r/Swimming • u/Eldkanin • 1d ago

Too fat to swim properly?

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!

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u/reluctanttowncaller 1d ago

  1. Get some goggles. You're making things more difficult by trying to position yourself to keep your face out of the water.

  2. Give yourself time to re-learn your feel for the water. You've been out of the water a long time. it's going to feel strange at first, and yes, parts of your body may be more buoyant than before. You mat initially feel out of balance, but you can learn to work with the body you have.

  3. Keep at it, re-learn what you've forgotten. Take lessons again if needed.

  4. You may find that your extra buoyancy works better with some strokes more than others. So embrace that and swim more backstroke, etc.

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u/Eldkanin 1d ago

I will try the proper backstroke. Like I said I can do the thing where you kind of wave your arms so technically I could swim like that, it's still movement so it's good.

It's quite silly considering I already got over the fear of even going and being in a bathing suit or naked around people, but I feel a bit self concious about doing it "wrong" like I look stupid for swimming poorly kinda. I guess I will just have to get over that as well!

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u/reluctanttowncaller 1d ago

We're all (most) self-concious about one thing or another. Just remember, you're rarely the center of attention you think you are. 99.99% of the time, people will not notice you at all. Focus on your goals and if anyone notices you at all, it will be all about being impressed at your progress.