Swimming workout!

[junkerman123]

Ok, so everyone always says how swimming is a great workout. Sweet, but how does one get the most out of a swimming workout? Do you just swim until you can't go anymore? Do you always do the same stroke?

I have a pool that is about 30 feet long, and I generally do 50 laps freestyle (sometimes mixing in a backstroke when I'm ready to die) as a workout.

Any suggestions/ideas as to how more evenly distribute the muscle strain? Also, how to determine what the appropriate amount of laps one should do?

 

[0roo0roo]

leer at the hot life guard?

 

[SpecialEd]

If you want to turn swimming into a real work out, try timing yourself. Most pools will have big clock near the edge of the water. Tell yourself "I want to do one lap under 1.5 mins". Then do that ten times with only a 20 sec rest between laps. You'll be huffin an puffin before you know it.

You can mix it up... "100 yards in 3min, ten times...." and so on. Have fun!

 

[Ika]

freestyle is a good stretching and toning workout, but it won't do much to really build strength. for that, try butterfly. HARD to do for consecutive laps.

 

[bleeb]

Do a combination of swim techniques to achieve maximum effectiveness.

 

[junkerman123]

Originally posted by: Aflac
freestyle is a good stretching and toning workout, but it won't do much to really build strength. for that, try butterfly. HARD to do for consecutive laps.

To be honest, I don't even know HOW to do butterfly properly.

 

[KarmaPolice]

dont learn..its pointless...

 

[burntfish]

swim 20 laps and then thread water for 30mins. you wont be able to walk the next day.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: KarmaPolice
dont learn..its pointless...

Ummm, weren't you the one who wanted to figure out how to fix an old bike and was complaining about swimming being too expensive and at weird times. Stop making excuses.

 

[DaShen]

Originally posted by: burntfish
swim 20 laps and then thread water for 30mins. you wont be able to walk the next day.

Yes, until you get used to it.

I swim every once in a while. Great workout. My suggestion to the OP is to time yourself for a short sprint 1-2 laps. And then time yourself on a different day for a long endurance swim 5-10 laps (depending on fitness).

 

[Ika]

Originally posted by: junkerman123

Originally posted by: Aflac
freestyle is a good stretching and toning workout, but it won't do much to really build strength. for that, try butterfly. HARD to do for consecutive laps.

To be honest, I don't even know HOW to do butterfly properly.

all the more incentive to learn it, and the learning stages are the hardest for the muscles.

 

[KarmaPolice]

I didnt mean dont learn to swim..or dont work out by swimming..I meant the butterfly stroke is stupid. The other strokes could be useful at some point in your life...when will you ever need to do the butterfly....never..