Exercise question

[russhie]

I used to run about 3-3.5 k's a day, but hurt my achilles and was on crutches for a week and I can't run for another month at least - I can't even walk as a form of exercise for 3 weeks.
So, I've started swimming and can clock up about 2 k's in the pool in the morning before work. The thing is, I feel that's inadequate, like I'm not working as hard as I did when I was running, so now am anxious about having such a long layoff.

Anyway. Is swimming such a short distance even comparable to the amount of running I was doing? I'm getting serious anxiety over it, ergh.

[Adam]

I'm no expert but if you are doing the same amount of time of exercise - like 90 minutes or whatever, then it should be fairly comparable to what you did before. Try taking your pulse rate - see its the same. Thats if you knew your rate when you was running however.

I think because you aren't pounding your joints against each other cus of bouncing on the pavement like you do in running, the pain might be less so it feels less?

I dunno.

[funk63]

I fucked my thumb up on broken glass a while ago and my lifes been pretty downhill since then.

[ms.peachy]

As long as I live, I will never understand why people enjoy running. I accept that people do, and, you know, no skin off my nose, if that's what you wanna do, have at it. But I just cannot fathom how it could be found to be at all pleasurable. Complete mystery to me.

[mikizee]

Swimming is definitely comparable, it can be an even harder workout. I do one lap and I'm fucked. Swimming is a compound exercise, you are using many muscle groups at once.

Ever seen a fat swimmer?

[Bob]

As long as I live, I will never understand why people enjoy running. I accept that people do, and, you know, no skin off my nose, if that's what you wanna do, have at it. But I just cannot fathom how it could be found to be at all pleasurable. Complete mystery to me.

that's very helpful

i don't know if the amount of swimming is equivalent to the amount of running or anything, but if you're injured, maybe it's not such a bad idea to do less strenuous exercise for a while. this seems like the kind of question that a doctor should be answering

[Adam]

Ever seen a fat swimmer?

I'm a fat swimmer. I wouldn't say I am fast anymore but I average just over 1 meter a second on a proper work out. Which where I am generally means going into the fastest medium lane where I go. Yet the skinny ones guys I can easily out pace.

Basically, I do forty 25 meter lengths in 20 mins. Then I generally cool down and so some verrrrry slow lengths.

I'd rather eat and drink loads and exercise more than ever go on a diet

[ms.peachy]

that's very helpful



just sayin'. Carry on.

[monkey]

As long as I live, I will never understand why people enjoy running. I accept that people do, and, you know, no skin off my nose, if that's what you wanna do, have at it. But I just cannot fathom how it could be found to be at all pleasurable. Complete mystery to me.

there's something really easy about it. it's a mental thing that im completely unable to get with other mental exercise, like yoga.

[Lyman Zerga]

I fucked my thumb up on broken glass a while ago and my lifes been pretty downhill since then.

that made me laugh :(

I'm a fat swimmer.


but youre a brit so you dont count!

[funk63]

Ever seen a fat swimmer?

I have and that shit was funny!! His names Jeremiah but we call him pork and beans.

[russhie]

As long as I live, I will never understand why people enjoy running. I accept that people do, and, you know, no skin off my nose, if that's what you wanna do, have at it. But I just cannot fathom how it could be found to be at all pleasurable. Complete mystery to me.

It's tricky to get into it, takes a week or so maybe of forcing yourself to get up at an obscenely early hour and run, but once you get into it...it's great. You can just feel your body working and for an hour you have no phone, no laptop, no contact with anyone. There's something so amazing about having a single hour to yourself and your own thoughts and shit like that, I don't know. That's the way it is with me. I always feel way more in tune with my body after running, like, you can feel every inch of yourself, I don't know how to describe it. That's why I love it anyway.

Bob, the doctor says swimming is an excellent alternative.

Mikizee - I'm a fat swimmer.

haha!

[Yetra Flam]

It's tricky to get into it, takes a week or so maybe of forcing yourself to get up at an obscenely early hour and run, but once you get into it...it's great. You can just feel your body working and for an hour you have no phone, no laptop, no contact with anyone. There's something so amazing about having a single hour to yourself and your own thoughts and shit like that, I don't know. That's the way it is with me. I always feel way more in tune with my body after running, like, you can feel every inch of yourself, I don't know how to describe it. That's why I love it anyway.



that's cool. see, hearing that makes me want to give it a try, even though i've never really run in my life.

[Kid Presentable]

I've just started running. Well, carting my tits around at a brisk pace with sporadic jogging for 30 minutes every 2nd day. But it's making some difference. I'm off the piss at the minute, too. Although that will change tonight. Where was I?

Oh, yeah. I'm not doing it properly but I'm having a crack. And it gets easier. It's a good feeling to be trying, since my fitness is appalling.

[Nuzzolese]

I've never been a good swimmer but I just got temporary access to a nice indoor pool and... it's fantastic. I was amazed at how good it feels to be so loose, relaxed, and stretched out, floating so freely. It's the greatest feeling in the world to be out of breath and tired but not uncomfortably hot and sweaty.

I personally wouldn't swim laps to replace other exercises like biking or running, because swimming doesn't seem to work my lower body enough. On the other hand, swimming seems to wear me out more than anything, and in a delayed reaction kind of way. I could workout and swim some laps, feel pretty good, pretty energized for a couple of hours, but then, suddenly, total exhaustion smacks my entire body full-on, and it happens so fast! One second I'm all excited about weeknight fun: watching movies, making popcon. The next second I'm passed out, drooling on the sofa.

I've been kind of frustrated with the pool recently, though. They've always got some scuba diving or kyacking class going on like every night, and it's annoying to swim around all that traffic.

[fucktopgirl]

I'v try running before, but i found the impact to be to hard on the knees. I prefer walking and running up stair and add a little yoga in there. For me, the perfect recipe. With the yoga, i feel like i'v gain couples of inchs:p

I would love to swim, but i am full of complex , i hate being in a swimsuit in an indoor pool. If i lose the 10 pounds that bug me, maybe i will. My daughter take swimming lesson, and she swim the crawl as good as me...

[Nuzzolese]

FYI, - I learned this from an episode of NOVA called "Marathon Challenge" -

Running is the most energy efficient exercise you can do, which means you don't burn a lot of calories relative to the durating you can run. Especially as people get more suited to running, their hearts get bigger to pump more blood per step, and they get into a stride and they don't burn as many calories. That's why people can run and run for hours and not smply pass out. Well, sometimes they do, but it's not like lifting weights or something. Quick walking burns just as many calories as running, if you cover the same distance. Running's benefit is cardiovascular. And finally, when it comes to losing weight, diet trumps exercise every time.

[fucktopgirl]

^yeah, powerwalk is awesome. When i walk , i do it as if i had a motor in my ass. I walk like 6 hours a week and i lose weight , lots.
I also read that running upstair make you burn lots of fat because you are lifting your weight uphill, it also a good cardiovascular exercice.

Anyway, those work wonderfully for me.

[darius]

I love to run too, the "runners high" felt afterward is enough to keep my mood up all day. As stated before it's the perfect time for reflection of whatever ails ya, or the best opportunity to just lose all thoughts and enjoy the feeling of being alive. Swimming is very tough if you're not an experienced swimmer, I myself am not so the act of swimming say 10 laps in a pool drains me way more than running for 45min. Lyman hit the nail on the head as to the compound movements involved, it's much more full body than any other cardio workout I know of.

[Lyman Zerga]

i dont know how many kms i run daily but it usually goes an hour

[faz]

I've just spent £60's on clothes in order to start training for the run i'm going to do for charity (y)

I've not to sure what I've got my self into. Any advice on how long I should maybe run for when I start out?

[hpdrifter]

There isn't a whole lot that's going to replace running but swimming is probably the best alternative. I'd say try something like pilates or yoga. You'd be surprised how much of a workout you get just with your own body and a floor mat.

[russhie]

^Yeah I do Bikram yoga, it's insanely good. Other than that I do squats, pushups and situps with my fitball, three sets of 20, and three sets of ten reverse situps and some sort of backwards pushup thing.

I'm starting to do lunges as well, they've always arsed up my knees but I had some idiot show me how to avoid that.

My diet is great. WHY AM I NOT LOSING WEIGHT RAPIDLY haha.

[Yetra Flam]

i'm honestly not trying to be a dick, but why is it so important do you? i mean, i feel the same way sometimes, and i have my own reasons. you're in good shape already, right?

[russhie]

Nah, it's a valid question. It's a bunch of things, like, I'm really competitive, I have a slight tendancy toward perfectionism, an obsession with image, my level of self awareness, my life experience thus far...I think just have this overwhelming sense of needing to be the best I can because I fear failure and shit. I was pushed pretty hard as a kid and my strongest memories are of disappointing my mum, because even though I was good I wasn't working hard enough, or long enough, or to the best of my ability, usually. That's how I felt, anyway.

To this day I feel like I have achieved virtually nothing in my life - but it's this that drives me and pushes me to become successful, so, I suppose it ain't all bad. I'll get it all eventually.