Anxiety relief!
- I suffered from anxiety, panick atttack and some emotional issues for many years, i saw all kind of doctors, i was always thinking having a heart attack or stroke because of what i was feeling, when i was kid i was a good swimmer but i stopped for many years. And my anxieties problem still here, i cope with it almost eveyday, i didn't have a choice because i been to the doctors a lot and they can't find nothing wrong on me, they said i am healthy. Ok, thanks god there wasn't something serious. Some good friends recommend me to get back on pools, i said ok, it might help. Anyway, i will love it because i am a already a good swimmer. When i started swiming, seriously i lost all the bad symptoms i was suffered. Swimming might be the best exercise, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease like heart attack, stroke....there are more healthy benefits of swimming.
- —Guest Sheckwel
Therapeutic fun
- When I was 31 years old, I severely injured my lower back in competition canoe paddling (ocean 6 man outrigger canoe). Every specialist in the medical profession tried their best to help me, but they could not effect even one iota of relief. I got depressed and I became a real grouch because I was in pain all the time. I decided enough of this nonsense, and planned a self-help program with regular swimming the chief component. That was 34 years ago, and I never looked back. My efforts paid off, not only in therapeutic ways, but in other unexpected ways which have greatly improved my life. I started out slowly at first, but then things began to pick up. I got into Masters Swimming, joined several teams over the years, participated in national swim meets, met lots of really fine people and made new friends, and recently I have been participating in ocean swim races which are loads of fun. There's no slacking for me and I intend to keep it up.
- —Guest open.water
swiming is much more than a sport
- Swimming in general can works in your over all muscles and it reaches deep that's why water pressure, where any other sport can. in water you feel so light which gives a confidence to work out. you can burn fat, gain muscles, tone your body, all your body. strech it, it's a pain killer. the most important it's a physical treatment for back aches, leg ankles tendon, arm and shoulders, etc. well my advice to those who like to burn fat is swiming for 15 mins non stop, 3 times a week as a start for 2 month surely you'll find changes. thx
- —Guest ahmed
Great exercise, swim + LOSE WEIGHT
- Swimming is one of the best forms of exercise there is. Yoga is another one. Running and biking have their merit but swimming will generally never cause an injury. What this article by Mat Luebbers neglects to mention is that your body gets toned and you have a great shape, which you do not get with running and biking -- I'm talking about the whole body. Also, while you can work hard and really go full force, you can also do intervals where you are swimming in a more relaxing mode. Anyone who doesn't swim is really missing out. The chlorine does NOT do anything to the hair and skin if you shower well afterward. Since it bothers my nostrils and makes me sneeze, I use a nose clip. Dare I say if you don't swim for some piffling reason, you are basically an idiot! Get up and get into the water and MOVE!!! If you stick with it, you will not regret it.
- —Guest Gerry Visco
Swimming keeps me pain free & flexible
- Two years ago I started swimming at L A Fitness and the YMCA for an hour doing the breast stroke 3 to 4 days a week. I've experienced many benefits from this exercise: firm arms, firm breasts, strong back and legs and a sense of well-being, lower pulse rate and no aches or pains anywhere in my body and lots of stamina and self-confidence. Before I started swiming, attempting to get out of bed in the morning was a chore because my back would ache. Also, before swimming I had given up gardening because once I was down on my knees, I had great difficulty returning to a standing position. To be mentally alert, strong, confident and pain-free, I will continue swimming the rest of my life. Deborah Goulekas, Jacksonville, Florida . . . Florida
- —Guest Debby . . . age 56
Weight Loss
- I added swimming to my cardio exercising. This week I lost 3 lbs. I'm sure swimming wasn't the only thing but sure helped!
- —tvaughn1957
Weight loss and other benefits
- I started swimming 6 months ago to loose weight. For those who say you can't, bull. I've lost 25lbs and gained 8lbs of muscle. I easily swim 2,500 meters 5 times a week.
- —Guest Pastor Ray
about swimming
- i fel comfortable when i always on the water. i fel relax and my mind so peaceful.It's increase my addrenaline... so that I've always confidence in my self....
- —Guest robert jay somera
Fibomyalgia
- Anyone with this condition should try the water in any capacity, I swim laps and has done wonders for me. I learned the hard way tho, not to overdue it, so i do some laps and take a rest for a minute. swimming is better than all the meds doctors have tried to get me to take over the years. its relaxing and soothes the muscle pain and starts my day off in good spirits.
- —Guest Marlene
swimming is the best way to relieve ache
- I had back pain for several years unitl I heard from a family friend to try swimming as a therapy. At first I thought whe was out of her mind but I consider it as an option. I did swim and was suprise to find out that it did help my back ache. So for you back aches patient try it you'll never know it might help you.
- —Guest tro
Swimming to lose weight
- I was reading your article and the part about losing weight, well let me say I think you are a little misinformed. I know from experience that swimming can help you lose weight; I took a swimming class and lost ten pounds over one semester and that was just swimming 3 times per week. Plus, I went to other sites looking for the benefits of swimming and guess what? Your article is the only one that says a person cannot lose weight through swimming. Well I'm sorry for the people this article misleads. Swimming has many, many health benefits and one of them IS losing weight.
- —Guest Desh
Not good for wieght loss? WRONG!
- I am a sedentary programmer type who smoked for 25+ years and was 100lbs over. When I started (literally started from scratch) swimming in May 2009 I dropped 50 pounds in 3 months. NOTHING changed but the introduction of swimming. I try to get in the water 2 hours every day. 3 days a week is masters practice, the rest of the week is on me. We crawled a 5000yd workout last night an I feel great. The water is now my home away from home I cannot get enough. I have recently changed my diet as well (I was a freaking PIG at the table) as swimming this amount has done all the fat removing that it is going to do without additional measures. 50 gone fifty to go. DO IT! GET IN THE POOL!!!!! Who doesn't love swimming anyway...psshh
- —Guest Lance Robinson
Swimming does make me feel better
- I don't care if it doesn't help me lose weight, it makes me feel a lot better because I have scoliosis and it stretches my back, stopping the pain.
- —Guest Mel
Challenging but Relaxing
- I am 52 years old and trying to swim 400 meters in 8 to 10 minutes. Now for the ones that have been swimming from youth that is more than enough time. For me, one month ago I could not swim 4 laps without collapsing. Now I am up to 16 laps and taking that time to pray and praise the Lord for His goodness and strength. He truly is a great coach. I now am able to relax and become one with the water, and not fight it as though I were drowning. I have toned up and exchanged some fat for muscle, and that is because I also lift weights and put 4 - 5 miles on the treadmill before I get in the pool.
- —LDYQ
healthy heart and stress relief
- I moved into an appartment last spring which had a pool in the building. I have had serious heart problems since i was born and my parents were told that i would be disabled for my life if I lived pass 7. I did TKD for 4 1/2 years after highschool and got my blackbelt. After that i stopped exercising and gained weight and couldn't do as much as i wanted to. After 6 years of not doing anything i moved into a condo that had a pool in the building. I started out using it every 2-3 days. I then started to use it everyday. i am not a hardcore swimmer I do know all the strokes but that's from my lessons. I usually do 10 laps with the back stroke and front stroke and butterfly stroke each way and then float around. Sometimes I would tread water as well. Since I started swimming I have lost 20 Lbs, Inches have melted away, My heart is doing good, and it helps me relax.
- —Guest Jemima