I'm doing this report in my computers class and I have to have alot of info. on it cauz were gonna do this debate! So please help me out by giving me your opinions or whatever! =}

-- Vicki Grewal (Ramsgirlv@cs.com), March 04, 2002

Answers

yes it should just try it man see if it works out

seya from australia

-- matthew hibble (nukky82@hotmail.com), March 18, 2002.

I think it's the best. I have always been a runner and also lifted weights. I swim now ant it is the best ever for cardiovascular!!! It also builds up your muscles. When I swam on a team in my teens I got my body very well developed! (and it still is and I'm 48)

-- Clark Page, Jr. (cpagejr445@aol.com), June 25, 2002.

Swimming is the best

-- Subami Himura (suebami@yahoo.com), August 03, 2002.

Yes, I think that swimming is the best exercise. It works everysingle muscle in your body from your head to your toes.

-- Jennifer Faries (fariesjennifer@aol.com), October 17, 2002.

Have Sex!!!!!!!!11

-- Kassandra Persad (Kpochonta@aol.com), January 06, 2003.

YESSSS!!!!!!Swimming is the best!

-- MGHIE (grace17@yahoo.com), March 06, 2003.

Swimming is definitly not the best exercise. Compare it to running, or something that will actually work your WHOLE body instead of just your shoulders, arms, and legs. Swimming does absolutely NOTHING for your abs. Look at all the top swimmers. Show me one with good abs.

-- John Young (JTYoung5@comcast.net), March 10, 2003.

Yes without a doubt swimming is the best overall workout you can get. It works all of the muscles in your body. It is great for your heart too.

-- Austin Johnson (swanyh_j@yahoo.com), April 24, 2003.

I'm not sure i've been swimming for a while and its just too easy. It doesnt build as much muscle and it isnt as tough as weight training or something. Wish it was.. id b buff!! or maybe im not putting enough pressure on myself.

-- reza (ra_ny@hotmail.com), May 29, 2003.

yes!! i think that swimming is the best excercise because ur using ur arms , legs , back , tummy , everythin ! its great and its fun to be in the water , apart from wen people piss in it =/

write back

-- hannah alehandra smith (hannahsmith906@msn.com), July 31, 2003.

Yes,Ithink swimming is the best exercise as long as you put enough effort in and swim about 1600 metres every workout,also make sure you vary the strokes to get maximum muscle workout. It is great for a cardiovascular workout and does give you a lovely toned body especially your pecs,abs and arms.I also found it beneficial for meditating whilst you swim up and down the pool.

-- kevin (toomer3@hotmail.com), September 07, 2003.

i think swimming is the best form of exercise.....i have been swimming since i was like 4 and i love it.....it teaches u to push ur limits and it also helps u develop endurance........even tho it doesn't make you look big and buff it still does make you realyl strong......and who ever said a swimmer doesn't have good abs is an idiot....obviously they have never swam.....you have to have good ab muscles so you can stay on top of the water and so you dont put as much strain on the rest of your body....i hope this helps with ur report

-- travis secco (secco_swimmer@hotmail.com), September 24, 2003.

Yes swimming is a great workout. it works and tones all of your different muscle groups. Those who say that it doesnt may not be doing all the strokes correctly. As you know all of the movements work your arms, legs, shoulders etc but if you want to target your stomach area the butterfly kick really works. comming from a swimmer of 13 years i think i would know. swimming is also a better alternative to running because it reduces the impact on your body running would give you and minimizes the chances of receiving any kind of injury.

-- kris (xxbabykreexx@aol.com), January 12, 2004.

Swimming is the best overall exercise. Think of all that comes together: calisthenics in a medium that offers resistance (good for muscles, unless you want to look like the Governor of California... who's your Dahhhhddy?), an exercise that is beneficial on joints due to resistance being generalized over the entire body, plus an excellent cardio-vascular work out. If you want more resistance, wear clothes and put weights in your pockets... ha, ha, ha. Failing that being enough of a work out, tie your feet together and use only your arms to pull yourself through the water. That should give most guys decent pecs (unless you're a guy who wants to end up wearing a bra in public). On the other hand you could keep your arms behind your back and use only your legs to push yourself through the water. That should build up your legs and glutes. Forget that whole muscles head look, it won't help you when you get older and need help opening doors because you've over strained tendons to the point of ripping them off your pivot points.

Ask any person who jogs seriously... if they're honest they'll tell you their ankles, knees actually feel ten years older than they should... according to how healthy their heart and lungs feel.

Joe Web

-- J. Emond (bohemond3@shaw.ca), February 03, 2004.

Yes. No doubt about it. The medium of water simply presents an entirely unique environment to move in. And, what's more important is that the older you get the more swimming departs from and rises above all other forms of exercise. And what are all these "other forms of exercise" anyway? Because when you boil down most all of the other mainstream popular sports to their fundamental core . . . you end up with running. So, what your question really boils down to is. . . is swimming better than running? Well, that's an absolute no-brainer. In fact, I believe that after 40, running actually becomes bad for 90% of those who continue to pursue it. Knee and ankle injuries, back stress . . . gettin' hit by a car . . . you name it! The average body simply cannot hold up to it. The weight bearing and jarring aspects of it just end up tearing people down. Swimming uplifts and envigorates. Nothing makes you feels as good or as alive as swimming. Cross country skiing would be about the only cardio exercise that I would hold up with swimming. It's not as jarring as running and it involves the arms more than running. Problem is, how many people have access to the mountains? Biking is good, but not so hot for the upper body. As for the meathead who suggested that swimmers don't develop strong abs . . . what an idiot. Core strength development is vital in just about every sport there is and swimming is no different. What this lame dude was really trying to suggest is that if you don't show a 6 pack, you must have weak abs. DUH.

-- Dave Ryland (drylandswim@msn.com), February 07, 2004.

swimming is easily the gratest exercize sport. It works ur deltoids in butterfly and breaststoke. It works ur quads in flutter kick and breast kick. Ur abs are worked on in butterfly kick as well as in trying to stay afloat in backstroke. Also it improves ur physique overally giving broader shoulders and smaller buttocks giving a traigular shaped upper body with the bottom being the small end. Give me one swimmer with a sqaure shaped body.thought u couldn't. In addition it increases lung capacity therefore endurance for other more area controlled workouts. Also, since all the bones are being in motion for the entire time the marrow in them produces more red blood cells therefore boosting overall health. It also gives a leaner skinner appearance rather than bulging muscles like schartznegger like pilates does. This overall is better because it gives u this for a lifetime, while weights can stunt ur growth and give a strain on your heart.

-- CC (metal ledfloyd76@netscape.net), May 19, 2004.

PS Pilates lenghtens muscles not builds them to a bulge, sorry for the misunderstanding. so as i stand it does everything but slice and dice

-- CC (metal ledfloyd76@netscape.net), May 19, 2004.

PS Pilates lengthens muscles for leaner look not build to a bulge, sorry for the misunderstanding of the poor sentence structure

-- cc (metal ledfloyd76@netscape.net), May 19, 2004.

its me again, Wanted to clear up the Pilates sentence IT DOES NOT BUILD BULGING MUSCLE. IT LENGTHENS THEM FOR LEANER MORE NATURAL LOOK. so as for as i am concerned swimming only does not slice and dice :)

-- CC (quizwiz105@netscape.net), May 19, 2004.

swimming is the best workout ive ever done. i cant do well in any other sport but im naturally good at swimming. its the hardest sport ive done and it keeps me in shape. yeah, the person who said it doesnt work your abs can come to one of my morning practices at 430 am till school starts, then after school for 2 1/2 hours and then tell me their abs dont hurt. its good for your body inside and out. it trains you mentally and physically and the obstacles ive overcome have trained so many aspects of my life i owe alot to the damn sport. people that see us swim dont understand why we do it and us that swim cant explain really why we do it. its gotta be in you i guess.

-- grace o (gracielouwho05@aol.com), August 21, 2004.

I am hoping it is ok to ask a question...I am a runner who is thinking of switching to swimming for the winter. The problem is that I really only like breast stroke. Do i have to do all the strokes to reap these wonderful benefits?

-- Allyson Maxwell (amaxwell@gmavt.net), September 09, 2004.

oh - something that i have learned in my searches is that swimming does not build bone mass because it has no impact. so i guess some impact can be beneficial.

-- Allyson Maxwell (amaxwell@gmavt.net), September 09, 2004.

Oh - another tidbit - swimming is not good for burning fat because your body temp and heart rate remain lower...

-- Allyson Maxwell (amaxwell@gmavt.net), September 09, 2004.

Swimming is definitly not the best exercise. Compare it to running, or something that will actually work your WHOLE body instead of just your shoulders, arms, and legs. Swimming does absolutely NOTHING for your abs. Look at all the top swimmers. Show me one with good abs.

Extremly wrong. I am a serious swimmer. Doing turns such as Butterfly to Backstroke Back to Breast and breast to free all require ur abs. Try it ask all serious swimmer they will give you the same answer.

-- Brian Gong (b_M_GONG@yahoo.com), October 02, 2004.

i have been a swimmer for over 20 years now. i swam with u.s. teams, high school varsity and summer league and swimming one of the best if not the best exercise out there. it works every muscle, INCLUDING THE ABS. i have a six pack and have never done more than 20 sit ups my whole life. i dont need to. swimming does it all.

-- erin link (link1912@aol.com), October 06, 2004.

Whoever said up top that swimming does nothing for your abs is Wrong. I dont know who you have been looking at but core strength is essential in the sport of swimming. I have never seen any other sport where the athletes have more defined abs. Swimming is the best sport I run tri's and there is a good reason that you only swim a mile and run 23 and bike like 50 some.

-- Coach Ben (cocobo@porta.net), December 22, 2004.

Swimming is the best work out for your body. I am in the canadian army and my knees and back are hurt for life because of running. Swimming works your hole body and has a nice resestence. The person that says that swimmers do not have good abs must never swim. After swimming I can out do most runners in all types of endurance activities. He is drunk. I hope this helps out in your report.

Brian Edmonton,Alberta,Canada

-- Brian Masterman (atmasters@gmail.com), January 25, 2005.