[goodguy_1]

-it has been shown thru research that swimmers in general have higher bodyfat %'s than other endurance athletes.

-also swimmers tend to eat more post workout in many studies vs. other endurance athletes leading to higher bodyfat%'s.

-fat makes you more bouyant which naturally makes it easier to float and swim. Woman definetly have an edge in this category because they have higher bodyfat% and carry it in their hips where it helps them to float better.
In studies I have read it appears that swimming in cold water and the body's natural tendency to store fat when exercising in colder temperatures causes this extra layer of fat.

-like any other endurance event sprinters thu who train by doing intervals of shorter distances will have more lean muscle mass and less fat than those that do long slow workouts. Look at the best olympic sprinters bodies male or female they are strong and lean.

-i've also read that swimmers burn more glucose than other enduarnce athletes and so they get out of the water feeling starved and hungry as a horse..compare this to running where your appetite is surpressed for an hour or two.


-swimming is a great all-around body workout but is not a great way to lose bodyfat unless you really work hard. If you are extremely overweight you will lose fat with regular workouts but probably stall out with your weight loss unless you include other forms of exericise ie strength training, core work or other cardio.

-the best way to lose weight is to combine strenght training and cardio incl. swimming.

-swimming also works many muscles in your body-mostly back, arms specifically triceps, upper chest, your core and legs but you dont really blast one area of your body all at once say like when you squat or bench.
The intense stress placed on your muscles via strenght training forces your body to burn more calories in recovery ..this happens somewhat in swimming but not like in strenght training where your metabolism is raised for long periods of time post-workout burning fat.

-I personally have noticed that by adding lots of core work and strenght training exercises using my own bodyweight ie pullups, situps, dips etc that my bodyfat% has gone way down.. My metabolism has risen ..if I really went full out and lifted again heavy I would no doubt lose more bodyfat% but technique wise it might hurt my swimming and bodybuilding is not really my goal.

- I also have decided to focus more on speed work at shorter distances ie 50, 100, 200 meter freestyle, some fly instead of longer intervals of 500, 1000 or say 1/2 hr non-stop swims...the reason is that longer bout of endurance training can easily break down muscle unless you are carefull with your nutritional planning..ie now I take protein supplements and always replace glucose stores during and always immediately after swim workouts ie accelerade/endurux.