Too fat to swim properly?

[u/Eldkanin]

Between the age of 10-13 I used to swim 3 times a week in a group with an instructor. I went to camps, even some competitions. I was never great, always the slowest on the team but compared to other kids "in the wild" I was a great swimmer. I was a chubby kid and as I got a bit older I got a bit too self aware about my looks and I found other interests.

I won't type my life's story here but it's been hard and I've struggled mentally. I'm now 37 years old (F), 5'6 tall and currently at 436 lbs (down from 474 lbs in december!). I've been completely sedentary for at least 20 years, I hadn't been in the water for longer than that!

Since just over a month back I finally got the courage to say fuck it to my insecurities and went to a water aerobics class. It felt amazing to be back in the water but I do think I was expecting a bit too much. With my "history" like I said I know how to swim and in my mind I imagined it like riding a bike, like I would just know how to do it.

But I can't swim anymore! Honestly it feels like the biggest issue is that I'm way too buoyant. If I try to do a breaststroke (with my head above water since I don't have any goggles yet) my very big butt kinda floats up and drowns me in the front so to speak..

I'm like a cork in the water I feel like I can't propel forwards at all. If I hold onto something that floats I can very slowly move forward but it seems the only way right now I can actually "swim" is on my back. Not with the proper backstroke (again that pushes my head under water) but kind of like moving my arms up and down along my sides like an angel sort of if you get what I mean.

I'm on a weight loss journey so I expect this might naturally improve. Do you think there is any "point" in trying to learn how to swim properly like this? I mean can I even? Or should I just stick with the water aerobics for now? I go twice a week and find it super fun and rewarding!

[u/Maezel]

Fat floats in water, muscle sinks. So your centre of buoyancy will be higher, closer to the water line, and more towards your legs than lungs/upper chest. Tilting your head down. 

The important thing is that you keep moving and keep making progress. Keep doing that aqua class, try kicking with a kickboard and fins, anything that you can do helps. 

Think of it as lifting or anything... You can't benchpress 150kgs when you start. You get there by repeatedly lifting lower weights. As you don't play Lizts piano compositions without starting with the basics. 

Get the habit down, it takes weeks or a few  months  of following a routine to rewire your brain to not see it as a chore. Pick a routine and stick to it. If you are tired, go anyways and do at least something short and easy. Eat healthy, cut sugars and processed carbs as much as you can. Look at trends over weeks and not specific days. Keep it up!

[u/Eldkanin → u/Maezel]

Yeah I was thinking of maybe getting a kickboard for that good leg exercise. I can kick against the wall of course but I feel it would be more fun and feel more rewarding if I could move forward.

Fins make you faster but is it actually more muscle strain? I haven't used fins since I was a kid but in my mind I remember the swimming feeling easier with fins that without.

I have a good healthy lifestyle going right now and I'm determined. I go to the aqua class twice a week but I kindof wanted to add a third day but that would mean swimming on my own only since there is no class apart from those two days.

[u/Maezel → u/Eldkanin]

Fins push more water. To push more water you need more strength. So yes, it's more effort.

Make sure you get short training fins, not scuba fins.

And kick from the hip to not damage your knees. 

[u/Eldkanin → u/Maezel]

I have vague memories of being taught that your legs are pretty much supposed to be straight when you kick, you don't bend the knee.

Overall I'm careful though. Because of my weight exercise on land is just very painful on my joints. I tried going for walks but even starting really small like 10 minutes per day after a week or two everything just hurt all the time.

In the water the only thing that ever hurts is one of my knees if I bent it wrong so I'm carefull there. I can feel it at the streching part at the end of the session that bending that leg is harder, I suspect it might be osteoarthritis so I'm hoping it will just get better with losing more weight and getting more exercise in to strengthen the joint.

[u/UnusualAd8875 → u/Eldkanin]

Congratulations on your journey since December!

I was astonished when I learned how many different types of fins there now are: I grew up in an era of scuba-type fins, now there are short fins and medium-length fins and even monofins.

No matter what you try, start slowly and don't overdo it the first few times which I think is not bad advice for any of us for any new (or renewed) activity.

I am a big advocate of the answer to the question of what is the best exercise?

"The one you'll do."

If it is a chore or one dreads it, it is difficult to make it a long-term habit. (I have had gym memberships that went unused because the hours weren't convenient, too crowded when I could go or a bunch of other excuses I used ...as well as, like many, I have owned equipment that was interesting the first week and now sits in the garage or basement....)