Swimming

[Roughquest]

I swim 3 times a week, doing 20-25 lengths a time (olympic sized pool!) - I adore swimming, but what benefits would I be getting from it, obviously the aerobic/cardio but is it true that swimming exercises most muscle groups in your body? Also, how do I learn to do front crawl ? I am getting fed up of breast-stroke. LOL.

[nuttymum]

Swimming is a very good form of exercise, especially shock absorbing if you have problems with your joints, and I would recommend learning back stroke as its better for your posture if you go a lot. My osteo told me that when I had back problems. Better for your neck

[MrBen5]

Hmmm, apparently swimming is supposed to excerise other muscles you wouldnt normally get with other sports. But these days , i hear you can catch a lot more gerns from a swimming pool than you can from a toilet seat.
I remember someone saying the other week that whilst swimming in their local pool, a pair of trunks ended up in some womans face. In those trunks was some nasty bacteria. because the lady swimming had a colsaw around her mouth, apparently she caught some disease, i forgot what it was called now...

[sleepy1]

mr ben you want last say again ... sorry roughq

[MrBen5]

my answers always end up with the last post for some reason, no matter where i post...

[Tara999]

Yes Rough, swimming is extremely good for you ! Great for toning up all over ! Not sure how to advise on the different strokes though lol.....

[MrBen5]

Hmmm, please dont say you got the b and the w mixed up on your user name wunchobanker.
That is so immature...

[sleepy1]

oh yes mr ben .i never thought of that

[nuttymum]

MrBen are you like the character out of game on then? do you never go out cos u worry about everything?

[MrBen5]

Hmmm, i never worry about anything. I merely give you the facts and you can make of them what you will.
Without sounding big headed my knowledge of things exceeds anything you could imagine.
If you look up in a news site, you find my story about the trunks on the womans face...

[nuttymum]

oh...so you can read Mr Ben, thats soooo intelligent

[nutgoneflake]

Hello RQ! I'm a swimmer too and I was advised by a chiropractor to alternate backstroke with crawl or breast stroke too. I normally go up the pool one way, then down the other. Swimming is meant to lengthen your muscles too, although to be honest, I'm not quite sure why that's good. It SOUNDS good somehow, so I'm happy with that!! You're right about it being a total body workout too. Front crawl will get your heart going faster if you get the hang of it properly - it's a bit harder than the other strokes. Does someone at your pool do one-to-one lessons? At ours in the summer hols there's a lady who does lessons like that, and you can book just what you need - two or three, ten or twenty sessions! Maybe you could find someone like her to teach you - I bet you'd get it in 2 or 3 goes if you're such a water baby already??

Good luck! xx

[Reverandfunk]

I used to swim 1/2 mile twice a week, not particularly quick about 25 mins doing breast stroke and I used to see people who did it in about half that time but when they got out of the pool they were massive! Can anyone explain this? lol

[MrBen5]

Stamina Reverandfunk.
Unless its because they just look bigger becuase you still have your goggles on...

[Mr k]

Hi nutgoneflake & Roughquest
They do say swimming works nearly ever muscle in the body.
I love swimming used to swim the mile twice a week but now i do just 30 odd lengths get bored swimming up and down.
Keep it up :o)

[Reverandfunk]

They were of Hattie Jacques proportions.

My point being if someone can swim that fast and for such a distance (like running a mile in 5 minutes) why were they still tubby??

[partyanimal]

MrBen,
Had the lady who had coleslaw on her mouth just been for lunch??

[Toureman]

Go to the bbc sports site and enter swimming, shows you how to do all the strokes.