Can You Build Muscle Just By Swimming?

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  • Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
  • Most athletes combine their regular training sessions with gym sessions in order to build not just form, but also strength. But do you need to use the gym to build muscle? Some research has shown that you can build muscle through swimming alone! Heather & Mark investigate, & show you some strength-building exercises you can use in the pool!
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КОМЕНТАРІ • 82

  • @HallieEva
    @HallieEva 11 місяців тому +96

    Of course it does. When I was in the best shape of my life I swam a mile 4x a week. My back and abs were ripped. I didn't really have to weight train to engage those muscles. Now I lift a lot and my back still hasn't looked as good since I no longer have access to a pool.

    • @glitterghost834
      @glitterghost834 10 місяців тому +1

      that’s good to know thank u!!

    • @Ordell-L-Jackson
      @Ordell-L-Jackson 3 місяці тому

      Do you by any chance know if you can also get toned by swimming on ketogenic or carnivore diets?

    • @mr.snipersheku3656
      @mr.snipersheku3656 3 місяці тому +2

      ​@@Ordell-L-Jacksongo keto run your body on fats to keep it healthy and not on carbs keep carbs lower then fats

    • @KeepChessSimple
      @KeepChessSimple 9 днів тому

      At what age?

  • @steveco1800
    @steveco1800 Рік тому +70

    Swimming the day after weightlifting works well for me! I think it helps getting the sore muscles moving again and builds muscular endurance. Also a low risk recovery exercise, being that it's not weight bearing.

  • @SurferKroky
    @SurferKroky 3 місяці тому +28

    I definitely get a massive "pump " in my shoulders and chest after doing a 1km freestyle . Similar to a gym workout

  • @dylanhunt5368
    @dylanhunt5368 Рік тому +22

    Speaking of strictly swimming, I can't imagine anything more muscle building than max effort intervals. 30-60 seconds all out explosivity. Could do some fartlek-style swimming each length of the pool by alternating between maximum effort one way and cruising and recovering on the way back.

  • @KNDCHV
    @KNDCHV 12 днів тому +3

    Simple push-ups after swimming and swimming on the next day make significant difference. And the best part is - you can do push-ups everywhere. And yes, swimming does build muscle. I am swimming for almost a year and I can definitely tell that there's a difference in my physique, so much that my friends told me: "Man your shoulders really gained since you started swimming, it's actually noticable". I noticed my triceps and a liiiiitle bit of the biceps grew up as well. Overall my arms feel really toned, although not ripped at this point.

  • @JayJay-sq6rv
    @JayJay-sq6rv Рік тому +21

    Initially u will build muscles yes but that is how far you can go.. remember muscles adapts hence you need constant loading the muscle fibres with more resistance so hit the gym and also swim .. aweseome combo 💪

    • @messii648
      @messii648 Місяць тому

      I have seen people get huge shoulders the most from swimming and it’s insane

  • @steveco1800
    @steveco1800 Рік тому +13

    5:40 - I'd also add make sure your swimming trunks are securely tied around the waist before doing many of those!

  • @milanchojankoski282
    @milanchojankoski282 Рік тому +33

    The sweamer's body type looks much much better than pumped bodybuilding muscles.

    • @user-zg3bh6oy3j
      @user-zg3bh6oy3j Місяць тому +1

      Yeah, wide shoulders and wide lats

    • @hahdanghongha7810
      @hahdanghongha7810 16 днів тому +1

      bodybuilding at the beginning is very different, not that weird like today

  • @christofit4120
    @christofit4120 10 місяців тому +5

    Weight training is superior! Swimming is great but its better for cardio. There may be some resistance in swimming but soon your body will adapt to this and then it will be hard to progress without using weighted exercises.

  • @TrevorBingley
    @TrevorBingley 11 місяців тому +5

    Of course you do. I swam with Ennis Swimming Club all my life and we were all absolutely shredded.

  • @donatina1987
    @donatina1987 Рік тому +10

    If you do fitness swimming, yes, you can. Especially the core muscles. did abs workouts but had a six packs at the age of 13 ahah... I was doing particular “drills”, isolating low and upper body... I only swam about 1km-1,5km. I won’t advice doing too long sessions.

  • @bensrunningandfitness3124
    @bensrunningandfitness3124 Рік тому +5

    I’ve found doing pull sets at the end of your swim sessions really forces you to work your upper body muscle under fatigue

  • @normanzielke6108
    @normanzielke6108 Рік тому +3

    When you are swimming with a training buddy, an easy alternative to using a parachute is that the one swimmer grabs the ankles of other swimmer. The swimmer in front goes as hard as possible, while the swimmer in the back just stays a float.

  • @Martín-v6q
    @Martín-v6q 4 дні тому

    I swim because I love it. I taught myself to swim when I was four years old. My parents wouldn’t let me go into the “big pool”. They said I couldn’t swim and until I learned how, I couldn’t get in the pool. I remember watching the older kids playing and swimming, obviously having an awesome time. So I tried to replicate what they were doing in the “baby pool”. (The shame of such a baby stigma.) Eventually I could go from one side of that shallow pool to the other without touching the bottom. And one day as my mother was loaded down with pool towels and things, I broke away. I ran full speed to the “big pool”. Jumped as far as I could. Hit the water and began thrashing for all I was capable of doing. There was a lot of shouting, whistles blowing, and lifeguards jumping into the water. Quickly I was scooped up by a lifeguard and brought to my frantic mother. She thanked and apologized over and over. And then said to me, “what do you think you were doing? You can’t swim.” To which the lifeguard replied, “Lady, he was half way to the other side when I caught him.” I loved swimming more than any sport I have ever done. And even though I never had a lesson , any type of coaching or got to swim more than a few months out of the year. I managed to eventually swim all four competitive strokes well enough to sub one minute in the one hundred yard freestyle and butterfly. And could swim the 200 IM in 2:10.00 ish. I can still bring in a 1 minute 10 seconds 100 yards freestyle at 65 years old. And now have time to swim almost every day. Though my shoulders often make me take a day or two off. I especially love swimming in the clear warm waters of the Caribbean. In clear ocean water I have often swam for over three hours at a time. I literally dream about swimming regularly. Swim on!

  • @carole8312
    @carole8312 Рік тому +3

    Love this! Thank you!! The vertical kicks ( which I do with flutter and dolphin kicks while holding my arms above head) as well as the L shape kicks are my personal favorites. 🙂

  • @potsdam521
    @potsdam521 Рік тому +5

    Breast and butterfly certainly do

  • @nickyAbi473
    @nickyAbi473 7 днів тому

    That vertical board kick is a real killer !

  • @robohippy
    @robohippy Рік тому +7

    It is quite noticeable when both of you are doing the vertical kicking, that both of you pronate/go pigeon toed. This is one point that isn't stressed much in teaching how to flutter kick, or dolphin kick. I consider it a big point to make, especially with runners, which I am not, or people with poor ankle flexibility. For years, I tried my kicks with a gymnastic toe point. I was the slowest in the pool. Then I saw a clip from the Race Club that changed all that. When you go pigeon toed, you get an extra 20 or so degrees of dorsi flexion, and you are using the entire side of your foot rather than just your toes,. I do like paddles and fins. Don't see how you can use those huge hand paddles though, I guess I could get used to them. For sure when using paddles, stroke rate goes down.
    One thing I have wondered is if swimming helps increase lung capacity? Mine is double normal, and I started swimming at about age 5. 72 now.

  • @emastrovito
    @emastrovito 4 дні тому

    I include some butterfly for strength training while swimming.

  • @linx8617
    @linx8617 4 місяці тому +1

    Found swimming after heavy weights session help with midigating muscle soreness. Along with calories deficit diet to lower fat ratio.

  • @kawh8719
    @kawh8719 Рік тому +5

    The answer is yes, but it will take a lot of workouts haha. I do remember this worked really well for me in HS

  • @georgeboahene3254
    @georgeboahene3254 Рік тому +4

    Shoutouts to all the triathletes.

  • @kimweidner7351
    @kimweidner7351 Рік тому +6

    Where the heck are you with those palm trees in the background and that gorgeous, shorts wearing weather? 😮❤🎉
    Good tips, THANKS!!

  • @pathayes7528
    @pathayes7528 5 місяців тому

    Love all this information! Will be trying these moves in my future swims. Just not all at once. Will try to master each of them, one at a time!

  • @MarkoMesic-vz4gk
    @MarkoMesic-vz4gk 5 місяців тому +1

    What I do. I swim 3 kilometres a day, doing some gym or calisthenics and eat everything in abnormal amounts. I am more than happy how I look. Have muscular body but not much fat.

  • @Neil_MALTHUS
    @Neil_MALTHUS 12 днів тому

    Simple answer:
    If you've NO MUSCLE, yes, you'll see improvements.
    If you've got LOTS OF MUSCLE, yes, but you might struggle to notice it.
    *Of course, a lot depends on other variables: age, sex, swimming regimen etc

  • @iama5556
    @iama5556 Рік тому +2

    Swimming will make you gain muscle, swimming will make you lose weight only if you follow a proper diet and muscle-building exercises.
    swimming is very beneficial, I know people who have been swimming for years and years, and well these people are graceful, friendly and look much younger than their real age, so without a proper diet and muscles building exercices swimming neither builds muscles nor makes you lose weight, but swimming every day makes you look younger!

    • @user-zg3bh6oy3j
      @user-zg3bh6oy3j Місяць тому

      What kind of diet, is a good diet eating only at 6 pm a lot of protein,and that's it for the day, combined with swimming, is that a good plan?

  • @handsomerob7068
    @handsomerob7068 Рік тому

    Thanks! Gonna do these drills at the lake. I’m excited

  • @MMyDesign
    @MMyDesign Рік тому +2

    Yes! You can.

  • @krisztiankovacs6377
    @krisztiankovacs6377 5 місяців тому +2

    I am 50yo, I like my river its free, I can swim 30 meters seven times with stops, can I get thicker arms thighs and reduce my beer belly I am quite skinny fat?? And when in the water my legs feel 65 pounds lighter not having to stand.

  • @Dinckelburg
    @Dinckelburg Рік тому +5

    It's like you can read my mind! Been flexing in the mirror recently and there's definitely some lat development 😆

    • @Dinckelburg
      @Dinckelburg Рік тому

      Also, why do my pecs feel the pump after swimming?

    • @steveco1800
      @steveco1800 Рік тому +1

      Yeah, regularly doing breaststroke at pace did seem to add a bit to my lats. Noticed when a few shirts were a bit tighter than before, and my weightlifting routine was the same. I don't think it builds much, but can add a bit.

  • @Karxar1as
    @Karxar1as Рік тому +1

    Some very good tips here.Thank you.

  • @jonathanzappala
    @jonathanzappala Рік тому +1

    I see track sprinter vs bodybuilder vs swimmer coming ;)

  • @nocturnus009
    @nocturnus009 Рік тому

    🎾(also know as anti-paddals), but that’s a post-scull (vectored scull wheee your arms are either in Superman or Tadasana propulsively) level skill.
    Y’all had me at deck-ups, 🪂 & drag suits. There is so much utility in going too slow to develop your fast. Muscles are a nice side effect we can converge upon together.

  • @33Jenesis
    @33Jenesis Рік тому +2

    Kickboard vertical? Gonna give it a go. I still remember how hard it was using paddles. Now I can warm up my upper back and arms using them without difficulty.

    • @gtn
      @gtn  Рік тому +3

      Give it a try and let us know what you think 🙌

  • @BangzHaus
    @BangzHaus 7 днів тому +1

    These two swimmers with lean bodies is confirmation that swimming gives you lean muscle as opposed to being gym jacked

    • @jojomorbe3759
      @jojomorbe3759 6 днів тому +1

      They just lack muscle that’s why they have lean bodies…hypertrophy workouts in the gym still have the best ROI when it comes to muscle building!
      If one combines that with cardio like swimming it’s optimal.

    • @BangzHaus
      @BangzHaus День тому

      @@jojomorbe3759 💯 %

  • @Therradican
    @Therradican 4 місяці тому

    Great exercises. Thank you. Can the swimming pool water affect your health long term because of chemicals?

    • @2piecesofwood1pieceofrope
      @2piecesofwood1pieceofrope Місяць тому

      If the pool is outside you should be fine. Indoor swimming for very long periods can irritate the lungs if the chlorine is high.

  • @KylersDad
    @KylersDad День тому

    Will it build muscle for a teen?

  • @user-wr5se3zr9f
    @user-wr5se3zr9f 8 місяців тому

    You guys rock!

  • @gusolive
    @gusolive Рік тому

    I swam a few k’s last week and applied the ocean walker technique with my head facing the floor and I hardly used my legs but I must say that I have had such a sore arse and thighs and I think I must have stretched them although didn’t use them - it’s bizaare but goof

  • @antonyware9887
    @antonyware9887 Рік тому

    Where is that ?

  • @TarihOgren
    @TarihOgren 8 днів тому

    Sen 😊😊

  • @pauldickinson7506
    @pauldickinson7506 Рік тому +8

    You can 100% build muscle by swimming alone as long as its instense and you push yourself.
    I swim 4 times a week. I used to life 4 times a week. Im in far better, leaner more defined shape from swimming

    • @brandonaikens505
      @brandonaikens505 Рік тому

      What’s your swim routine? I have a pretty bad wrist injury and im limited in the gym, but not in the pool. Just looking for a good intense swim workout

    • @pauldickinson7506
      @pauldickinson7506 Рік тому +3

      @@brandonaikens505 I swim freestyle mainly in 100m bursts. Really high intensity, 45-50 minutes of until complete failure, like you would in weight training. I try to increase the speed every single section and try and increase the amount of laps swam per session. In between the 100m sprints I have around 30 seconds rest and go again.

  • @2piecesofwood1pieceofrope
    @2piecesofwood1pieceofrope Місяць тому

    The problem is that the muscle built through swimming doesn’t translate into functional strength outside the pool. Many swimmers look great but are very weak outside of the pool.

  • @andytaylor_music
    @andytaylor_music Рік тому

    Which paddles was Heather using as I want some bigger ones and they look perfect

    • @heatherfell_oly
      @heatherfell_oly Рік тому +1

      They were from Orca, they are certainly large!

  • @EXPLORADVEN
    @EXPLORADVEN Рік тому +1

    🙂🙂🙂❤️❤️❤️👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️👌👌👌

  • @joe-hp4nk
    @joe-hp4nk 21 день тому +1

    Of course not, but it strengthens what you have.

  • @zolienagy001
    @zolienagy001 11 місяців тому

    the whole argument about the viscosity of water being higher than air and therefore swimming being harder than eg. running is such a stupid argument! With all that said, I love swimming and I prefer it to running and everything else but come on!!!

  • @alcidesfy
    @alcidesfy 4 місяці тому

    Weird how the accent doesn’t fit the setting somehow.

  • @Alessa-sd7fm
    @Alessa-sd7fm Місяць тому

    pool jumps are not recommended for pelvic floor health, I advise against it especially if you are a woman

  • @user-fk8rb8ue5h
    @user-fk8rb8ue5h Рік тому +12

    Not really. 70 years of age I can testify to that if you want to build muscles lift weights

    • @boymcfacto5832
      @boymcfacto5832 Рік тому +9

      You’re wrong it will build muscle but definitely not gonna see the hypertrophic results like from lifting

    • @eleanorhenderson9896
      @eleanorhenderson9896 Рік тому +3

      You absolutely can! It’s lots of kms, etc. I was an extremely muscly child because of swimming

    • @boymcfacto5832
      @boymcfacto5832 Рік тому +5

      @@eleanorhenderson9896 exactly resistance is resistance, your body doesn’t know if it swimming or weights

    • @bp19870
      @bp19870 Рік тому

      I think it work’s differently per person. Some people’s metabolism etc work differently - for example, I’ve been swimming 7 months and do 2.8km in 60min a session 3x a week, with a slight diet change and I’ve toned up and lost 2 stone.

    • @boymcfacto5832
      @boymcfacto5832 Рік тому +2

      @@bp19870 dude is talking out of his ass, swimming obviously builds muscle. It’s not gonna be as effective at building mucle mass as specifically training for hypertrophy with weights but it definitely will build muscle. To the body resistance is resistance, it doesn’t know if it’s weights or swimming

  • @hdhdhhehe6709
    @hdhdhhehe6709 21 день тому

    Unfortunately if you only rely on swimming all of your muscle will whither away and you will die. That's why its important to avoid swimming TOO MUCH. All the best swimmers strictly limit their swimming to 15 minutes at a time.

  • @radamante3231
    @radamante3231 Рік тому

    Looking at you 2 no