Swimming for fitness

[henrikrh]

I'm going to get back in shape (not lose weight, but just tone up and add muscle mass) For teh next 2 weeks I have no access to a gym, but there is a public pool near by.

I usually just do the breast stroke, I always sucked at the others. Will I miss out any major muscle groups by not doing front crawl?

[punkass]

Swimming will be great for your cardio.
You're asking about muscle groups, which would be weight training. You're gonna need to get out of the pool for that.

[henrikrh]

Swimming doens't build any muscle at all?

[cold_cash]

I think the answer to your question is "yes", but I don't know for sure.

I imagine the crawl stroke would work more muscles. The breaststroke seems to be something to do once you're tired out and trying to conserve energy.

I'm also pretty sure swimming builds muscle. It's resistance training, right?

Also, chicks dig swimmers' bodies.

[Keepitsimple]

builds a lot of muscles imo but they wont be as visible as gym muscles. but they will be useful

[NT!]

[ QUOTE ]
builds a lot of muscles imo but they wont be as visible as gym muscles. but they will be useful

[/ QUOTE ]

Yeah swimming muscles tend to be lean, not super sculpted, very evenly proportioned. It's not really like the huge-arms-teeny-legs school of fitness. Sometimes swimmers don't really look ripped unless they are elite, or do other exercises, or are just naturally defined, but they tend to have great core strength & stability.

NT

[anklebreaker]

While swimming is a great all-body workout, it's not gonna build serious muscle.

If you aren't gonna have access to a gym, you're better off buying dumbells and doing pull-ups, pushups etc