I’m stuck in a bit of a rut here. I try to hit the pool for at least 2 1hr swims a week, but since I don’t have a coach running practice and yelling at me from the deck like I did in high school, I just swim the same thing over and over. I don’t remember a lot of the drills we used to do, and I haven’t found any workouts on line that I can decipher what with all the shorthand people use (s.k.i.p? swim kick i? pull)?

Anyway, if someone has any ideas I’d be happy to hear them.

Thanks!

http://www.swim4fitness.com/

I've used this, they have four different workouts depending on what you are looking for.

I have two sorts of swim days. Stress free relaxation days where I just do what I want, and then more structured sessions where I do so many lengths of different strokes in different combinations, and have some time goals.

I adore swimming, it's my favourite exercise and I'd rather be doing that than nearly anything else in the world!!! I love it more than eating!!!

I also love that my swimsuit is a US14 and not a US24 which is what I started in!!!

It's awesome that you're hitting the pool. It's an awesome way to get some exercise. I used to be a lifeguard/instructor/coach and one thing that I recommend is alternating regular laps with sprints. Here are a few websites that you might find useful. Good luck!

http://www.personal.psu.edu/faculty/...mWorkouts.html
http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/swim-cgi/

There are a few more out there that have some good ideas in them too. If all else fails, ask a lifeguard if they have any workout sheets, or join a speed swim club.

Thanks for the links! I really should do a little sprint work, I tend to slog along at "medium" speed most of the time. Does anyone know if there are heart rate monitors that are good for use in the pool. I do try and take my HR once in a while, but I don't like interrupting my workout to find my pulse and watch the clock.

SKIPS = swim, kick, IM (individual medley, butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle), pull, and swim. I love SKIPS <3

IM! Now I get it...duh.

I love swimming... it is definitely my all-time favorite exercise. Unfortunately I will not set foot in a bathing suit at the weight I am now. In the summer I usually swim a few times... in shorts and a t-shirt.. Maybe one day I will feel confident enough in a bathing suit to swim regularly again.

Thanks for those great sites girls... I started swimming in September and I LOVE it too... I want to do a triathlon but I can barely do 2 laps without getting pooped, I am getting better though, at first I could barely do 1 ...

When I first started swimming early last year my goal was to 12 lengths in an hour, I was very out of shape (and 262lbs) and now I can easily do 50 lengths in three quarters of an hour, before getting completely bored!!!

I'm struggling with the running, but I am glad I have my swimming improvement under my belt, because I have a frame of reference to give my inner fat chick, to tell her that with perserverance, we'll get it done!

My ultimate goal is to do a triathlon too, mainly because I always thought it was something only the superhuman can do, and I hate thinking about weight goals, exercise goals are much more fun!!!