Does swimming make you GAIN weight?

Oscaria

Full Member
I read an article recently that claims swimming can actually make you gain weight as you feel cold so your appetite increases so you eat more than you intend to after a swim. I've also read that it's not that effective for weight loss.

Is there any truth in this? I want to start swimming again to help my weight loss but I don't want to do it if it will have an adverse effect. I bet it's a load of rubbish though :p
 
I read somewhere that if you eat a banana after swimming it stops the overeating bit. You could try that along with a hot drink. Something else to think about...when was the last time you saw an overweight swimmer on the tv..lol
 
Swimming is not a great calorie burner. Its advantage over other exercise is that your weight is supported. But its disadvantage is you dont work as hard as your weight is supported! OFten people confuse the breahtlessness when swimming as working hard when often that just poor breathing technique.

So no its not the best exercise for weight loss BUT it has its place. Its brilliant place to start if you are very unfit, you can do hydrotherapy or water based exercise and excellent for recovery. IF you like swimming it will help regardless as you will do somethin you like rather than grin adn bear it by doing something else which might be more effective but you wont enjoy

Ok for the urban myth or not on gaining weight? Well there were two studies both comparing walking and swimming - they burn similar calories for the average person. In study 'a' the swimmers and walkers lost the same weight but study 'b' the swimmers actually gained weight, but walkers lost. Why? because study a was indoor pool and study b outdoor - approx 10 degree diff in temp. Its thought that cold pools stimulate hormones and create hunger. Most pools are indoor and warm so it doenst matter...however most pools have a cafe and temptation....I think thats the more usual reason.
 
oh :-(

I can go swimming for an hour easily but cant stand the gym. Rather do something I enjoy, can keep it up then. Will have to mix shred with swimming, see how it goes!

xx
 
I have been on SW for a few months and my weight loss has decreased since I started swimming. I just couldn't understand it: I swim 3 or 4 times a week, for up to an hour solid and the weight has not been coming off, and I have stuck to plan completely, not over eating. Even my consultant is mystified but this thread seems to be confirming my fears: it's not helping my weight loss:eek:
Oh well, atleast I am fit!:)
 
When I was a child, the girls who swam as their primary sport were always a bit on the chunky side, and the general idea at the time was swimming = contact with cold water for long periods, and that your body laid down extra fat under the skin to compensate.

This was just received wisdom at the time and I have NO idea if it amounts to anything verifiable, but I never saw a skinny swimmer on the amatuer levels (Olympic/pro standard is probably different - and, probably includes more supportive NON-swimming exercise as well).
 
Well all this really sucks! :(

I think I'll have to stick to the gym :p Running could never make you gain weight, I don't think!
 
Hi, i was a swimmier at county level as a child doing 400 lengths a day training. I wasnt fat but always weighed heavy, but wen i stopped all the training and carried on eating the same amount thats when my weight problems started x
 
I swam competitively for 7 years, and my heaviest while I was training, I was 10 stone ish....at 5'10.

The only thing that weighed a lot for me was the muscle- because I did a lot of butterfly training (I was an all-round swimmer- specialising in Individual Medley)

So I never had an issue with weight gain, and when I go swimming in the week, I tend to have a really good loss at the next weigh in....because of the extra cardio
 
Although your not losing weight are you finding that the inches are coming off? im just started up with my health plan again. im going to be doing the slimming world and also exercise. i want to do exercise but im unfit and suffer from a bad back so figured like sum1 mentions before that swimming is the best place to start. does any1 do aquafit? what do they think of that? io used to do that and enjoyed that alot x
 
I have just come back from holiday in Egypt and was completely off plan but swam loads: result is only half a pound gain and I must say my body is becoming more toned: def felt more confident with my body image on holiday:)
I shall continue to swim 2 or 3 times a week and accept the slower weight loss:D
 
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