good cardio = swimming?

[sailo888]

I have "heard" that swimming is a great exercise for your whole body. I used to swim everyday when i was young (9-13) but now i am 20 years old and haven't swam for a whileeeee. I am just wondering if that swimming is still a great cardio VS running? I have been running every other night for approx 30 mins at night 1 hour after my supper. But its getting boring and i want to switch it up to another cardio. If i swim, what strokes should i perform for the best benefits (except butterfly) and how long? Thanks!

[javanek]

Actually, one of the best cardio exercises. But like anything else, don't overdo it. Thirty to sixty minutes max. It will really work your upper body so too much can start to hurt bench.

[CheshireCat]

Its great, and low impact too.

[Love_Deadlifts]

I love it, but there isn't really a pool available.

[sailo888]

soo...i started swimming at my school gym. i kinda change my routine a bit.. cuz i want to completely tone down.. so i planned 2-3 days a week just for swimming. i usually swim for about 1hour-1 and a half. and i get really "tired" then i just get into the hot pool thingy. anyways i was thinking is that too much? i mean i heard that swimming is a great full body workout. sometimes i think it is not enough becuz i am just swimming on that one day.
and if there is any experience swimmier out there to tell me what kinda stroke should i do to get the most out of?
the pool is 25 yards, and i cannot freestyle back and forth yet =_-. and i do breaststroke most of the time.
thanks in advance?

[Love_Deadlifts]

Try swimming freestyle one way and breaststroke back. I was swimming twice a week last semester and that's what i would do.

[engaged]

I totally agree with Love_Deadlifts. The building I live in has a pool and sauna and I like to use these on the days between SL 5x5. I try and do a form of interval training in the pool. A fast freestyle length followed by a lazy breaststroke length. This seems to work well for me. After 20 odd lengths I head for the sauna - then repeate a couple of times.

[sailo888]

Engaged and Love_deadlifts, thanks for your suggestion.

Just an update on my swimming. because right now i dedicated myself 2 days of workout days just for swimming.. so i have to swim HARD. and swimming is definity working me out hard. this is a very good exercise. I am usually DEAD after 1 hour of swimming (20 mins intervals of resting in the hot pool).

And i am doing what your doing, freestyle one way then followed by a breaststroke. However, the pool in my school is only 25 yards. I am feeling i am not doing "enough" but my stamina runs out quite fast.

I am hoping in a few weeks i can start doing 50 yards freestyle.

[Love_Deadlifts]

Just keep at it, swimming those intervals is killer. Eventually you'll be able to swim more and more laps. When it becomes easy switch up to 2 laps freestyle and 1 breaststroke and so on. Good luck.

[ken20008]

i want to start swimming again. and as with weightlifting, i think it needs good form. any tips on freestyle form? i can swim but havent done it in years.

and is doing cardio on two days of non training (i train 1/3/5, so 6/7 is free) good for losing calories/fats?

[sailo888]

Hi Ken,

If you are doing the 5x5 SL program on 1/3/5 its recommended not to overdo cardio on the offdays especially swimming. because it can effect your arm exercises also (benching) if you do it too much.

As for the style of swimming, I am probably on the same boat as you. I swam everyday when I was a kid, now 8 years later I just started again. And it is tuff starting. As you read my previous post, I am having problem; however everyday I see myself improving like lifting And the form wise, I just do what I recall when I was a kid and watches other people in the pool. Once in a while these two guys on the university come swimming so I just try to learn from them. I haven't done any reserach online for the correct form, because I believe i have it down. And also trial and error works pretty good with swimming. The speed, breathing, and power I can adjust and find the "right" style to train with.

However, I do not do the 5x5 SL program exactly as it is. I have a different kind of routine, therefore; swimming is one of the critical part. So I don't know how swimming will affect you if your in the 5x5 SL.

[pandapower]

hey i am 17
now i am doing (2 frogstyle followed by 4 freestyle) X 2
after my 5X5
i go hard on the freestyle then take it easy on frogstyle
and i take 20sec interval after every lap
it works fine

[ricardo]

Before lifting weights I used to swim 3x/week, I did this for 4 years.

If you can't do freestile for a few laps it is most likely a technique issue, not because you aren't fit enouh. If you plan to swim regularly take a course in case you didn't do so when you were young. You may want to try some backstroke also, I love it.

Enjoy the water

[Love_Deadlifts]

Before lifting weights I used to swim 3x/week, I did this for 4 years.

If you can't do freestile for a few laps it is most likely a technique issue, not because you aren't fit enouh. If you plan to swim regularly take a course in case you didn't do so when you were young. You may want to try some backstroke also, I love it.

Enjoy the water

I could never manage to pull off the backstroke. My legs always kept sinking as soon as my speed dropped off a little.

[pandapower]

me too backstroke is hard
i think freestyle is a complete body workout
it burns yr body fats
esp after stronglifts 5X5

you guys feel the same?