Any swimmers here?

[nwvz77]

I've recently picked up swimming as a way to get a cardio workout, as I hate running and it kills my knees, too many years spent as a catcher. I was wondering if anybody here has experience with swimming and could recommend some good workout plans or a good place to find them. I've looked around a little bit and found a few plans that look alright, but I wanted to see if anybody with experience could help me out I'm not looking to swim competitively or anything like that, just a way to get in better shape and maybe shed a few pounds. Thanks in advance for any help.

[Raiders Army]

Swimming is one of the best ways of getting a cardio workout and exercise your whole body at one time. It's also very easy on your knees, etc.

It's been a while, but in lieu of any other suggestions, I'd work on swimming laps normally, swimming laps with a kickboard (more lower body), and swimming laps with floaties between your legs (upper body). I'd also recommend treading water for 10 minutes at a time for a good workout. I'd do 5 minutes just using your arms, and 5 minutes just using your legs. Hope that helps.

[Franklinnoble]

[terpkristin]

I've been swimming for years, and only really stopped whe I had my shoulder surgeries (and will pick it up again as soon as I have a job and can afford a gym membership). I swam through high school, and kept at it as an alternative workout through college.

My favorite book of workouts for swimming is called The Fit Swimmer: 120 Workouts & Training Tips, by Brems. It can be found at amazon here. I like this one a lot, because it has all types of workouts including a 12-week program to build up to a mile of continuous swimming. I also own Fitnes Swimming, by Hines (found here) which goes much more into training in general and workouts geared for different heart-rates, etc.

Also, you may try to find a masters swimming class in your area. They do training for events but also just general fitness. the US Masters Swimming website is http://www.usms.org/

Good luck!!!
/tk

[Coffee Warlord]

Only advice I can offer is along the lines of what we did when I swam competatively - set up various distances at various repititions, with a reasonable time of rest in between each. IE - 10x100yd/meter on 2 minutes. (however much time you got left after you finish the 100 is how much time you get to rest). Figure out how fast you can do a distance at a decent clip, set yourself a decent rest, go from there. Once you start improving, throw in a set of 'kill yourself' speeds in there.

Pretty much any lap-esque swimming works, though. I was in excellent shape when I swam in high school (practicing with a no bullshit coach 6 hours a day, plus lifting weights 3 times a week will do that). Still probably the best excersize you can get. Mind the chlorine.

[wbatl1]

As a swimmer and summer league coach, my best advice would be to find a masters swimming program near you. Although you can swim on your own, very few people have the motivation neccesary to do what it takes to really get a GOOD workout. Too many people jump in the pool, swim 15 or 20 laps, then hop out and think they can do whatever for the rest of the day. Swimming is a great workout, but you have to swim for a while. The best way to do this is join a program that will help you train well(so as not to injure yourself), and for the time neccesary. Also, the coaches at a masters program are able to work on your technique, which will allow you to swim better for longer.

[Crapshoot]

Okay, Franklin - that was awesome. Im glad no one else is left at work to hear me laughing.