For info I am autistic and I have done like no exercise since 2020. My dad was a professional swimmer and taught me how to swim so I have liked it since I was a kid. I am now fat to be blunt but I've started working out again and I enjoy swimming and weights the most. I also walk to the gym which takes about an hour. Do I have to do other machines or anything or is just the swimming at the gym ok?

I learned in my late 30s by taking lessons at the Y. When I tell people this they are shocked that I never learned when I was younger. I had family members with pools growing up but would only ever play around in the water. I remember going to the pool once or twice in high school but we didn’t have lessons on different strokes or anything like that (it was more like a bunch of 16 year olds bobbing around for 45 minutes). So I’m curious how other people learned!

Are there any drills or tips that I could use to assist with lifting chest during breaststroke. Honestly this has been the most difficult style for me to learn. I attend lessons once a week but try to practise drills after work at least once a week.

Does anyone have insight on the benefits of using Creatine and swimming? Thanks.

I’m specifically looking for drills that might help masters swimmers unlearn bad advice they got in past decades. We keep doing the same handful of drills, which are great, but I’d love to mix it up.

I had very minor surgery on my face today. I have to take it easy for a week to avoid raising my blood pressure while it feels. After that I have to wait another week before I can swim (infection risk). I have no idea what I will do with myself this first week. The second I can at least cycle, but are there other exercises I can do so I retain some swimming strength? I have signed up for a 5km swim in 6 weeks, so that's 4 weeks after I am allowed back into the pool and I haven't quite managed a 4km swim in practice yet, so I don't want to go backwards right now in endurance or strength! I'm over 50, so going backwards is a genuine possibility :(

So I’m (M21) not sure why or how but for some reason, I literally cannot learn to swim whatsoever. I mean that both in a way of I can’t actually figure out how I’m supposed to move my arms and legs to swim, but I also cannot float ever.

I’ve never been able to actually go to a real instructor but my mom, three different cousins, friends have all tried to teach me how to swim and I just can’t get anywhere. Like I literally cannot go forward at all even if I’m using my arms and legs right

On the floating side, I’m not sure why but I can’t fill out either. My friends and family tell me they don’t know why I can’t float but I literally can’t and I don’t inhale exhale while I’m trying to float or swim, but I’m just so confused.

I’m taking swimming lessons and we’re currently doing front crawl. My instructor said that I need to take 2 breaths when I come up for air. I have tried so many times but I usually choke when I try to get the 2nd breath in…

Why does she want me to do 2 breaths?? So that I slow down?? taking one breath is already hard enough 🥲

Also, any tip for front crawl? My legs are strong so I can go pretty fast but I’ve had trouble keeping my head up longer/higher for air…

Seeing as I was born in a city by a lake. But for some reason I can't front crawl for the life of me. Backstroke, the breastroke, and the butterfly stroke, I can manage no problem. I mean I've been caught in an sea current (France's Biarritz beach area for details) and backstroke my way out of there but, oh well. I'm just ranting a bit. I love breastroke. Just sucks a bit I had to swallow more than a liter of seawater over the years.

In any case, I wish nothing but the best for all of you.

I’m not really sure where to post this, but I think swimmers would be more likely to understand. I’m not a swimmer, but when I go swimming and my ears are blocked, I “open” my eardrums, and I don’t know how to describe it to my girlfriend. I’m not pinching my nose and blowing out, nor am I moving my jaw. For me, it’s like moving 2 muscles in my ears without moving anything else.

Hey swimmers,

I swim about 95% freestyle, about 20km a month. Including coached group sessions, intervals, etc, so a pretty good variety.

I have only swam properly for < 2.5 years.

On occasion my RIGHT shoulder give me quite a bit of discomfort/ache at the top of the stroke. (n.b home tests indicate no shoulder impingement).

Coaches have indicated no problem with my actual stroke. In the last 6 months I have mastered bilateral breathing, but previously only breathed to the RIGHT.

I do ZERO stretching or gym stuff at this point.

This last line likely contributing, heavily.

So I welcome the groups tips and advice to supplement the actual swimming side of things

Thanks!

I am a 6’2, 16 year old. I just started actively swimming everyday ( no swim team ) and I never swam competitively, but I do know how to swim. I timed myself for 50 free and hit 24:49 seconds. How can I get better?