Swimming for cardio

[gmanlax7]

I like to swim a lot more than run or bike, would laps be a decent source of cardio, or is there too much muscle breakdown ?

 

[Greek Freak]

Swimming is good, very low impact..helps build up your back a little bit and gives your legs a rest for once. You just gotta keep switching it up with cardio, thats the key. If you like swimming the most then maybe swim twice a week, and run or use a machine at your gym another day.

 

[Haz]

Swimming is great, but its best if your technique is good enough so that you can swim at nice speed for at least 20-30 minutes straight. I don't think it breaks down muscle anywhere near as much as other forms of cardio like running. Since your weight is supported by the water, its very easy on joints, and legs aren't used hardly at all. I swim and cycle alot, and haven't noticed any muscle loss yet.

 

[Lord_Suston]

swimming is a great form of cardio, the only problem is I can't stay afloat for 20-30 minutes

 

[gymtime]

Swimming is excellent for cardio in general. However, it's not the best excercise if you are overweight and trying to lose. Swimming does not burn fat as efficiently because the water keeps your body temp down. Cardio tends to be more efficient in terms of fat loss when body temp is higher.

So yeah, swimming's great for fit people to stay fit, but not ideal for overweight folks.

 

[Legion Kreinak]

Yeah, the water keeps your body temp down. And you burn more calories when you're body is at a lower temperature because your body uses alot of energy to produce the heat to warm you up. And, since water is a different medium, heat travels away from your body faster in water.

 

[gmanlax7]

thanks for the responses, swimming sounds worth doing a couple times a week, i'll just have to put up with the chlorine, i hate that shit. or find myself a lake

 

[Legion Kreinak]

Could always flail your arms the in tub...

 

[circusgirl]

Got any ozone-filtered pools in your locality? The public pools in Holland were all ozone-filtered, bliss...

 

[Vortexx]

I didn't knew that!

Gosh has been a long time since I went to the public pools....