Thread: Working out.
View Single Post
Old 03-29-2005, 12:37 PM   #10
Schneed10
A Dude
 
Schneed10's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Newtown Square, PA
Age: 46
Posts: 12,458
Re: Working out.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Daseal
Schneed - do you recommend just laps or any other activity?
Yeah there's actually lots of great stuff you can do if you get bored of laps. I know I went insane on a number of occasions just following the black line on the bottom of the pool up and down, up and down.

First, you can mix up your strokes. Try backstroke, breaststroke, or butterfly. I find that backstroke works your abs, hips, thighs, and ass the most. Butterfly really works your shoulders and chest (though it's the hardest stroke for novice swimmers). Breast will really work your abs, inner thighs, chest, and biceps. Tough to explain how to perform each stroke in written words. Best thing I can suggest is try to find some video of the olympics if you're not familiar with what they look like.

Other good exercises:
Elementary Backstroke. This is good when you're tired, but you want to keep moving. It's relaxing, allows your muscles to "warm down." Lie on your back and do a breaststroke kick, followed by a double stroke with your arms. Your arms and legs never break the surface of the water.

Kicking. Grab a kickboard and hold it out in front of you. Rest your straightened arms on it. Now kick for a few laps. Works your legs, abs, and ass big time.

Underwater swims. Swim as far as you can under water without coming up for air. Then right after you catch your breath, repeat. This builds lung capacity and helps make your body more efficient at using oxygen. I think it's real fun too.

Sprints. Just go balls out as fast as you can for 1 lap. Catch your breath, and wash rinse repeat. Improves fast twitch muscle. Reminds me of running suicides (aka wind sprints).

Sculling. Hard to describe. Lay flat on your stomach, push off the wall to get momentum. Then once you're moving, no kicking. Just use quick, tiny little strokes out in front of your body to keep you moving, never pulling your arms down past your shoulders. Works on your upper body big time. This is a bit more advanced.

Tarzan swimming. Keep your head out of water looking straight ahead. Swim freestyle without putting your head in. Makes you real tired, works your back and abs.

Pool running. Trying to run just 15 yards in shallow water is a serious workout.

Underwater shadow boxing. Just duck underwater holding your breath for 10-15 seconds and shadow box like a madman. Come up for air just for a few breaths, and repeat over and over till you're tired. I mean beat the crap out of your imaginary friend. This isn't as good cardio-wise, but some people get frustrated with laps and want to do something different. Being underwater and holding your breath helps your lung capacity and makes you use oxygen more efficiently. And the water provides resistance to your punches. Remember to exhale steadily while underwater.

Swimming offers many advantages:
Peeing in the pool
Staying cooler, stinking of chlorine instead of sweat
Girls in bathing suits

Disadvantages:
Others peeing in the pool
Stinking of chlorine
Grandmas in bathing suits
Schneed10 is offline   Reply With Quote

Advertisements
 
Page generated in 0.90252 seconds with 10 queries