I'm working hard in the pool about 3-4 days a week. I can only do a mile now, but adding a little more each day.

Some observations:

Swimming really does make you hungry! It passes, though.
Even after only a couple of months I can tell my muscles are longer and my lung capacity greatly increased.

I "should" be burning about 500 calories an hour but weight loss is slow. Anyone find swimming really effective for fat loss? I have actually heard your body wants to insulate itself more.

I love to swim. We have our own pool in the back yard and in the warm months I will swim everyday.
Swimming helps me with my weight loss to..Thats why I hate the winter months because I cannot get into the pool..
I am been thinking about going to the gym and using their indoor pool in the colder months...

I have a dear friend who lost 77 pounds in 3 months doing nothing but swimming as he prepared to go into the armed service. He worked out in the pool 2 hours a day x 7 days a week. No diet. Just working out in the pool.
I wish you luck. You are doing so well!

Swimmer here!

My teeny tiny town fitness center renovated and put in a beautiful indoor pool.

I was a competitive swimmer when I was young and find that swimming 2-3 times a week shakes my fitness workouts up a bit.

I swim about a mile or so. Just cruise along---crawl, flutter kick with a kickboard, breast stroke, back stroke, breast stroke kick, dolphin kick--I go thru all the strokes and all the kicks. Like I said, I don't go fast, just cruise at a nice pace to make myself a bit winded but not gasping.

and YES....I'm stronger both muscularly and cardiovascularly now than when I started back in November. With that said, I'm 10# below my goal. I guess I'm not insulating

Progress not perfection.

Lisa

Swimming is not only excellent for burning calories, but it can build some nice muscles as well, just be sure and swim on your back some too so that you keep the muscles balanced. Swimming a mile is no easy task, so great job there!

Ooops--forgot--backstroke and backstroke kick

If you haven't already, you should try a pair of Zoomers. They're like mini fins used for training. Gives your legs an awesome workout.

Thats what I am trying to do is build up my muscles.
I was laid up for awhile from spinal surgeries and it really weaken my muscles, especially in my legs so swimming helps build them up for me.
Right now I cannot kick my legs hard like I use to do when I swam but I have to move them slow until I can get them stronger.

Swimming has helped so much! I do laps in the lap pool some days, then other days walk in the water resistant walking pool. You really can get toned up this way. They play oldies over the speaker and it's fun so the time goes by quickly. Then I'm lucky enough to be able to sit in their very warm jacuzzi when I'm done. Good Luck, Alma

I don't swim, but I do aqua fitness at the YMCA. It's light cardio and strength training in the water. I find it to be a good workout, yet relaxing, too. The buoyancy of the water makes it easy for beginners. I started it after I broke my foot and after it healed I found that even walking bothered me, but water exercises didn't. If anyone is looking for a good workout plan after being sedentary, I highly recommend it.

Now that I've been doing it for a while, the next step is to take swimming lessons like the swimmers here.