Answers to Everyday Questions : Is swimming just as good exercise for losing weight at using CV machines in the gym?

Is swimming just as good exercise for losing weight at using CV machines in the gym?

10 Responses to “Is swimming just as good exercise for losing weight at using CV machines in the gym?”

1. xprettyxbabyxtanyax said :
   May 30th, 2010 at 2:07 pm

   Swimming is better as all the muscles in your body are used not just your arms or your legs and it will keep you more toned where as the gym you would prob get muscles.
2. aoife g said :
   May 30th, 2010 at 2:28 pm

   It would be better overall to go swimming as you are using all of your mucsels at once where as in the gym you are doin it one at a time and it takes forever, overall swimming is better
3. Strike said :
   May 30th, 2010 at 2:29 pm

   No; swimming is better for you, a LOT better. The reason is simply because swimming requires you to keep whole body moving to prevent drowning (and then some!), therefore toning your whole body – particularly legs and shoulders/upper arms. Naturally, it’ll help you lose weight – but, yes, you will eventually develop muscle.

   Gym activities – like, say, running – are of course good for you and will help you to lose weight when intertwined with a good diet, but they will only tone certain parts of your body. I’ve heard that the two sports that will kick you into shape the best are swimming and trampolining, so taking those two activities up would be a good idea if you want to get fit/lose weight (or do both at the same time, maybe?).

   And, yes, I think you’ll be fine and dandy with the gym-twice pool-twice regime. I highly doubt it’ll make any difference if you do the two activities in a different order. Good luck with losing that weight!
4. Unfaithful Goddess said :
   May 30th, 2010 at 2:48 pm

   Of course. If you do both of them, it would be great! When you swim, you move your whole body. The gym is definitely a good place to either lose weight or tone yourself up.

   Going to the gym and pool twice a week is fine to me but remember that to lose weight: you must have a healthy diet. Anyway, just remember to drink plenty of water!

   Good luck!
5. blue dolphin said :
   May 30th, 2010 at 3:09 pm

   .Swimming combined with weight training is an excellent way to get in shape, but make sure you build it up gradual, don’t overdo it when you first start. Swimming exercises all the muscles in your body, ones you don’t use when you work out at the gym. it will all help you to lose weight. But with swimming it is important to build up the lengths you do and try to do an extra one each time. Also don’t forget to make sure you eat a healthy diet if you are doing all that exercise.
   Take a look at this page http://www.weightlossresources.co.uk/diet/healthy_diet/success_story.htm
6. iiigraveyardiii said :
   May 30th, 2010 at 4:03 pm

   Yes. Swimming provide total body workout. Very cost efficient also.
7. Dr Chris Steele, TheFamilyGP.com said :
   May 30th, 2010 at 4:06 pm

   Any form of exercise is better than no form of exercise. The advantage of swimming is that it’s non-weight bearing so is useful for people with arthritis, or joint problems especilly in the hips, knees and ankles. It puts less strain on the heart than a full Cardio workout. However if you’re fit and well, then go for the cardio work and then use swimming to wind down and cool down after your regular workout.

   To lose weight avoid lifting heavy weights but concentrate on running, rowing, cross training etc which will help to burn off the fat and not replace it with heavier bulkier muscle tissue.
8. minootoo said :
   May 30th, 2010 at 4:32 pm

   Swimming is an excellent thing to do. It exercises the whole body if you use all strokes one after the other. If you engage in full proper strokes, slowly, you can never hurt yourself by pulling mussels. Most disable people can also perform well in the water for that reason.

   You must understand the mechanics of loosing the body weight. I will enclose my article on this subject. Including body building.
   **************************
   Tips for Loosing Weight
   By
   minootoo

   You must count calories and at least in initial stages write down what you are going to eat and when then stay on that list. Your total calories for the week must not exceed, 1500 x 7 = 10,500 calories this will give you leave way to indulge at special occasions like wedding and parties, but you must write down what you eat and account for the calories latter and adjust the total intake next week.

   Please read my article on this subject and follow them.
   While at it build your body too, while reducing by doing body parts specific exercises.

   If you are not too old, then best way to reduce your weight is to increase your height.

   Vegetarians have a big advantage, in loosing weight, it cost less and they can satisfy the hunger more easily, some vegetables have only 1 calorie per pound, so they can fill themselves up with it before enjoying each meal, and never go hungry.

   http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&…

   http://www.halls.md/body-mass-index/bmi….
   ****************************************************
   Increasing the Height
   By
   minootoo

   In rear cases, you can increase the height up to age 30.

   Cycling is good exercise and fun too.

   You need to adjust the seat so that when you paddle from seating position you will actually stretch your legs, it is a difficult position but doable. For safety you need to be on track and not in traffic, safety first.

   The FEW things I did at least helped me.

   Swimming.

   Not just playing in water, but serious laps type swimming, do not try to beat the clock but steady full strokes swimming. Remember slow and steady wins the race.

   Stretching exercises on floor.

   Find them on line.

   Chin ups.

   Full stretch type.

   Swinging from a rope.

   Full stretch climbing.

   In other words do things that require stretching.
   STRETCH-STRETCH-STRETCH-STRETCH

   PS

   In the morning after good night sleep every one is about 1/2 inch to 1 inch taller. This is because the soft tissue between the bones recovers during the time when there is no weight on them.

   Older people loose height due to bone loss. I was 5′, 7” I am only 5′, 5″.

   Issue of Genes:

   You know only the active genes but genes can stay dormant for generations.

   I believe that every one has some tall height genes, dormant or active; I again believe that certain exercises can activate those.

   Again Swimming:

   You will start out with half a lap and build up day by day, half a lap at a time. Then you will swim non stop for 1/2 an hour.

   The speed is not important but you must use various strokes and do them correctly, completely, slowly and perfectly. This way you will have full stretch, and its benefit.

   Eating healthy foods and taking rest as specially sleeping soundly at night is very important. Most people need 8 hours of good sound sleep per night, some need more and few get by with 4 hours only.

   In the mean time use high hills and take advantage of hair-do, wardrobe can do wonders too; vertical striped clothing can create a taller look for most people.

   Hormones:

   Under strict supervision of a doctor they do wonders but the side effects are delayed and unpredictable so doctors do not like to use them.

   Surgical Procedures:

   There are surgical procedures but most doctors will not do them till the person is 30 years or so. They also have to be very short.
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   Life Style Change Program for Loosing Weight
   By
   minootoo

   Who needs to loose weight?

   Answer is simply not every one, only the over weight person.

   Who is over weight?

   This is simple, it is easy to find out and it is available on line, it is call Body Mass Index, and calculations are simple. According to this calculation if you find your self say only 10 pounds more, you may not be over weight. Remember every one is slightly different and you can just watch it, on your own and not let it get out of hand.

   What is the reason for being over weight?

   This is also simple, have doctor check you out for any physical or hormonal abnormalities. The doctor should be advising you of your ideal weight even though you have already figured out the ideal weight and you are seen a doctor because your weight is not where it should be according to BMI.

   Basic understanding of loosing weight.

   Every one uses calories at all time. There may be some exceptions to this rule, for most of us; the rate of use, even when we are resting, we use 65 calories per hour minimum. This comes to1560 calories per day. The actual range is between 65 and 100 calories per hour. This is consistent with heart rate of 60 to 80 bits per minute.

   Simply put any person eating only say 1500 calories a day will not put on any additional weight. At this level of calories consumption the person should loose some weight over long haul, depending on the individual rate of metabolism.

   What is a healthy weight loss?

   When one tries to loose weight, one should loose excess fat; there should be a healthy loss of weight. Loosing muscles tissue is unhealthy.

   How much is one pound of body fat?

   One pound of body fat weight is approximately same as one pound of butter. If you look at a one pound package of butter, you will see it contains between 3200 to 3600 calories. This means that each time a person burns 3600 more calories then what the person takes in, the person will loose one pound.

   How many pounds should a person loose in a month?

   Any one that is trying to trim down can figure out how long it took to put on the excess pounds. The fact is; it did not happen over night. It usually creeps up, but the person realizes one day suddenly.

   This is why a person should not be in a hurry to loose weight. The person should start at once but go slowly. Do not wait for New Year.

   Taking above in to consideration a person should not loose more then 2 pounds per month. If a person looses any thing more then that, chances are that the person will not be able to maintain the weight loss. It will take extra efforts to loose and it will take extra efforts to keep it off. Remember slow and steady wins the race.

   When an overweight person should start loosing weight?

   At once. The person should not be in a hurry to loose weight. The person should start at once but go slowly. Again do not wait for New Year.

   How does body react to weight lose?

   Any time there is depletion of fat beyond certain level, the body reacts by slowing down metabolism, so that it can build up fat. If the body is use to say 2000 calories per day and detects only 1500 calories per day for considerable length of time it reacts to the situation by reducing the rate of metabolism. When this happens one need to help body by increasing activity. Usually takes about four weeks for body to react.

   What is the relationship between body and body fat?

   Under ideal condition fat act as a reserved energy source for our body. Certain level of fat is good for healthy living and even may save our life in certain life threatening situations. Every one should have minimum required level of fat on their body.

   What if there is no weight loss at 1500 calories in take level?

   This is a rear occurrence. Do not panic. The body has slowed down the metabolism to such a great extent that you must help it. The only way to help is to increase activities, this means you have to exercise. You do not need to join Gym but you can go on an an half an hour walk every day or batter still engage in a power walk for same duration. Power walk burns 250 calories per hour and walk burns 100 calories per hour approximately.

   What is the importance of body fat for a female?

   Females require little more body fat then men. In the absence of certain required level of body fat, females are not able to function properly; in particular they may not be able to conceive. You can find lot more about this on internet.

   At 1500 calories intake per day what one must drink and eat?

   Drink

   One gallon of liquids most of witch should be in the form of water (zero calories).
   Calories should be accounted for all other liquids.

   Why water?

   Water is a universal solvent, means it dissolves almost every thing at least in very minute quantities. This helps purification of body.

   Eat

   What should be your proportionate in take of fat, Proteins and Complex Carbohydrates?

   This depends on what your need are.

   1.Need to reduce fat.

   Fat: 10 percent of 1500 calorie per day = 150 calories.
   Complex Carbohydrates: 30 percent of 1500 calories per day = 450 calories.
   Proteins: 60 percent of 1500 calories per day = 900 calories.

   2.Need more energy.

   Fat: 10 percent of 1500 calorie per day = 150 calories.
   Complex Carbohydrates: 40 percent of 1500 calories per day = 450 calories.
   Proteins: 50 percent of 1500 calories per day = 750 calories.

   3.Need to reduce weight only.

   Fat: 25 percent of 1500 calorie per day = 375 calories.
   Complex Carbohydrates: 25 percent of 1500 calories per day = 375 calories.
   Proteins: 50 percent of 1500 calories per day = 750 calories.

   4.Need to increase muscles bulk, but still reduce weight.

   Fat: 10 percent of 1500 calorie per day = 150 calories.
   Complex Carbohydrates: 15 percent of 1500 calories per day = 225 calories.
   Proteins: 75 percent of 1500 calories per day = 1125 calories.
   Exercise the muscles you want to develop, you can find right exercise on line, recommend use of light weights.

   Foot note: To take fat is so important, while reducing even fat, that it is included in all cases. If the fat is completely cut out, body will think of producing the fat, and will produce the fat by reducing metabolism, without fat in take, you may actually again weight even at lower than 1500 calorie level. You will feel run down and lethargic.

   How one must, drink and eat?

   Drink

   Every one may not be able to follow this regime.

   A 16 oz glass of water fist thing in the morning will be very healthy start.
   If you need to stabilize your stomach before eating, you can have a glass of water just before each and every meal. This is the easiest way to meet your quota of gallon of liquids.

   Eat

   To day almost half the world is starving.

   In western culture. Standard healthy practice for long time was three warm square meals per day. No eating in between, but children were allowed night cap.

   All that has changed, present thinking is 5 to 6 times per day. Any way what practice one follows is up to them; to each his own.

   Another best practice will be a glass of water before bed time, nothing to eat for two hours before bed time.

   How do I know the calorie count for various drinks and food?

   If you are buying packaged items it is on the package.

   Go on the internet and find the calorie information.

   Lots of cook book now a days list calorie per serving.
   Use your best guess, in this method use higher figure then you have guessed.

   References:
   http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=slv1-mdp&p=Calories+chart

   http://www.halls.md/body-mass-index/bmi.htm
   ************************************************
   Body Building
   BY
   minootoo

   You are blessed.

   How old are you?

   Most people put on weight after age 40.

   Any way before you try any thing, see a doctor to rule out any abnormalities (Hormone, Pituitary).

   Remember it is ten times easier to put on the weight then to take it off.

   Body building is opposite of weight loss. But you must understand weight loss in order to build body.

   I will include my article on weight loss also.

   Most people eat protein reach food and complex carbohydrates, with one thing in mind, that they have to exercise 6 days a week and they have to eat more than what they burn off each day.

   If you eat about 300 to 400 more calories per day then you burn off, you have a weight gain of slightly less than one pound per week.

   You need to eat about 4000 calories per day minimum.

   If that does not work than slow down your exercises routine.

   In extreme case you will not exercises for two weeks at all, followed by vigorous exercises routine for six weeks. Repeat this cycle again and again till you reach your goal.

   References:
   http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=slv1-mdp&p=Calories+chart

   http://www.halls.md/body-mass-index/bmi.htm
   ****************************************
9. Brian D said :
   May 30th, 2010 at 4:41 pm

   Swimming is GREAT exercise. I swam competitively for years, and still coach. Swimming is good for most of your body. It tones your muscles, and can get you feeling great. However, swimming IS NOT GOOD for burning fat. Your body needs oxygen to burn fat, and when you are swimming, you are not breating at a regular pace. However, as long as you are not REPLACING cardio with swimming, and you are balancing your workouts (as you have said), this would work out ok. You will not lose weight quite as fast as if you were just doing cardio, but as long as you don’t have a specific DEADLINE for losing the weight, then swimming and cardio be ok.
10. lv_consultant said :
    May 30th, 2010 at 5:06 pm

    medical study has shown time and time again that when swimming is the sole source of exercise it is inferior for weight loss (fat loss) when compared to resistance training, running or biking. body fat analysis shows that elite sprinters have 3-4% less body fat than elite swimmers while this may not sound like a lot it is substantial.

    for optimum fat loss you need to swim and do some resistance training. hit the weights 2 days and swim for 2 days. ultimately the diet that you follow will determine the level of body fat that you have not the types of exercise that you partake it. exercise only provides stimulus to the muscles and to the central nervous system, your diet provides energy and nutrients…