swimming as cardio?

[circusgirl]

Anyone here do swimming for cardio? How effective is it? What's the cal burn like with hr at about 140? WIth daily cardio my legs are taking a real pounding on the treadmill and/or elliptical.

 

[WarriorPL]

Great cardio for upper body, but uses legs too. Both swimming and running are the best cardio, its all a matter of preference IMO.

 

[gmanlax7]

swimming is fucking tough !

20 -30 minutes and i am absolutely spent

 

[HANSEL]

I love swimming laps for cardio. Tones the hell out of my whole bod. Get your self some goggles and go!
In midsummer when its nice and warm out I wake up and swim a few laps right out of bed on an empty stomach then go shower up, great way to start the day.

 

[JJFigure]

The only problem is if you're lean, you won't float as well and the old people will lap the hell out of you. I tend to avoid swimming pools because I always end up looking like an out of shape idiot.

 

[CONTRACTION]

Swimming is excellent. I usually lose bf very quickly when Im swimming regularly.

The only thing is I dont float well, so I spend a lot of energy in a short amount of time. Technique has a lot to do with it also. An efficient swimmer will be able to swim for a longer time.

 

[Thaibox]

Swimming is an excellent exercise, tough as hell. But....

I think swimming is too anaerobic to be considered a viable alternative to other cardio options depending on your goal.

I use to do a LOT of swimming, drown-proofing, and such. I loved it. But, if you're trying to ride the edge of the anabolic/catabolic wall...swimming can be dangerous in my opinion. I would rather go for a walk.

 

[tsarleon]

perhaps timed swim sprints is comparable to sprints on a track????? if so then might be a could form of cardio

 

[circusgirl]

thanks folks! yup, it uses legs, but not as much, I did swim team at high school for a while, and it was always my arms that ached after training!

The uni gym's pool has just reopened after being shut for a year and as it's included in my membership.... thought I'd give it a go. Now to find out when it hasn't been block booked by the swim team!

 

[vinylgroover]

Get yourself a real bike and cycle. It's far more interesting than swimming, great cardio and will increase your leg muscularity considerably.