Swimming has gotten a bad rap as an exercise for weight loss. Unlike running, which curbs your appetite, swimming seems to increase it.
Studies comparing swimming with walking and cycling weight-loss programs found that swimmers gained five pounds on average, while the other two groups lost between 17 and 19 pounds. The culprit seems to be the increased appetite that follows working out in water, since swimming lowers your body temp and the body crave calories to help heat it back up. Plus the swimmers weight gain could be attributed to an increase in lean muscle mass, which would have changed their body composition without weight loss.
See how I think you can make swimming part of your weight-loss plan, when you read more.
If you are swimming for weight loss, I don't believe you should give up on the pool entirely — swimming is a great full-body exercise. I do think you should add some cardio training on land. I am a firm believer in cross-training, so adding strength training and walking or running will help burn calories as well as build bone density, which is another benefit of weight-bearing exercises that you miss out on when swimming. When you do finish a swim workout, take a sauna, a steam, hot tub, or a hot shower to help heat your body. Also try sipping on some hot herbal tea as a post-workout drink.
Matthew Williamson
Yes - Strength training definitely help.
1I went to our Y for 8 years now - only swimming for the first 5 years, and there's no change on my weight. As soon as I pick up weight training - my weight remain the same, but I have more defined muscle. About 2 years ago, I picked up running, that's when I start to lose weight.
calories in versus calories out.
I am always STARVING after a swim... after this morning's 4500M swim I came home and inhaled everything not nailed down.
It's not unique to swimming, though -- I know A LOT of women who gain weight (or don't lose) while training for endurance events.
2oh, but men lose weight! unfair !!
3As a competitive swimmer on the national level for 15 years, I worked out for 3-6 hours a day. I was always STARVING and ate pretty much whatever I wanted. All of us swimmers always said that swimming made us hungrier than anything else and our favorite "myth" at the time was that swimming could not lead to weight loss. I guess we were partially right that swimming wasn't the best cardio for getting skinny
4I always lose more weight when I swim more, maybe it's psychological? because I know that swimming makes me 'hungrier' so I don't give in as much?
5I don't know about the whole gaining weight thing, but I am STARVING when I get out of the pool
6I had no idea, but I guess I'm not surprised. I love swimming, but I do feel hungry afterward
7I recently took up swimming by myself at the gym. No trainer, but I find great workouts online. I did 4950 (3 "swimmer's" miles) yesterday and after every workout (especially that one), I sit in the hot tub for about five minutes. This was never to increase my body temp, but to relax my muscles and make it easier to stretch.
I am never hungrier after swimming. In fact, I am less hungry than if I did the elliptical. Maybe this is because of the hot tub, but I think it's also mentality.
8I agree with what one person said up there. I swim about three days a week and I don't usually feel hungry afterwards. Sometimes I do, and so I have a cup of black tea or I don't feel hungry at all. Usually all I want is some water to down and that does the trick for me....
9Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.