What to change to achieve my goals

[WhyAndHow]

Originally Posted by Nee-2-No-Bases

If you can swim 2.4 miles in the open ocean, your other two goals will have been achieved already.

That's nuts, bro.

Its the marathon swim distance. I figure its about 5x further than I can currently comfortably swim, so It should be about the same difficulty as going from 5k to 26.2.

[Nee-2-No-Bases]

Originally Posted by WhyAndHow

Interesting. I'm going to keep swimming because I enjoy it. If I don't get a 6 pack oh well.

Ever seen an olympic swimmer without a 6-pack? I didn't think so.


Swimming's fine. If you're doing enough to be able to swim 2.4 miles in the open ocean, the other effects aren't going to be enough to offset the calories you're burning. 2.4 miles in a pool ain't easy. In the open ociean, that's probably equivalent to swimming 4 miles in a pool (with more sharks).


And don't just swim when your training. Do interval training (which is how competitive swimmers train). It's better training and you'll burn more fat.

So, if you're gonna swim 1000m, break it up into smaller sets.

[Nee-2-No-Bases]

Originally Posted by WhyAndHow

I swam all 4 years of high school. I consider myself a pretty strong swimmer in terms of technical ability. I've thought about taking masters swim lessons. Maybe after my exam.

Ok. Nevermined then. You should be fine at training yourself.

[Nee-2-No-Bases]

Originally Posted by WhyAndHow

Its the marathon swim distance. I figure its about 5x further than I can currently comfortably swim, so It should be about the same difficulty as going from 5k to 26.2.

5x further in a pool? Open ocean is a different animal. No turns. No way to really rest. Currents. Waves. Etc.

It's harder. A lot harder.

[WhyAndHow]

Originally Posted by Nee-2-No-Bases

Ever seen an olympic swimmer without a 6-pack? I didn't think so.


Swimming's fine. If you're doing enough to be able to swim 2.4 miles in the open ocean, the other effects aren't going to be enough to offset the calories you're burning. 2.4 miles in a pool ain't easy. In the open ociean, that's probably equivalent to swimming 4 miles in a pool (with more sharks).


And don't just swim when your training. Do interval training (which is how competitive swimmers train). It's better training and you'll burn more fat.

So, if you're gonna swim 1000m, break it up into smaller sets.

1. I've seen people who do Iron man triathlons not have a 6-pack.
2. Meh sharks. I've seen small ones while surfing. There's open ocean swim clubs here, so when I get to the point of putting myself in the ocean, I'll swim with a group. Pool for now

3. This was my workout yesterday: 2x50m warm up pace; 2x50m right arm only; 2x50m left arm only; 2x50m kick only; 2x50m breast stroke; 100m sprint; 2x50m cool down. 20s rest between each set.

[WhyAndHow]

Originally Posted by Nee-2-No-Bases

5x further in a pool? Open ocean is a different animal. No turns. No way to really rest. Currents. Waves. Etc.

It's harder. A lot harder.

Your probably right. I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

[ShebaPoe]

Originally Posted by WhyAndHow

Out of curiosity, how do you drink 20 bud lights in a night and eat $100 of food a day and still have an awesome body? Something's not adding up.

I don't drink that much. I'm a special occasions drinker; Mardi gras, final four, and so on.

Also, it's $100 of healthy food a day; lunch was trout with a side of spinach, $35.

[ShebaPoe]

Also my workouts you are very intense.

[WhyAndHow]

Originally Posted by ShebaPoe

I don't drink that much. I'm a special occasions drinker; Mardi gras, final four, and so on.

Also, it's $100 of healthy food a day; lunch was trout with a side of spinach, $35.

Fair enough. I struggle to eat healthy when I eat out. I'm impressed that you can drink heavily while also not drinking heavily frequently.

[WhyAndHow]

Originally Posted by ShebaPoe

Also my workouts you are very intense.

Most advice I've seen says the rest days are as important as the workouts. How does this square up with intense workouts every day to 2x a day? Is it just cycling through muscle groups to not hit the same muscles without rest in between?