Readers Respond: Ways That Swimming Has Been Good for You

Responses: 99

From Mat Luebbers, former About.com Guide

Swimming is a healthy activity, with many benefits. What have you found to be helpful or good for you from swimming?

I had already been swimming a couple of years when I fell down the stairs and chipped the bone in my ankle last Feb 2012; no doctor told me to swim but since it was something I enjoyed I just continued; at first I could barely move the ankle and swam mostly with a kick-board, but gradually I introduced the legs again and now the injury is almost behind me; also I dont diet and have lost as much as I am going to via swimming, until I begin dieting, but my chunkiness doesn't seem to interfere with my progress; 4 years ago, my first goal was to complete one lap as I started at 4 strokes and can now swim about 80 laps
—Guest Rebecca

Last year I broke a disc in my spine, which spilled and pressed against my spinal cord, causing horrendous sciatica pain in both of my legs. For a five months I swam 2 km every day (cca. 50 mins) + 1 hour of stretching and therapy. I could barely walk, but I was in colossal shape. At the end I got surgery and my recovery time was practically zero. Throughout that time and even on a day of the surgery I did not take a single pain killer. If you are expecting a surgery - swim daily, do a prehab not a rehab. Swimming is superior pain management technique.
—Guest Niko

I have started swimming on my 46th birthday & swimming since 05 months I am much benefited
—Guest Paresh Panchal

i am a daibitic patient. i am swimming daily 45 minutes it is very good, my sugar level is normal & cholestral level is also normal. after swimming i am very cheerful.
—Guest ashok

i went swimming with my friends and we'd been in there 3 hours i went in feeling quite fat(even though im not) being a girl just body concious and when i got outi felt like i had lost some weight and could visually see it
—Guest charlotte

I am 51 gaining weight due to menopause high blood pressure high cholestorel and i go swimming twice a week ha ve a sauna and steam and i just feel great afterwards and i have lost a stone in weight and my blood pressure gone down and i feel so healthy and sleep like a log after swimming so its hugely helped my wellbeing.
—Guest sharon

It's true that you can lose weight with swimming. It's a great total body workout and I even do some stretches in the water because it allows for more freedom of movement. I'm pleasantly tired and more mentally at ease afterward. I just finished a half mile myself. I love swimming, and I plan to continue my entire life.
—Guest Cris

I swim for 2hrs once or twice a week at my own pace,and its helping me to loose weight. It takes all the stresses away,its simply wonderful
—Guest Sandra

the only time i have sucesfully lost weight fast is by swimming. Ive been swiiming 35 entire rounds in the pool a day(45 min) for 26 days now and lost 13 pounds without dieting. I also walked 1 hour a day and watching what I eating modertly in one week i lost one pounds. Swimming really does shed off pounds.
—Guest alicia

Swimming gives me humility because sometimes a big girl will get into the lane next to me and will swim faster than me.
—Guest Monty

I can only swim when I'm relaxed. Before swimming I always try to relax myself by reading or resting. I also try to prevent fighting before swimming as it's all I can think about.
—Guest Raina

I have read all your responses and I am joining all of you who also enjoy swimming. I was finding difficult to manage weight gain and be disciplined in my life by sorting things out after a hard relationship break up. I was so scared to put on a swimming suit and be seen by other women at the pool, I really thought everyone would think I shouldn't be here, only lean people are allowed to put on bikinis/swimming suits... I was so so so wrong. I have been swimming for 3 months now and it has saved my life as I suffer fromvery high blood pressure and I am manging to lower it and my body is not size 18 any longer, I will soon weight myself on the 1st of June but it feels as if i lost 1 stone, so swimming does help to loose weight and It gave me another chance in life to be happy again.
—Guest RebeKKa-Pool

I have been swimming since 8 years old. I am 15 and a half now and still swimming. I swim year round and swim with my high school team during spring. It helps with breathing problems, running outside of the water, better endurance, get faster at any sport, builds muscle, and is a lot of fun when you swim with people you like. And I am training to be a lifeguard this summer!
—Guest Angela

Um. . . excuse me? Most competitive swimmers can't swim a mile in 30 minutes? Whoever wrote this article is ridiculous and knows nothing about swimming. I am 13 years old and can swim a mile in 21 mins. I'm not even fast for my age group.
—Guest Addictedtoswimmng1

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