Hi everybody!

I am trying to lose weight rapidly by dieting and exercising as much as I can (available time is the
limit). I swim a mile every day and run on a treadmill 30-40 minutes six day a week.

I am not a very good swimmer. Breast stroke is the only stroke I really know. It takes me about 50
minutes to swim a mile.

Now the question: Is this time well spent or rather lost? Do I burn any fat swimming this distance
in 50 minutes? Should I rather do something else instead? Being very obese (went down from 108 to
101 kilograms this month) I don't really want to run more than 30-40 minutes (afraid to damage my
knees). Riding a bicycle is out of the question in this winter weather.

Thanks for advice?

Fatso8

That's awesome!!! That's quite a workout you're doing. I learned a lot of
fat-burning stuff from a body builder named Tom Venuto. Basically, this is
what he recommends to become lean and mean. I followed his recommendation
to go from an overweight 35 year old down to the look and conditioning I had
when I was swimmer/tennis player in high school:

1. Do aerobic exercises regularly - with your treadmill and swimming, I think you're set.

2. Eat 5 - 6 times a day (every 4 hours or so). Make sure your body doesn't go in starvation mode.
Eat healthy, natural foods and lots of protein. Also, remember "portion control". After
exercising, you're probably famished. Make sure you eat an equal level of healthy complex carbs
and protein, so you will not binge. This will get rid of the cravings to eat a whole pizza box.
You may also want to read the "Zone Diet" books to learn more information about dieting.

3. Strength training. Maybe a little bit of dumbell exercises, push-ups, nautilus, whatever. As
long as you do it. This will maintain your lean muscle mass, increase your metabolism and
burn fat even while you sleep. Strength training indirectly, but surely helps in making you
lose weight.

That's it :-)

"grubas" <grubas8@gazeta.pl> wrote in message
news:d4cdd786.0401210716.1db1f55c@posting.google.com...
> Hi everybody!
>
> I am trying to lose weight rapidly by dieting and exercising as much as I can (available time is
> the limit). I swim a mile every day and run on a treadmill 30-40 minutes six day a week.
>
> I am not a very good swimmer. Breast stroke is the only stroke I really know. It takes me about 50
> minutes to swim a mile.
>
> Now the question: Is this time well spent or rather lost? Do I burn any fat swimming this distance
> in 50 minutes? Should I rather do something else instead? Being very obese (went down from 108 to
> 101 kilograms this month) I don't really want to run more than 30-40 minutes (afraid to damage my
> knees). Riding a bicycle is out of the question in this winter weather.
>
> Thanks for advice?
>
> Fatso8

On 21 Jan 2004 07:16:24 -0800, grubas8@gazeta.pl (grubas) wrote:

>I am not a very good swimmer. Breast stroke is the only stroke I really know. It takes me about 50
>minutes to swim a mile.
>
>Now the question: Is this time well spent or rather lost?

I think it's likely to be well spent, so long as you don't hit the burgers afterwards to reward
yourself. If you can, get a coach to teach you freestyle. Otherwise, breaststroke is fine. I taught
myself freestyle a couple of years ago and it was well worth the effort.

> Do I burn any fat swimming this distance in 50 minutes?

Yes.

>Should I rather do something else instead?

Swimming is a good choice. As good as any, especially if you are very heavy.

Don't try to do it too fast. Think of slimming (and swimming) as a lifestyle change rather than
something you do, finish and then go back to your usual.

Lift some weights, too. Muscle is metabolically expensive and will help you burn more in
the long run.

Correction. Maybe you need to sleep as well. So eating every 4 hours 6 times a day will leave less
time for sleeping (6 x 4=24 hours). In this case, eat every 3-4 hours during waking hours. I found
that having a healthy snack before going to bed actually helps me when I workout in the morning.

Another thing that Tom recommends is to exercise first before eating breakfast. When you wake up,
your glycogen levels are very low. When you exercise before breakfast, your body goes into fat
burning mode immediately instead of burning sugar for the first 20 minutes (or something like that).

Good luck, you're doing great!!!

"JungleFrog" <JungleFrog@dontemailme.com> wrote in message
newsWwPb.834$sE5.18507@news.uswest.net...
> That's awesome!!! That's quite a workout you're doing. I learned a lot
of
> fat-burning stuff from a body builder named Tom Venuto. Basically, this
is
> what he recommends to become lean and mean. I followed his recommendation to go from an overweight
> 35 year old down to the look and conditioning I
had
> when I was swimmer/tennis player in high school:
>
> 1. Do aerobic exercises regularly - with your treadmill and swimming, I think you're set.
>
> 2. Eat 5 - 6 times a day (every 4 hours or so). Make sure your body doesn't go in starvation
> mode. Eat healthy, natural foods and lots of protein. Also, remember "portion control". After
> exercising, you're probably famished. Make sure you eat an equal level of healthy complex
> carbs and protein, so you will not binge. This will get rid of the
cravings
> to eat a whole pizza box. You may also want to read the "Zone Diet" books to learn more
> information about dieting.
>
> 3. Strength training. Maybe a little bit of dumbell exercises, push-ups, nautilus, whatever. As
> long as you do it. This will maintain your lean muscle mass, increase your metabolism and burn
> fat even while you sleep. Strength training indirectly, but surely helps in making you lose
> weight.
>
> That's it :-)
>
> "grubas" <grubas8@gazeta.pl> wrote in message
> news:d4cdd786.0401210716.1db1f55c@posting.google.com...
> > Hi everybody!
> >
> > I am trying to lose weight rapidly by dieting and exercising as much as I can (available time is
> > the limit). I swim a mile every day and run on a treadmill 30-40 minutes six day a week.
> >
> > I am not a very good swimmer. Breast stroke is the only stroke I really know. It takes me about
> > 50 minutes to swim a mile.
> >
> > Now the question: Is this time well spent or rather lost? Do I burn any fat swimming this
> > distance in 50 minutes? Should I rather do something else instead? Being very obese (went down
> > from 108 to 101 kilograms this month) I don't really want to run more than 30-40 minutes (afraid
> > to damage my knees). Riding a bicycle is out of the question in this winter weather.
> >
> > Thanks for advice?
> >
> > Fatso8

On 21 Jan 2004 07:16:24 -0800, grubas8@gazeta.pl (grubas) wrote:

>Hi everybody!
>
>I am trying to lose weight rapidly by dieting and exercising as much as I can (available time is
>the limit). I swim a mile every day and run on a treadmill 30-40 minutes six day a week.
>
>I am not a very good swimmer. Breast stroke is the only stroke I really know. It takes me about 50
>minutes to swim a mile.
>
>Now the question: Is this time well spent or rather lost? Do I burn any fat swimming this distance
>in 50 minutes? Should I rather do something else instead? Being very obese (went down from 108 to
>101 kilograms this month) I don't really want to run more than 30-40 minutes (afraid to damage my
>knees). Riding a bicycle is out of the question in this winter weather.
>
>Thanks for advice?
>
>Fatso8

The other comments were very good. I would like to add that taking the weight of a bit
slower may be a bit healthier. 15lbs, I'm metric impaired, in a month is quite a bit of
weight almost 4 lbs a week. Granted if you just started it's probably not over the top but
continued loss at this rate could prove to be unhealthy.

~Matt

grubas wrote:

> Hi everybody!
>
> I am trying to lose weight rapidly by dieting and exercising as much as I can (available time is
> the limit). I swim a mile every day and run on a treadmill 30-40 minutes six day a week.
>
> I am not a very good swimmer. Breast stroke is the only stroke I really know. It takes me about 50
> minutes to swim a mile.
>
> Now the question: Is this time well spent or rather lost? Do I burn any fat swimming this distance
> in 50 minutes? Should I rather do something else instead? Being very obese (went down from 108 to
> 101 kilograms this month) I don't really want to run more than 30-40 minutes (afraid to damage my
> knees). Riding a bicycle is out of the question in this winter weather.
>
> Thanks for advice?
>
> Fatso8

I went from 97kg to 72 kg in six months doing 50 minutes swimming a day. That's about 1kg (2lb) a
week. After losing the weight I met a relative who didn't recognise me!

I've also lost weight using a treadmill for 30min/day.

Make sure you go on a sensible diet. I like low-ish carb. Eat various coloured vegetables
(colour=antioxidants) and drink enough water.

gtoomey

Gregory Toomey wrote:

> I went from 97kg to 72 kg in six months doing 50 minutes swimming a day. That's about 1kg (2lb) a
> week. After losing the weight I met a relative who didn't recognise me!

I don't think that is physically possible, unless you changed your diet significantly. In other
words, if all you did was add 50 minutes of swimming per day, then you could not possibly burn
enough calories to lose 1kg per week.

> I've also lost weight using a treadmill for 30min/day.
>
> Make sure you go on a sensible diet. I like low-ish carb. Eat various coloured vegetables
> (colour=antioxidants) and drink enough water.
>
> gtoomey

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"Smith, Martin" <eccentric@orbit.com> wrote in message = news:bvahgj$ifu$1@services.kq.no...
> Gregory Toomey wrote:
>=20
> > I went from 97kg to 72 kg in six months doing 50 minutes swimming a =
day. That's about 1kg (2lb) a week.
> > After losing the weight I met a relative who didn't recognise me!
>=20
> I don't think that is physically possible, unless you=20 changed your diet significantly. In other
> words, if all you=20 did was add 50 minutes of swimming per day, then you could=20 not possibly
> burn enough calories to lose 1kg per week.
>=20

I agree with that. I gained weight steadily for 6 months when training = for CHANNEL SWIMs AND DOING
A MINIMUM OF 3 HOURS SWIMMING A DAY, USUALLY = IN COLD WATER. It is a balance of exercise AND
nutrition.

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<>"Smith, Martin" &lt;<A=20 href=3D"mailto:eccentric@orbit.com">eccentric@orbit.com</A>&gt; wrote
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href=3D"news:bvahgj$ifu$1@services.kq.no">news:bvahgj$ifu$1@services.kq.n= o</A>...</DIV>
<>&gt; Gregory Toomey wrote:<BR>&gt; <BR>&gt; &gt; I went from 97kg = to 72 kg=20 in six months
doing 50 minutes swimming a day. That's about 1kg (2lb) a=20 week.<BR>&gt; &gt; After losing
the weight I met a relative who didn't = recognise=20 me!<BR>&gt; <BR>&gt; I don't think that
is physically possible, unless = you=20 <BR>&gt; changed your diet significantly. In other
words, if all you = <BR>&gt;=20 did was add 50 minutes of swimming per day, then you could
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<>I agree with that. I gained weight steadily for&nbsp;6 months when = training=20 for CHANNEL
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balance of exercise AND nutrition.</DIV>
<>&nbsp;</DIV></BODY></HTML>

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"Smith, Martin" <eccentric@orbit.com> wrote in message news:<bvahgj$ifu$1@services.kq.no>...
> Gregory Toomey wrote:
>
> > I went from 97kg to 72 kg in six months doing 50 minutes swimming a day. That's about 1kg (2lb)
> > a week. After losing the weight I met a relative who didn't recognise me!
>
> I don't think that is physically possible, unless you changed your diet significantly. In other
> words, if all you did was add 50 minutes of swimming per day, then you could not possibly burn
> enough calories to lose 1kg per week.
>

Well, I am losing even more by swimming, running on a treadmill _and_ dieting at the same time (I
started on Jan. 1:st at 107 kg and now I'm down at 99 kg). I used to exercise a lot on some previous
occasions without dieting - and that didn't help - I could get quite fit, but didn't lose any weight
to speak off.

However, I am beginning to feel the toll. My legs hurt from running, my neck hurts from swimming (a
result of bad breast-stroke technique, I guess). I still hope that I will be able to continue at
this pace.

I eat one normal-size meal at lunch - a sallan consisting of shrimps, mussels, a hard-boiled egg,
mushrooms, tomatoes and cucumber, all this with some olive oil. One piece of bread with sausage or
cream cheese for breakfast, sometimes another one for supper. When I feel hungry, I eat fruit -
mostly apples and oranges.

This "diet" is my own invention. I don't know if it is healthy or balanced, however it seems to work
and keeps me strong and alert enough to handle my job as a software designer (I can't really
concentrate when I'm starving). However, I am grateful for whatever competent advice I can get in
this NG, on both topics (exercise & dieting).

BTW: BIG THANKS to everybody who responded to my original message!

On Thu, 29 Jan 2004 09:50:26 +0100, "Smith, Martin"
<eccentric@orbit.com> wrote:

>Gregory Toomey wrote:
>
>> I went from 97kg to 72 kg in six months doing 50 minutes swimming a day. That's about 1kg (2lb) a
>> week. After losing the weight I met a relative who didn't recognise me!
>
>I don't think that is physically possible, unless you changed your diet significantly. In other
>words, if all you did was add 50 minutes of swimming per day, then you could not possibly burn
>enough calories to lose 1kg per week.

Why not? Assuming that he maintained weight at 97KG with current diet and no swimming any
extra caloric burn would cause him to lose weight. Assuming a steady 50 minute swim at lets
say 60 secs per 100yd he'd be covering 5000yds a day. Assuming 100 calories per 500 yds
thats 1000 calories per swim or 7000 calories a week swimming every day. It takes 3500
calories to lose one pound. thats two pounds a week.

~Matt

>
>> I've also lost weight using a treadmill for 30min/day.
>>
>> Make sure you go on a sensible diet. I like low-ish carb. Eat various coloured vegetables
>> (colour=antioxidants) and drink enough water.
>>
>> gtoomey
>>
>

<MJuric> wrote in message news:40193fe4.184545830@news.choiceone.net...

Assuming a steady 50 minute swim at lets say 60 secs per
> 100yd he'd be covering 5000yds a day.

i'd say that assumption might be a bit awry! thats mighty fast for a rec swimmer trying to
lose weight!

serisouly though, i agree, it is possible. he makes no mention of his dietary intake other than his
preferences.

Hi Grubas,

I think you are ready to learn the "total immersion" way of swimming instead of continuing with a
breaststroke that hurts your neck. You will enjoy swimming more and will continue doing it because
it will be very pleasurable. It worked for me. I was afraid putting my head in the water for many
many years and I took a workshop one weekend and it changed my life. Of course, I had to practice
for quite a while until I could swim even one lap. Confidence in being able to breathe takes a while
to build up for the timid. Its worth trying. All the other ideas expressed here are good. You enjoy
the treadmill but I'd rather use the stregnth training machines. I don't think the treadmill or
elliptical trainer is any fun at all.

Dory

grubas8@gazeta.pl (grubas) wrote in message
news:<d4cdd786.0401290727.4683668c@posting.google.com>...
> "Smith, Martin" <eccentric@orbit.com> wrote in message news:<bvahgj$ifu$1@services.kq.no>...
> > Gregory Toomey wrote:
> >
> > > I went from 97kg to 72 kg in six months doing 50 minutes swimming a day. That's about 1kg
> > > (2lb) a week. After losing the weight I met a relative who didn't recognise me!
> >
> > I don't think that is physically possible, unless you changed your diet significantly. In other
> > words, if all you did was add 50 minutes of swimming per day, then you could not possibly burn
> > enough calories to lose 1kg per week.
> >
>
> Well, I am losing even more by swimming, running on a treadmill _and_ dieting at the same time (I
> started on Jan. 1:st at 107 kg and now I'm down at 99 kg). I used to exercise a lot on some
> previous occasions without dieting - and that didn't help - I could get quite fit, but didn't lose
> any weight to speak off.
>
> However, I am beginning to feel the toll. My legs hurt from running, my neck hurts from swimming
> (a result of bad breast-stroke technique, I guess). I still hope that I will be able to continue
> at this pace.
>
> I eat one normal-size meal at lunch - a sallan consisting of shrimps, mussels, a hard-boiled egg,
> mushrooms, tomatoes and cucumber, all this with some olive oil. One piece of bread with sausage or
> cream cheese for breakfast, sometimes another one for supper. When I feel hungry, I eat fruit -
> mostly apples and oranges.
>
> This "diet" is my own invention. I don't know if it is healthy or balanced, however it seems to
> work and keeps me strong and alert enough to handle my job as a software designer (I can't really
> concentrate when I'm starving). However, I am grateful for whatever competent advice I can get in
> this NG, on both topics (exercise & dieting).
>
> BTW: BIG THANKS to everybody who responded to my original message!

On Thu, 29 Jan 2004 12:25:28 -0600, "diablo" <diablo@msn.com> wrote:

>
><MJuric> wrote in message news:40193fe4.184545830@news.choiceone.net...
>
> Assuming a steady 50 minute swim at lets say 60 secs per
>> 100yd he'd be covering 5000yds a day.
>
>i'd say that assumption might be a bit awry! thats mighty fast for a rec swimmer trying to
>lose weight!

Yeh you're probably right. Burning 1200 calories an hour is a bit optimistic. None the less
even burning 600-700 calories and hour the person would be losing 3500 a lb a week on the
low end. BTW what would typical speeds be for a rec swimmer in 5000yds Fast/medium/Slow. I
consider myself Sloooowwww. Never tried swimming 5000 yds without stopping however the
longest race I've ever done, 1.2 mi/2112 yds, I manage to average just over 2 min per
hundred. This was an open water water swim, with a few rather large waves and I was wearing
a wetsuit so not much of a comparison. OTOH I can do 400 repeats in a pool on 8:00 without
much difficulty, not sure about doing 12 of them though. I guess I would consider my times
slow because I'm definately in the slow of the slow in masters class and normally finish
bottom 30% in the swim portions of my tri's. I guess the other reason I'm wondering about
the 60 sec per hundred is 2.4mi, Iron distance swim, would be finished in 1:24 at
2min/100yd. Thats pretty average, even on the slowish side. But I also guess you wouldn't be
working out at race pace every day.

~Matt

>
>serisouly though, i agree, it is possible. he makes no mention of his dietary intake other than his
>preferences.

>>Gregory Toomey wrote: [edited]
I went from 97kg to 72 kg in six months doing 50 minutes swimming a day. That's about 1kg
(2lb) a week.<<

>"Smith, Martin" wrote: [edited]...
I don't think that is physically possible, unless you changed your diet significantly. In other
words, if all you did was add 50 minutes of swimming per day, then you could not possibly burn
enough calories to lose 1kg per week.<

It's possible. I burn about 200 calories/1000 meters swimming at an easy, general endurance pace. At
that pace, if I don't do any kicking or breastroke, I can easily do a 3500 meter workout in 50
minutes. That's 700 calories. A threshold workout would probably cost 1100 calories. Lactate
tolerance with active recovery would cost about 1400-1500.

So, 4 general endurace workouts - 2800 cal 2 threshold - 2200 cal 1 lactate tolerance - 1500

Total 6500 cal. Pretty close...throw in 500 cal for residual metabolic cost & you've got 2lbs per
week swimming 50 minutes a day.

MJuric wrote:
> On Thu, 29 Jan 2004 09:50:26 +0100, "Smith, Martin" <eccentric@orbit.com> wrote:
>
>
>>Gregory Toomey wrote:
>>
>>
>>>I went from 97kg to 72 kg in six months doing 50 minutes swimming a day. That's about 1kg (2lb) a
>>>week. After losing the weight I met a relative who didn't recognise me!
>>
>>I don't think that is physically possible, unless you changed your diet significantly. In other
>>words, if all you did was add 50 minutes of swimming per day, then you could not possibly burn
>>enough calories to lose 1kg per week.
>
>
> Why not? Assuming that he maintained weight at 97KG with current diet and no swimming any
> extra caloric burn would cause him to lose weight. Assuming a steady 50 minute swim at lets
> say 60 secs per 100yd he'd be covering 5000yds a day. Assuming 100 calories per 500 yds
> thats 1000 calories per swim or 7000 calories a week swimming every day. It takes 3500
> calories to lose one pound. thats two pounds a week.

5000 yards in 50 minutes every day? A few people can actually do that. They don't have 25
kilos to lose.

martin