Bad news for swimmers?

[Helena-in-England]

while swimming is great for overall fitness, it is not a very effective tool for weight loss. The reasons for this are not entirely understood. Here are some theories:

• Because water cools the body so much, it is thought that the bodies of swimmers might aim to maintain a layer of fat under the skin for insulation.
• Some researchers believe that being surrounded by cold water for a period of time may increase the appetite, causing swimmers to eat more once they get out of the water.
• Another theory states that people who are successful swimmers may also be genetically disposed to having a higher body fat content, since this leads to increased buoyancy and a rounder shape will offer less resistance in the water.
• Swimming fast requires a high output of energy, which burns glycogen instead of fat. Prolonged exercise at a lower intensity is better for fat burning.
• It is believed that the body's metabolism increases at higher body temperatures. Since the body is cooled while swimming, this could reduce the metabolism and the subsequent amount of food energy burnt by the swimmer.

Fitness Resource: Swimming and Weight Loss

[sallyseachange]

Re: Bad news for swimmers?

Goodness... this is a new one on me. I would have thought that the energy it takes to maintain body heat (like when one drinks lots of cold water) would count as a pro to weight loss.
Interesting.

[ziggy]

Re: Bad news for swimmers?

It is believed that the body's metabolism increases at higher body temperatures. Since the body is cooled while swimming, this could reduce the metabolism and the subsequent amount of food energy burnt by the swimmer


this is the only one that made sense to me that could be possible if your metabolism slows down that will effect weight loss

i find along with atkins the 2 best things to do are

1. keep your metabolism fast make sure you do your exercise fast dont sit there all day yawning and maybe 5 mins on a cardio machine on its max resistance will get your metabolism up for the day

2. hard exercise that drains the glucose in your muscles is what you want to aim for it greatly helps with fat loss and makeing your body look alot better make sure you get every muscle on your body

[WetBanana]

Re: Bad news for swimmers?

I knew this from an early age as I was a competitive swimmer growing up. It definitely didn't help with weight loss, HOWEVER it did increase my fitness level so that I could participate in other sports that WOULD help aid in fat loss - such as running, biking, etc.

I was overweight while swimming, mostly because I hated to run or do anything OTHER then swimming. If I had maintained an active lifestyle, things would have been different - obviously that never happened back then or I wouldn't be where I am today.

Of course while I knew swimming wouldn't aid in fat loss, we were led to believe we ALL needed to carb load ourselves before a big swim meet. That idea has DEFINITELY changed and now it's known to be eating a low-carb meal will help you best. They shouldn't have been pushing a carb heavy meal for kids who already had weight issues either, but I digress.

If you enjoy swimming, continue - just make sure you are doing other activities to maintain your active lifestyle. I plan on going back to the Masters swimming once I've shed a bit more weight.

[Ohbehave007]

Re: Bad news for swimmers?

Interesting, but swimming is still a fun activity

What if you are swimming in warm water, say a hot tube :P

[chauber]

Re: Bad news for swimmers?

Personally, I have a hard time agreeing with this. I think that swimming is a great form of exercise...and not every pool is cold. Swimming doesn't make me hungry either. When I used to swim like a fish I was a bean pole.

[bellajgw]

Re: Bad news for swimmers?

I agree with Chauber on this one. I was an avid swimmer growing up and would swim all day and loved it. It helped build muscle which, last time I checked, burns more fat. I had loads of leg and arm muscles and my back was in great shape. I don't think it made me any more or less hungry than if I had spent all day working out.


When I stopped swimming I got fat.

Even if all you say is true, swimming is VERY good for you as a way to improve your lung capacity, build endurance, and get exercise that isn't hard on your joints. Once I feel ok in a bathing suit again I will be joing the local indoor pool.

[LageNomAi]

Re: Bad news for swimmers?

As someone who swam competitively for 9 years and ate upwards of 5000 calories/day, many of them junk, at the height of swim season while remaining thin, I find this very difficult to believe.

[TogaGirl]

Re: Bad news for swimmers?

I have had a bad knee for several years now that in the last few months has been acting up. I find swimming the only form of cardio at the moment that my knees can tolerate. I have been at goal for quite some time now, but in the past few months of only swimming and weightlifting (I always worked with weights) my body is leaner and really shapely in places I never thought possible. I can only credit this to the swimming. Just my experience.

[WetBanana]

Re: Bad news for swimmers?

All the anecdotal evidence of toning and keeping weight off is true. Swimming does NOT however make you LOSE fat. That's the topic of the article. It's meant for maintaining or improving fitness levels, and basically overall well-being. It's PROVEN though that it doesn't help with the loss of FAT which is what our goal is being on Atkins.

So yes - if you are already lean and you take up swimming and eat 5,000 calories a day, of course you'll be able to stay that way. Your activity level is very high for a competitive swimmer. Utilizing it as a fat loss program though won't work unless you incorporate other things like lifting and cardio OUTSIDE of the pool. Cross-training basically.

I'm all for swimming as an activity, but if you don't change your dietary habits, you won't lose the fat just by swimming. It WILL increase your fitness level, and allow you to do other things to maintain an active lifestyle though. So when recommending swimming to others, it's a great low-impact activity to do, but make sure to incorporate other things into your day as well. That was my problem while I was swimming. I HATED the other things. I hated running, and I hated lifting. About the only thing I enjoyed was resistance training. So I never did those activities outside of the program I was involved with.

I am going to go back to the Masters Swimming Program once I am down a bit more weight - not because I think it'll help me lose fat, but because it will increase my fitness level and help me to become more active outside of the pool because now I am motivated for health reasons. I had Olympic aspirations, watching Dara Torres makes me wonder if I still have a peak to hit...