5 Weight Loss Tips While Swimming (From A Trainer)

Yes, swimming is a good workout for fat loss. The water amplifies the resistance during swimming, allowing more calorie burn compared to other cardio workouts.

It’s also a low-impact exercise [1]. In my opinion, this aspect is way under-rated.

I've knee problems, so I can't perform most joint-intense cardio exercises.

Swimming, however, hardly trashes my knees while losing weight. It evens the playing field and will work for anybody in any age group.

The best part is it allows me to work muscles between muscles, even when my form isn't perfect, and it is good for alignment.

So, if you're considering swimming for fat loss, go for it. For beginners, look for a certified personal trainer.

It has numerous fat-loss benefits,  not to mention other health benefits.

Swimming helps you to lose body weight by burning lots of calories.

Swimming requires an individual to utilize their stomachs, arms, legs,  and torso, using practically every significant muscle group.

Swimming is a fantastic method to burn more calories.

However, the number of calories burnt is determined by an individual's weight and how actively they swim.

Swimming, like many forms of aerobic activity, burns fat and can make you lose weight.

The thing that differentiates swimming from other cardio workouts is that it produces added resistance, pushing you to engage your muscles more.

Swimming develops your lower, core, and upper muscles all at once, providing you a full-body exercise and overall muscular definition than other aerobic activities such as jogging [2].

The butterfly, for instance, engages your chest,  shoulders, and arms, whereas the backstroke works your quadriceps, back, and abs.

And as you gain muscular mass, you burn more fat.

Swimming the breaststroke for 30 minutes burns roughly 370 calories, whereas swimming freestyle burns approximately 405 calories.

Contrast that to 105 calories for 30 minutes of fast walking or 305 calories for 30 minutes of 6-mile-per-hour jogging [3].

Swimming's fat-burning effects are realized quickly.

According to a study, middle-aged females who swam for 1 hour three times a week shed a considerable amount of fat within only 12 weeks.

They also increased their endurance, agility, and even decreased their cholesterol [4].

"Swimming is one of the greatest cardiovascular exercises any individual of any age can perform, despite being quite difficult and occasionally terrifying."

- Kris Gagne, ASCA-Certified Swim Coach.

Speaking on hunger pangs, many people find that exposure to cold water triggers hunger reflexes.

A swimmer’s hunger after a workout is legendary, and this is why you should pay attention to your calorie intake to ensure you don’t eat what you just burned [6].

I love to schedule my swim laps on an empty stomach right before lunch and dinner because I find it easier to give in to the desire to eat after a meal.

However, I always plan for it and control the calories to ensure it doesn't ruin my goals. But you could try to swim after a meal or even before eating breakfast.

If you need to eat before swimming, you can check our guide on the best foods to eat before swimming.

4. Discipline is Key

Swimming requires more discipline than anything.

Remember, it's a full-body workout, so if you breathe wrong or perform an incorrect stroke, you're screwing your entire body.

Therefore, having a coach or a swimming plan may help relieve the burden of structuring your swim sessions, improving your technique, and ensuring you've got a clear sight of your goals.

5. Patience is Important

I must point out to fresh starters that there will be muscle build-up. The build-up can negate the fat loss and can be quite demotivating.

Instead, I suggest adding another metric to your progress, like tracking your body fat.