did swimmers used to put lard on their bodies before swimming the channel?
440531
Yes. They did cover themselves with lard or grease as a way to keep warm in the cold waters. Think 'whale blubber'. Now day though, they have:\nWet Suits: these "are basically used when diving in water temperatures between 50 and 77F. These are mostly made from thin neoprene. This neoprene provides limited thermal protection, and lined with a nylon fabric to make it easy to put on and take off."\nDry Suits: "When the water temperature is between 0 and 59F dry suits are used. This suit does not allow the water touch the divers' body. So, the diver remains dry. When the temperature is less and if the water touches the diver's body then it will be pain for the diver. This suit seals at the wrists and neck prevent water entering the suit."\nAnd semi-dry suits: "When the water temperature is between 50 to 68F the semi-dry suits are used. Seals at the wrists and neck limit the volume of water entering and leaving the suit."
987103
Swimming IS actually proven make people "stretch"... If you constantly swim, and I mean with the correct strokes, swimming laps, etc. you stretch the muscles, ligaments, and tendons, which then pulls the bones and lengthens the body. If you are a swimmer, you'll know, I do. Oh, and if you're still sceptic, look at all the swimmers of the 2004 olympic games. it's not coinsidence that they are all taller than 6'2". I mean everyone in my family are surfers and, spear fishers (both require great swimming ability) and we're all skinny and tall. kinda lanky too but swimming doesn't really BUILD muscle just slims you down, a lot
948126
Yes, I swam competitively for years.  Its great because it is low impact and wont hurt your joints.  I was in the best shape of my life when I was on the team.
678020
they probably have more salt/sodium in their skin then u do.it has to do with that.
492837
used to be on swim team and tennis team...\n\nok, years ago.
81592
There is a timeline here:\nhttp://www.worldwideaquatics.com/historyswim.htm\n\nwhich says that the egyptians use hieroglyphs depicting swimming as early as 2500 BC\n\nand a much more detailed website here:\nhttp://home.comcast.net/~hot_tub/history-of-swimming.htm
1153754
I used to be a competitive swimmer, and during some training sessions we had to wear multiple layers. They essentially create "drag" which increases resistance. Weight is offset by buoyancy, so to increase the resistance in water, you add clothes. Sweatpants/shirts absorb a lot of water, thus add a fair amount of resistance to a work out. While I'll admit, I haven't seen the aquacise classes apply this technique, it does come from sound water based training principles.
337122
my friend goes running and swimming and hes losing his...but run long distances and swim laps instead of just playing around...front crawl (freestyle) and back crawl (backstroke) and definitely breast stroke are probably the best swimming methods
778829
Swimming for exercise\nSwimming does not significantly reduce weight and it is l poorly understood as a meassure for reducing fat. There are many other be nifits in swimming. Please read -\n\nA still-water swimming machine where the swimmer exercises against the pull of a bungee cord.Swimming is a good form of exercise. Because the density of the human body is approximately similar to that of water, the body is supported by the water and less stress is therefore placed on joints and bones. Therefore, swimming is frequently used as an exercise in rehabilitation after injuries or for those with disabilities.\n\nResistance swimming is one form of swimming exercise. It is done either for training purposes, to hold the swimmer in place for stroke analysis, or to enable swimming in a confined space for athletic or therapeutic reasons. Resistance swimming can be done either against a stream of water set in motion by a (usually) self-contained mechanical device (often termed a swimming machine) or by holding the swimmer stationary by means of elastic attachments.\n\nSwimming is primarily an aerobic exercise due to the relatively long exercise time, requiring a constant oxygen supply to the muscles, except for short sprints where the muscles work anaerobically. As with most aerobic exercise it is believed to reduce the harmful effects of stress. While aerobic exercises usually burn fat and help with losing weight, this effect is limited in swimming, even though being in cold water burns more food energy to maintain body temperature.\n\nThe reason that swimming does not significantly reduce weight is still poorly understood, but seems to be related to the better heat conduction of water. A number of reasons are suspected.\n\nWater cools the body much faster than air and most researchers believe that subsequently the body aims to maintain a layer of fat under the skin for insulation. \nIt is believed that appetite decreases as the body temperature increases, as for example during exercise. However, during swimming the body is cooled down almost instantly as the surrounding water is usually cooler than the body temperature, and some researchers believe that this may actually increase the appetite. This assumption is not yet proven by research. \nFast swimming requires a high level of effort, meaning glycogen rather than fat is burned. Prolonged exercise at lower intensity is better for fat-burning. \nSome researchers also believe that the metabolism of the body increases at higher body temperature, burning more food energy. Again, during swimming the body is cooled down by the surrounding water, reducing the metabolism, and subsequently the amount of food energy burnt. This assumption is also not yet proven by research. \nThere is also a theory that people with a genetically higher body fat content tend to be more successful as swimmers since the increased buoyancy of the fat aids in floatation or the rounder shapes offer less resistance to the water. \nSwimming exercises almost all muscles in the body. Usually, the arms and upper body are exercised more than the legs. In competitive swimming, excessive leg muscles can be seen as a disadvantage as they consume more oxygen, which would be needed for the muscles in the arms, although this depends on the swimming style. While breaststroke generates significant movement with the legs, front crawl propels the body mainly with the arms.\n\nSometimes the swimming consists of swimming laps using a conventional stroke, such as the front crawl; other forms can include different forms of exercise performed in the water, such as water aerobics.\n\nSwimming may be good for asthma sufferers.\n\nSwimming uses all three energy production systems, which are the creatine phosphate system, anaerobic fermentation (also known as Lactic acid buildup system), and the aerobic system. These three systems produce energy in form of ATP to enable muscle use (among other body functions).
18081
1.  Drink liquid early. Take in 16 oz. of fluid 2 hours before you exercise.\n \n2.  Drink liquid often. Take in about 5 to 8 oz. every 15 to 20 minutes; this gives your body a chance to absorb a constant flow of liquid.\n \n3.  Add sports mixes containing carbohydrates and electrolytes to your liquids, especially when exercising for more than 1 hour.\n \n4.  Keep the liquids within the 60 to 70 degree range for easier absorption.\n \n5.  Keep drinks accessible when exercising. Store all fluids in easy-to-use containers that can be opened without disrupting your exercise.\n \n6.  Drink after working out to compensate for the fluid your body loses during exercise.\n\nplain water is better because it replenishes the water you lost during the workout.
835898
Not actually, what the other person answered was correct for working out, but not for swimming.  The cold water (compared to the body's temperature) will prevent the body from burning the calories it would normally burn with the degree of workout swimming provides.\n\nSwimming tones and builds muscles-and especially the upper body-so the breast appear smaller because the underlying muscles (there are three pectoral muscles) are worked during swimming and the become larger.  This stretches the skin of the breast and spreads the breast tissue out over a larger area which gives the appearance of smaller breast.  Swimming will also attempt to remove any sagging that was present before.  Swimming will also give you an awesome set of gluts (butt) (again there are three gluts) You know, the cute little bottle butt. If you quit the boobs will come back.  Swimming is not a good exercise for loosing weight, but it is the best exercise possible to become/remain trim/muscular/toned.  Swimming uses every muscle in the body. It's the only exercise that does.
236727
No. As a swimmer I can tell you that swimming lessons may help you learn to swim but unless you take extra time after swim lessons to swim more you won't do much.  Swimming is great for toning.   Try jogging slow long distances to lose the fat and crunches and other stomach excercise to define.  Swimming on top of that is icing on the cake but only the butterfly stroke/kick works the abs much so get a kick board.
661413
No, and no one SHOULD do it. It's extremely unhealthy, even dangerous. You do NOT lose any real weight. You lose water and whatever your bowel contains. That's it.
396823
A friend of mine did. She has a huge scar across her lower belly (which she can hide under a bathing suit), had painful complications (blood drainage issues, I think) and couldn't work out for like a month.
967696
because the blood supply that would normally be used to help digest the food is diverted to your muscles for swimming. So the food doesn't digest properly and you get indigestion.
241455
I thought it was lard.
153668
Yes, it's an old trick that divers used to do.  The ammonia and acids in the urine soothe the sting of the jellyfish venom.  Not to mention that your urine is THE MOST sterile thing to your body.  It helps stop the inflammation, which is most of the pain.