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Kettlebell or Barbells and dumbells for SWIMMING

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Franco
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« on: December 19, 2011, 09:02:33 PM »
Hi everybody! As I'm finishing my gym membership in January, I decided to buy stuff to keep working out in my home. I wanted to buy a kettlebell, but I haven't find one yet. However, I don't know wether to get a kettlebell or a barbell(and weights and a bench) and dumbells. Which would be better for improve my performance in swimming? Maybe I didnt found the kettlebell today for a reason, haha, but I dont know. What do you think? Thanks in advance!!!
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« Reply #1 on: December 20, 2011, 04:43:06 AM »
To be honest, I think your performance in swimming can only improve by actually swimming.

Whether you also want to weight train as an additional activity is a different matter, in which case you should consider what kind of a workout you want to follow and get the right equipment.
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crinal123
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« Reply #2 on: December 20, 2011, 05:58:48 AM »
Coming into this thread, I thought you were literally going to use these weights while swimming. -.-
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    « Reply #3 on: December 20, 2011, 06:02:53 AM »
    Quote from: crinal123 on December 20, 2011, 05:58:48 AM
    Coming into this thread, I thought you were literally going to use these weights while swimming. -.-
    Yup, i was thinking the same thing.

    Agree with Minimalist, swimming would probably be the best way to be a better swimmer.

    As for the actual question. Kettlebells are ridiculously expensive because you cant microload them or anything like that. Once a weight is too light you have to get another, heavier kettlebell. Dumbbells are a far better option in this case imo. Barbells are just useful in general for moving the most weight.
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    « Reply #4 on: December 20, 2011, 06:08:50 AM »
    Well for using a kettlebell safely I'd say you would need to be trained by someone who knows how to use them without getting injured...

    Still you need to find some way to do weight trainning since it's NECCESSARY for swimmers since there's less resistance on the water, and there's studies that show swimmer's that don't do weight trainning have less bone density, so that might lead to osteoporosis. I'd say barbells and dumbells, or even a bodyweight routine, look for one that suits you here: http://www.askscooby.com/excellent-postings/21-workout-routines-37958/ or use one of Scooby's depending on your fitness level.

    Here's something I just found about swimming and osteoporosis, even though it's not a study it shows the ideas I wrote a bit deeper: http://www.spma.net/swimosteo.htm

    Weights won't improve your performance in swimming a lot, but they can help correct imbalances (if you do crawl and only breathe from your right side your left trap will grow much bigger) and also help with speed/resistance up to an extent.
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    Franco
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    « Reply #5 on: December 20, 2011, 07:17:44 AM »
    Thanks for the replies, I know the best thing to do to improve my swimming is swimming, but it's also a fact that dryland workouts will improve my performance as well. So my question consisted on which (kettlebell - weights) was the best option to do it.
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    « Reply #6 on: December 20, 2011, 07:30:50 AM »
    Quote from: Franco on December 20, 2011, 07:17:44 AM
    So my question consisted on which (kettlebell - weights) was the best option to do it.

    Weights Wink
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    Franco
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    « Reply #7 on: December 20, 2011, 07:38:03 AM »
    Wow, thanks for the quick reply! Why would weights be better please? Thanks!
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    « Reply #8 on: December 20, 2011, 09:03:03 AM »
    have to agree with everyone bb and db's will help you more, doing a fbw routine will increase your strength and will help improve speed in the water Wink
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    « Reply #9 on: December 20, 2011, 01:07:48 PM »
    Ok the thing is as I said before, kettlebells need to be taught by someone who has been trained to use them. With this I mean you can't just randomly get four kettlebells, look for 5 excercises and do them (apart from squats). Normally, trainees who "teach" kettlebell have gone through a period of learning how to perform the excercises correctly, you know like with a diploma and all that stuff. Also kettlebell will give you a hell of a strong core, but so will bodyweight excercises.

    Also you can't add weight to a kettlebell, only buy a heavier one. With weights you can increase weight by even 0.25kg, so a bit more than 0.5lb.

    And of course, you look more badass when using weights,  Cool as many people think kettlebell is for girls/old people/whatever, which is definitely not true.

    If I were you I'd do the advanced bodyweight routine from the link I posted before, and just get some big plates (10/20lb) so that you can add weight to a backpack and do the excercises weighted when you get better at them. I swim a lot and that's what I do, it does wonders  Grin
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