Swimming and Weights?

Question

Do I have to life weights to improve in swimming? I do, but not very often...Would I still keep improving if I don't lift weights?

I am a long-distance swimmer and the main reason I lift weights is to just build up a bit of muscle to increase my muscular endurance.

Answer 1

When we started adding lifting to our swim program a few years ago, I saw a lot of improvement in my times and training abilities, but there were definately people on my team that didn't lift and were still fast (just naturally gifted I guess). It's a good idea to add lifting and dryland activities to your training. But if you do lift, you want to do it to tone the muscles, not necessarily add bulk. You definately dont' want to try to max out on ever set you do (kinda like what football players do!). Move from exercise to exercise quickly so your muscles can build up the fast-twitch fibers needed for going fast.

Answer 2

of course you don't HAVE to do anything. It isn't proven that the use of weights would improve anything but it certainly wouldn't slow you down unless you went into body building.

YOu didn't say what about swimming you wanted to improve. Endurance? OR is your body feeling weak in the water?

Also age is a factor in improving with swimming. You do hit a peak in swimming in which you sorta have no real room for improvement you just sorta are like at your best you can be. AFter that its sort of a horizontal flow no matter what you do...

I think you lifting weights "not very often" is fine. AFter all your "lifting weights" when your working out in the pool if you think about it okay?

The most important thing with swimming is that of aerobic exercise and consistent practices in the water as well as stroke work in and out of the water.

Answer 3

i lift weights and swim a lot. Although i can swim very fast and powerfully for a while, i lack the technique that will allow me to keep going. You must also bear in mind that i play water polo so therefore need build mass and be a powerful player :D

Lifting weights certainly helps, but you don't want to concentrate on obvious muscles. Try to focus on key muscles used in swimming like your Trapezius muscles, Deltoids and back muscles (mainly your Lats). Triceps also help i find.

there are good websites that have exercises you can do with weights for these particular muscles, just google it! ALSO vary the exercises you do for each muscle, it will help your muscle to develope in all ways, as opposed to it being strong in only one direction of movement.

Hope that helps
Phil

Answer 4

It depends on what your event is and what your natural body type is. For me cross training between Aerobic running and weight lifting worked very well because I swim 100s but am not very strong for my height. On the other hand, if you are already a muscular dude then weight training probably won't do very much for you, you will just need to swim a lot. Also, if you swim distance events such as the 500 and up weight training wouldn't be your best bet, you will just need to swim a lot.

Answer 5

Yes, you will still keep improving so long as you keep training in the pool. The reason people do weights is to boost their muscle strength, but your muscles will still grow when you swim. You just have to work hard in the water and everything will be just fine without weights!!

Answer 6

You can improve but you want improve by much. you will improve a lot faster if you left weights

Answer 7

swimming looses weight..if u wanna loose weight so swim!

Answer 8

you can but i am a great swimmer and i dont

Answer 9

www.netfit.co.uk/swimming-web.htm