Swimming is the best way to lose weight!

DurocShark

Lifer
Apr 18, 2001
15,708
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Just whatever you do, do NOT scarf munchies after spending a couple hours in the water. It's a natural reaction, and will defeat the benefits o swimming.

BTW: Swimming in the ocean will triple the results in the same amount of time in the water. :D
 

FreshPrince

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2001
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Originally posted by: DurocShark
Just whatever you do, do NOT scarf munchies after spending a couple hours in the water. It's a natural reaction, and will defeat the benefits o swimming.

BTW: Swimming in the ocean will triple the results in the same amount of time in the water. :D

when you say do NOT scarf munchies...does that mean it's bad I've been eating dinner 45 minutes after I swim?

Also, I heard, it's best to eat a small snack 45 minutes before swimming to prevent the body from burning muscles?
 

shabby

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,782
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Snacks to prevent burning muscles? Ya eat a couple bag of chips while your at it...
Swimming is a form of cardio, combined with proper nutrition(no, not snacks) and the effect will be even greater.
 

DurocShark

Lifer
Apr 18, 2001
15,708
5
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Originally posted by: shabby
Snacks to prevent burning muscles? Ya eat a couple bag of chips while your at it...
Swimming is a form of cardio, combined with proper nutrition(no, not snacks) and the effect will be even greater.

Exactly. And when you're done working out, the body's natural reaction is to EAT! If you must eat afterwards, have some fruit. Stay away from protein bars and such. They're worse than worthless.

Eating a normally scheduled meal is fine, however. I just meant no snacks and crap food... :D
 

Gurck

Banned
Mar 16, 2004
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Originally posted by: DurocShark
Stay away from protein bars and such. They're worse than worthless.
:confused: Even if you're not lifting, protein is a good source of low but filling calories with no glycemic index.
 

DurocShark

Lifer
Apr 18, 2001
15,708
5
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Originally posted by: Gurck
Originally posted by: DurocShark
Stay away from protein bars and such. They're worse than worthless.
:confused: Even if you're not lifting, protein is a good source of low but filling calories with no glycemic index.

I'm talking about 7-11 stuff like Tigers Milk. There are good ones, but you're not gonna find 'em at the corner store.
 

Gurck

Banned
Mar 16, 2004
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Originally posted by: DurocShark
Originally posted by: Gurck
Originally posted by: DurocShark
Stay away from protein bars and such. They're worse than worthless.
:confused: Even if you're not lifting, protein is a good source of low but filling calories with no glycemic index.

I'm talking about 7-11 stuff like Tigers Milk. There are good ones, but you're not gonna find 'em at the corner store.

Ah, very true.
 

Balt

Lifer
Mar 12, 2000
12,673
482
126
Swimming is a very good way to lose weight, but it is not the most effective. The temperature of the water keeps your body cooler than it would be from running or biking, thus you burn fewer calories.

However, you don't get the bad knees and everything else that comes from running later in life, so it's also the way that I prefer to do cardio.

:beer:
 

Rage187

Lifer
Dec 30, 2000
14,276
4
81
I swim an hour each day, and then walk 1.5 miles to dry off.


and DONT FORGET, take VITAMENS!
 

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
Moderator
Aug 23, 2003
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Swimmers need to replace a lot of calories daily. Not doing so will help you drop weight, but you'll be cannabalizing your muscle too.

ALWAYS take protein within an hour of your workouts to minimize muscle catabolism.

And swimmers should always replenish their glycogen stores daily; simple sugars will work, but I like lower glycemic index sugars.
 

tkdkid

Senior member
Oct 13, 2000
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There are a couple things to consider when participating in any endurance sport. First, you need to have an adequate amount of carbs & protein in your system before you start. Some people can eat a small meal/snack an hour before they start, for others it may be that 2 or 3 hours works better. You shouldn't take in too much protein, but you will need some. Taking in too much protein causes your muscles to produce ammonia, which makes you tired much faster. If you exercise for more than an hour, you will need to eat something that has carbs & a small amount of protein during the exercise.

After exercise, you have a window of about 30 minutes in which your body is most receptive to receiving carbs & protein. Eat something during this period to help your body recover quickly and to maximize the benefits of the exercise.
 

oogabooga

Diamond Member
Jan 14, 2003
7,806
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Originally posted by: tkdkid
After exercise, you have a window of about 30 minutes in which your body is most receptive to receiving carbs & protein. Eat something during this period to help your body recover quickly and to maximize the benefits of the exercise.

What would you advise eating. I've started swimming as exercise, and I love it since I can go on for a long long time without really feeling the strain on my joints,limbs. But am not really sure how i should be approaching this. I've just been eating a meal, and then swimming about 1-2 hours later for about 45 minutes. I haven't been eating after i swim though, but i'm getting the impression this may not be a good idea? I definatley get water into my system after i swim.
 

Ikonomi

Diamond Member
Dec 19, 2003
6,056
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I've been swimming the last few days (we just got the pump and filter replaced). I'd forgotten how fun it is, and I'm getting nice and dark from the sun. :thumbsup:

Only thing is, I'm not a very fast swimmer. :thumbsdown: I should take some advanced lessons or something.
 

masterxfob

Diamond Member
May 20, 2001
7,366
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81
surfing involves a lot of swimming, you shuold try that out. my buddy is going to try to find me one so i can get started :)
 

Whisper

Diamond Member
Feb 25, 2000
5,394
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Originally posted by: tkdkid
There are a couple things to consider when participating in any endurance sport. First, you need to have an adequate amount of carbs & protein in your system before you start. Some people can eat a small meal/snack an hour before they start, for others it may be that 2 or 3 hours works better. You shouldn't take in too much protein, but you will need some. Taking in too much protein causes your muscles to produce ammonia, which makes you tired much faster. If you exercise for more than an hour, you will need to eat something that has carbs & a small amount of protein during the exercise.

After exercise, you have a window of about 30 minutes in which your body is most receptive to receiving carbs & protein. Eat something during this period to help your body recover quickly and to maximize the benefits of the exercise.

Exactly. Cardio on an empty stomach is bad stuff, which is why not many people recommend running early in the morning before you've had breakfast. It may seem like you're burning more fat that way, but in actuality you're just causing your body to starve further, and eat away at your muscular gains.