Let me start by saying recently weight training has become sort of dull for me and my interests for it have been steadily declining. The athletic center where I go also has a pool so swimming has been on my mind for a while.

I'm wondering how well swimming works as a substitute for running/ jogging and if anyone could please direct me to some sort of guide on which swimming excercises to do or a steady swimming routine. I know how to swim but not which swimming routines are the best for a workout. Also would swimming effect my muscle growth if I did it after weight lifting?

Thanks for any input or help!

Here's a good article about weight training for swimming and it has some routines down near the bottom under Suggested Reading. Swimmers Strength Training - Weight Lifting For Swimmers Strength Training

An hour of swimming vigorously burns about the same number of calories as running an hour at 6 MPH. http://www.nutristrategy.com/activitylist3.htm

I've heard some people say that swimming "doesn't burn fat, just calories" whatever that means. Have you ever seen a fat competitive swimmer?

Swimming itself is excellent full-body exercise so if you are getting burned out with the weight stuff maybe try only 2X/week with weights and swim 3-4.

I did that for a while to increase CV capacity b/c I get shin-splints something fierce and I was rehabing a knee injury and had a "no impact" instruction from my doc.

I did my swimming in intervals. Basically I would warm up with 5 lengths of easy free-style and breast-stroke. Then I would do a moderate pace free-style length followed by a sprint. I would then repeat the same with breast-stroke. And...repeat.

My cooldown was usually 5 lengths or so of breaststroke or I would throw in a side-stroke length or two.

I started out small...250 meters or something like that. Not much. I quickly was able to increase that (I aimed for one more lap/2 lengths) each week. And was swimming 1500 meters nonstop in no time. That may not sound like a lot to some but I was considering doing a Sprint Tri at the time and only needed to swim 1KM for that as my motivation.

Really? You got bored of weight training? That sucks man. Trying upping the weights or challenging yourself further... hate to see a fellow iron lover quit.

But back to the question at hand. YES swimming KICKS ASS. My gym has one, along with a sauna and a steam room. Nothing is more refreshing than going for a dip. Swimming has totally replaced running for me. But make sure you do real swimming, or as stated above "vigorous swimming". This is not the time for splash works.

And the amount of calories burnt... I've read it burns more, less and the same amount. Seems like everyone has different sources... but the running speed that you compare it with is definitely a factor. But don't concentrate on that... you're using your whole body, so trust me, you're burning enough!

Now go for a dip.

Cheers.