Swimming every day...so why hasn't my weight changed?

Question

I'm about 5' 6.5 and 140lbs and I've been swimming on a swim team for about 2 and a half months and my weight has not budged! The work outs are pretty intense as I'm usually dead tired when we're done. (about 1.5-2 hours) I'm not gaining muscle either b/c my pants size has stayed the same. Why aren't I loosing weight?

Answer 1

you're building muscle, therefore muscle weighs more than fat, don't worry. That's a good thing.

but for a 5'6 person, that weight is just perfect.

Or, wait a little while longer.

Answer 2

I'm the same as you. I'm 5'7 and weigh 130 and I have been swimming for 6 years. Over time My weight hasn't bugded but my waist line is smaller. Swimming really works the legs so you gain muscle and lose fat. Don't worry about your weight just keep swimming and everything will be alright. Remember Muscle weighs more than fat.

Answer 3

First you need to take a step back and look at what you are doing. Swimming for cardio exercise is a great thing... but if you are eating more, that just defeats the purpose. Exercise alone is not very often effective. Its not so much what you eat... its how much. Nutrition plays a major part in weight loss. Try cutting down on your serving sizes...
Good luck!

Answer 4

What the above answers are trying to say is your exchanging losing fat with gaining muscle, thus your weight and pants size remain the same.
I love to swim, keep it up, it is one of the very best all around work outs there is!

Answer 5

Well, lets see... When a person goes from a senentary life, to a very active one, his/her body fat is replaced with muscle. It usally takes about 6-7 weeks to begin to see weight loss or even increase of muscle mass. Some people do not begian to show theses untill much later. Just stick with the sport. Your body is just a late bloomer. I also advise you to try pushing your self harder during each practice. The more out of your comfort zone you get, the better changes you will see. So, stick with it, and try not to worry about weight for awhille...

Answer 6

Maybe it's your diet. Often times when people start a more intense exercise regime and start burning more calories by doing so, they start eating more.
Cut out the junk and eat smaller portions. Make healthy choices- follow the food pyramid.
By the way, your weight sounds pretty healthy for your height. Why are you trying to loose weight?

Answer 7

You might not be losing weight because there is more to it than execising daily. You have to eat right and all that jazz which is especially hard for most ppl. Besides you are only 140lbs you have nothing to worry about. Try doing other exercises as well as swimming...

Answer 8

Your worst enemy is letting yourself get discouraged!!! Don't quit swimming--exercise has many health, social, and psychological benefits. Make changes in your diet--smaller, more frequent meals; reducing daily caloric intake; and limit carbohydrates after 2pm to just a few/none.

I believe the body has habits--in other words, your body is used to storing food because it has done this with the extra intake for a long time. Keep doing the right things and your body will eventually 'come around'.

Answer 9

Sounds like me! I've concluded that you're actually working on muscles, even though it doesn't show. Your body is still getting used to work outs and is probably eating the stored sugar right now, while adding muscles. If it wasn't building muscles, you'd probably be losing weight.

Answer 10

Obviously a combination of exercise and diet. Swimming is your aerobic, but may help to tone your muscles with some weights. Try isometrics while swimming too.