I am a lifeguard so needless to say I swim a lot, and I'm in great shape. I swim to cross train with my running and if you swim a 500 in 7-8 minutes you have expended some seriouse calories. I don't care what any of you guys say it's intense cardio.

I tried kickboxing with an ex-girlfriend once and that was great. It was like being back playing high school football, there was always someone there pushing you to finish up whatever they had you doing. If you have never tried it, I say go for it. The only reason I stopped was because like I said, I went with an EX-girlfriend.

If you want to burn those calories and don’t want to run or swim, why not do a circuit of calisthenics. It doesn't have the impact of running, and it turns you into a fat burning furnace. I still prefer swimming though > more muscle recruitment and intensity over time = burn more calories (vs. running). Of course, we are not talking about dog paddling here.

Man swimming just makes me more hungry afterwards.

That's a good thing....unless your diet is $hit.

I lost 60 lbs with swimming and diet. I guess it works, lol.

I don't really like running, so I opted for swimming instead. and that whole retain fat because of cold water thing is crap if your swimming in comfortable water.

like s-one said, for me, swimming seems to make me really hungry after, and I have read some things on the internet that suggest this as well.

Most calorie-calculator's usually rank swimming as burning more calories than running, but I don't know how accurate they are.

It makes sense, though, seeing as you use more of your body for it.

I think it also depends on what stroke you do as well. I can swim for hours with a relaxed breast-stroke, but the front-crawl just wipes me out.

You can try variations, like using the kickboard to only use your legs, or a pool-buoy to only use your arms.

stops you from drownin.............wha ha ha ha

I tried swimming laps for the first time yesterday at the Y and let me tell you... it was hard! As a runner who can run 5 miles a day/5 times a week...I wouldn't have thought it to actually get me out of breath. I would definetly try it out if you haven't yet. I've been changing up my workout and I now lift my weights first...then do about 30 mins on the tredmil...then hit the pool for some laps. It helps switch things up... plus its something to look forward to bc it cools you down after a good workout!

If you are in shape and still getting really out of breath, you technique is lacking. There is a great book for technique with drills and workouts called "Total Immersion". Fantastic book, took my times way way down after trying the drills. I saw a drastic improvement after just one week. Check it out.

Hello,

Swimming is a great cardio workout for you. It is proven that swimming is one of the best cardio exercises you can do an it works almost every muscle in the body which will give you lean tone mass and cut you in. You are sweating consistently, but you can't feel it since you are in the water. Hope this helps.

Swimming in itself is very good exercise; however, it is in correct to assume this exercise by itself is responsible for cutting and toning. This simply isnt factual. By the way this is an old thread.

Yes, understandable. Swimming on its own will not cut you in by itself. It is a combination of proper nutrition, and proper exercise. Yes, I know the thread was old. Just browsing through. Thanks

Depends on how you swim. If you're just jumping up and down on the play section of the pool/lake/whatever, then swimming does nothing for you.

However, if you take the time to concentrate on your intensity and form, you can greatly increase your aerobic strength provided you are doing interval training.

All in all, swimming is more fun than anything. You can get the same benefits of strengthening your aerobic system by running, cycling, or walking. I go once a week myself, and still working on form and breathing control

the ability to swim a mile "open water," or in a pool for that matter, in under 30 minutes is one of my greatest personal, "inside job", achievements.

If you can do it, you know what I'm talking about, if you can't you don't!

p.s. if you can put your face down in the ocean and swim for 30-60 minutes. you also know, it is of the most meditative experiences out there. -highly recommended by me for any martial atrtist!

I also believe if you are only swimming to work on the vanity element- you are headed for a very long road.

Swimming is a reversal of breathign pattern, and an understanding of doing an activity "with your breath" instead of breathing "with your activity."

FF