I wanna do swimming as my cardio that I want to introduce to my routine; I wanna do it on days I don't lift 3xweek. Swimming pretty much works every muscle in your body, and I was curious as to whether swimming would cause u to overtrain. Say for example, you will pretty much be swimming each session with one part of your body having DOMS, right?

I guess if legs r sore just kick softly etc. But, I was also thinking swimming is only lightly working your muscles, more for endurance, so this would help avoid overtraining?

Anyone else got any thoughts on, or experience with this?

Thanks

I wanna do swimming as my cardio that I want to introduce to my routine; I wanna do it on days I don't lift 3xweek. Swimming pretty much works every muscle in your body, and I was curious as to whether swimming would cause u to overtrain. Say for example, you will pretty much be swimming each session with one part of your body having DOMS, right?

I guess if legs r sore just kick softly etc. But, I was also thinking swimming is only lightly working your muscles, more for endurance, so this would help avoid overtraining? Anyone else got any thoughts on, or experience with this? Thanks

Swimming is not a good muscle builder or aerobic exercise at the average level, non-competitive. Now Swimmers will comment and say I am wrong. But, something about the way you asked the questions, made we think you are not competitive in swimming.
Swimmers consistently carry more fat than runners or cyclists. Swimming won't add fat, it just doesn't burn it. As for overtraining, try not to exercise for more than 40 minutes at a time and get 8 hours of good sleep. Diet and lack of stress is also good to avoid overtraining.

Having said that, anything is better than nothing.

I was in the best shape of my life when I swam. 5'11", 165 lbs, had a six pack. I started blowing up when I quit. But I was swimming competitively. We had demanding, 2-hour practices 5 days a week.

Swimming is not a good muscle builder or aerobic exercise at the average level, non-competitive. Now Swimmers will comment and say I am wrong. But, something about the way you asked the questions, made we think you are not competitive in swimming.
Swimmers consistently carry more fat than runners or cyclists. Swimming won't add fat, it just doesn't burn it. As for overtraining, try not to exercise for more than 40 minutes at a time and get 8 hours of good sleep. Diet and lack of stress is also good to avoid overtraining.

Having said that, anything is better than nothing.

I get the idea u don't think swimming is the best cardio for lsing fat :D

You're right, I'm not a competitive swimmer, nor am I planning on using swimming to build muslce mass; heavy weight training seems to be working for that. I have just always loved swimming and have always been good at it. I am just wanting to incorporate some cardio into my routine, and swimming is deff my cardio ex of choice. However, I was worried that, like I said up there, I would always be swimming with at least one part of my body having DOMS (lift-mon/wed/fri-swimm-tue/thu/sun) and if that would lead to overtraining. I know when swimming u aren't working the muscle as hard as u would when lifting, so I was hoping it would be alright. Or would it make a difference?

Cheers for your reply, I'm planning on starting off at around 30 mins a go and will deff be eating big on these days. :d_smile:

I'm a highschool varsity swimmer. Currently I'm:

Monday - 1:30 swim, :30 lift (full body, 2 sets per muscle)
Tuesday - 2:00 swim
Wednesday - 1:30 swim, :30 lift (full body, 2 sets per muscle)
Thursday - 2:00 swim
Friday - 1:30 swim, :30 lift (full body, 2 sets per muscle)
Saturday - 2:00 swim

Tuesday and Thursday's there's an optional morning practice for another 1:30 of swimming. I'm not doing so, but none of my teammates seem to be having adverse effects.

I've found in the past that a low-rep routine (like Max-OT) coupled with swimming works great with my body. Just don't lift near the same time you swim - without a doubt, your lifting will greatly suffer; unfortunately, because of time constraints, I have to lift after practice and this happens almost to a sickening amount.

If you have to lift after practice I recommend focusing tremendously on your contractions, keeping slower negatives, and getting full stretches - my muscles, at least at this time, are too fatigued to give maximal power or speed and seem to respond best to this. Otherwise, if you can lift seperate from your swimming, I definitely recommend a low-rep program.

You probably won't need as many sets as you normally would to get the same time of growth response and doing so could possibly push you into overtraining; less is more.

I get the idea u don't think swimming is the best cardio for lsing fat :D

if this is a question, then yes swimming is not very good for losing fat, why?
because fat is bouyant and when you are swimming your body prefers to be bouyant so it will burm other sources of energy rather than fat.

~v

I get the idea u don't think swimming is the best cardio for losing fat :D

I know when swimming u aren't working the muscle as hard as u would when lifting, so I was hoping it would be alright. Or would it make a difference?

:d_smile:

Shouldn't hurt if that is your choice. I don't think it is good for burning fat off. Covert Bailey's books are my source. I have a pool and swim alot in the summer. I never consider it as exercise. I do increase my flexibility while in the water.

I wish I would've starting lifting. Probably could've cut my 50 and 100 times down by a few seconds. I wasn't a very good swimmer... started my freshman year because a girl I had a crush on asked me to join the team. Heh.