pretty much every muscle in the body at some point.

So did you still look skinny, then?

I want people to describe me as "fit", not "big" or "muscular." (Right now they would probably describe me as "pencil neck")

So were you "fit" ?

 

[acegazda]

for swimming to build muscle, you must train almost every day and with varied strokes in the workout. I swim on a US swim team and train 8 times a week. Most practices are 2.5 hours. During the practice, you might find a set like this:
16x50 every 4th 50 sprint @:45
400 free smooth @5:45
12x50 every 3rd 50 sprint @:50
400 free smooth @5:45
8x50 every other 50 sprint @:55
400 free smooth @5:45
4x50 sprint @1:00
those are all yards. That kind of set done every day will build muscle.
Your your case, unless you're supplementing it with lifting, no it won't.

EDIT: If you want to work a little more, tell your coach to make up some sprint sets for you to do as you improve your ability. Some teams have sample practices on their websites... mine doesn't... but google it or PM me and I'd be happy to help.

 

[azazyel]

Originally posted by: acegazda
for swimming to build muscle, you must train almost every day and with varied strokes in the workout. I swim on a US swim team and train 8 times a week. Most practices are 2.5 hours. During the practice, you might find a set like this:
16x50 every 4th 50 sprint @:45
400 free smooth @5:45
12x50 every 3rd 50 sprint @:50
400 free smooth @5:45
8x50 every other 50 sprint @:55
400 free smooth @5:45
4x50 sprint @1:00
those are all yards. That kind of set done every day will build muscle.
Your your case, unless you're supplementing it with lifting, no it won't.

EDIT: If you want to work a little more, tell your coach to make up some sprint sets for you to do as you improve your ability. Some teams have sample practices on their websites... mine doesn't... but google it or PM me and I'd be happy to help.

The dude just learned how to swim, he's not going to hit those times.

 

[acegazda]

I didn't get that from his OP srry and it's something to strive for. if you can make that set in a year from now, you've done really well.

EDIT: that set was to illustrate the TYPE of set he should do: sprinting fast twitch muscle workout=power. That usually means muscle.

 

[acegazda]

other advice: get a training partner to push you

 

[Mr Pepper]

Swimming causes shrinkage! :Q

 

[otispunkmeyer]

i am a swimmer and id say its a combination of both - swimming is great for toning and shaping, builds a little muscle......... the right diet and land based training builds the muscle, afterall bouyancy of the water does take the emphasis off a couple of muscles, some more than others.

obviously swimming is an exercise, your working your muscles and if you do it like i did , ie 2 x 2 hour sessions a day then they are going to develope. i found that shoulder and triceps get quite meaty. however, as you get further up the ladder interms of age and ability you do have to get in the gym.

we're not talking lifting huge weights, you dont want that.....if your too heavy then you'll either struggle to float or you'll have to remain incredibly fit just to keep things going. this, i believe is why ian thrope quit, the guy is just so large that it was getting really hard for him to really progress anyfurther....his sheer size just made it too difficult.

obviously you need to do different exercises for different things...sprinters need more explosive power so they train with that in mind, distance guys need the muscle endurance.

at university we did specific things.... press ups, dips, 10-15kg medicine balls, squats, lunges,..... lots of reps, circuits, that kind of stuff but no sitting infront of the mirror doin curls etc.

there are ways we use to build muscle and resistance in the pool.... drag shorts, t-shirts to increase overall drag whilst training. paddles put more emphasis on the arms and shoulders and zoomers/fins (mini fins - the blades are onl couple of cm) for the legs

 

[Kelemvor]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: Kelemvor
I was on the swim team for 4 years on High School. Would love to keep swimming but just don't have the time or will power to really work out much.

That being said, having muscles and being big are two completely different. I was very skinny but I was strong. Not weight lifting strong (as in bulky) but strong as in athletically strong. You wouldn't have known it from looking at me though. And this was swimming for 2 hours a day on a set schedule from the coach.

See if you can have your trainer come up with a workout for you that will take you from 1 hour to 1.5 hours. See how that goes. Then see if you can increase it again if needed. Once your routine gets too easy, step up the time. Instead of doing 100s on 1:45, do them on 1:40. Then when that's easy, go to 1:35, etc. (or whatever times you are currently at).

Swimming is generally considered the best possible workout you can ever get because it works cardio and muscles and works pretty much every muscle in the body at some point.</end quote></div>

So did you still look skinny, then?

I want people to describe me as "fit", not "big" or "muscular." (Right now they would probably describe me as "pencil neck")

So were you "fit" ?

I wasn't skin and bones if that's what you mean. I was healthy. Probably underweight a bit but I had always been under weight. During swim season I'm sure I gained a bit more and filled out some. But that was 15 years ago so I don't really remember.

 

[amicold]

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.


Edit:

When I was in school I would actually attach a 25lbs to myself and do Pull Ups and dips.

I can still do pull ups and dips with 25 pounds on me and im a chubby bastard. The pull up comparison is crap, a bodybuilder will require more strength to do 30 pullups if he weighs more.

 

[MegaVovaN]

I was/am swimming in various high-level teams for years...I am 6ft tall at about 145-150lb, 19 yrs old.

If you want to be a good swimmer, here's some tips:
-Get strong mentality - will power, and have someone push you - you will want to quit cause it's too hard. Get someone to prevent you from doing so.
-Swim at least 5 days a week, 2+ hours a day
-Get into a high level team, where coach will kick your asses ruthlessly and you will swim through pain and there will be NO "I can't" - you go DO it, suck it up and PUSH. These words beat in your head: pain tolerance and endurance.
-Have land work - push-ups, running, curl-ups, stretching, etc
-You will pay for this. On my last team I paid $1400 a year, quarterly. Actually, my parents paid, and I worked my ass off in the pool.
-No time? MAKE some time!
-eat right

 

[sponge008]

I know that for running, long distance will eat muscles and make you look like an Ethiopian marathon runner if you do it regularly, but shorter distance sprinting (repeatedly) is much less damaging to muscle mass. I'm not sure if the high intensity low distance is carryable over to swimming, but it may be.

 

[Pepsi90919]

Originally posted by: foghorn67
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: DrPizza
Even at the high school level, swimmers swim at least 5 days a week. Plus, they swim for miles upon miles. The way you say "maybe 1-2 times per week" makes me think that you're not too serious about it - but you have a private coach??

Personally, I could never see the point of lifting weights just to have larger muscles than you need. I'm sure there are plenty of people who disagree with me though. If you are active, you should be able to develop all the muscles you need. There are some exceptions, of course - athletes who need to strength train, i.e. football linemen. I'm just one of those people who could never see the point of joining a gym - especially the people who go there to walk on treadmills?! There are no streets or sidewalks in your community?? Get some fresh air!</end quote></div>

The first three sentences...okay. Then it's like you inhaled some crack before the composing the next paragraph.

no, he's right, kinda. i use the gym just for cardio because it's more convenient (TV, can go there in the rain, sauna/spa...)

 

[MegaVovaN]

LOL Pepsi A real sportsperson will run in the rain, wind, sleet, snow and ice. Such as I and my mom did when I was little.

 

[acegazda]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
I was/am swimming in various high-level teams for years...I am 6ft tall at about 145-150lb, 19 yrs old.

If you want to be a good swimmer, here's some tips:
-Get strong mentality - will power, and have someone push you - you will want to quit cause it's too hard. Get someone to prevent you from doing so.
-Swim at least 5 days a week, 2+ hours a day
-Get into a high level team, where coach will kick your asses ruthlessly and you will swim through pain and there will be NO "I can't" - you go DO it, suck it up and PUSH. These words beat in your head: pain tolerance and endurance.
-Have land work - push-ups, running, curl-ups, stretching, etc
-You will pay for this. On my last team I paid $1400 a year, quarterly. Actually, my parents paid, and I worked my ass off in the pool.
-No time? MAKE some time!
-eat right

good advice but you could probably join a masters team @ a club or YMCA for ~$100 and if you get a good coach, the workout will be comparable.
megavovan... what team are you on?

 

[MegaVovaN]

I was in "Bayou Elite Swim Team" aka BEST that is associated with Jewish Community Center in Houston. They do not have a up-to-date website...right now I am taking a break

 

[eits]

swimmers have great bodies because they burn a lot of fat while strengthening/toning muscle through resistance training (water resistance). they don't burn fat in every area, though... they still have a little on their butts and chests and thighs... it's because the body figures it needs to keep it so the swimmer can stay afloat easier and swim faster.

 

[Fritzo]

I'm sure it was already said, but another vote for "swimming is a cardio activity, so it will be VERY good for weight loss, but poor to build muscle mass."

 

[fishmonger12]

swim 3x a week and lift 2x a week.

you'll see some sexy muscles starting to develop with proper diet

swimming alone is not going to get you the mass you're looking for.

 

[acegazda]

Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
I was in "Bayou Elite Swim Team" aka BEST that is associated with Jewish Community Center in Houston. They do not have a up-to-date website...right now I am taking a break

I'm actually going to the JCC championships @ MIT in a couple of weeks I'm on Shawmut Aquatics in MA.

 

[0roo0roo]

assuming you increase reps+ speed over time sure.