I usually go running, do aerobics, cycle and go to the gym, but I fancy a change. I was thinking about swimming, but I haven't swum for years and years. Any tips on how to get started, what strokes, what to aim for etc? Or a training programme. Although I'm quite fit I'm not a confident swimmer.

You need to talk to Jaki on the Ab Fab group - there's a thread about exercise in August where we've been talking about swimming. Am afraid i can't help - i'm rubbish at swimming!

Thanks for the referral Sue - makes me feel quite the pro when I'm definitely not!! Have learnt a lot from watching my children's swimming lessons! I (and also Jeannie and Jackie M on Ab Fab) swim several times a week. My preferred stroke is front crawl but maybe you'd like to start off with breast stroke or the one your happiest with. I am now up to a mile each time (64 lengths) but depending on your level, you could aim for half a mile, a kilometre (40) if you like. As you're very fit, you may well easily do much more than that when you get to grips with it. Having an improver's course may help you if you have the time to fit it in. We have a 50m pool (Wales National Pool) on our doorstep so there is obviously a large choice of classes to choose from.

Good luck Rebecca! Let us know how you get on.

Thanks Jaki

A mile seems long way! It's funny but I'd rather run for 8 miles than swim for 1 I'm determined to give it a go, not least because my knees are starting to give me some problems.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Yes, do let me know how you get on. I like the challenge of doing a certain amount of lengths and get an extra spurt at the end to get to the mile, if that makes sense. I couldn't run 1 mile but could happily walk it. I'm looking forward to walking with the children to/from school again when I'm not working as long as the weather holds.

Hi Rebecca. If you have knee problems you need to be careful doing breaststroke as it can cause/aggravate knee problems. I have arthritis in my knees and my consultant has told me to stop doing breaststroke legs. I have just signed up for some improver swimming lessons - having never learnt to do front crawl so that I can learn to do it properly from the start and improve my backstroke. I find that health permitting I can build up my distance quite quickly swimming but unfortunately between asthma and arthritis its frequently a case of two steps forward and one step back. I hope you enjoy your swimming as that will encourage you to keep going. Tip I learnt from someone at our pool - after swimming if you use exfoliating gloves when you wash in teh shower and then moisturise (cheap body lotion is fine) rather than use talc it helps to get rid of that pervasive chlorine smell and makes your skin feel great.

I can swim breaststroke (girlie style) but I would really like to learn front crawl - I have a fear of putting my face in the water though - I think I'm going to breath at the wrong time.

I was thinking of swimming lessons - I guess it would be Improvers as I can swim, I just need to learn how to do it properly. I've been reading how to do it on the web, but I think I would feel a bit stupid standing at the side of the pool practising the breathing...

I think this is going to be my try something new in September... I would love to do a Triathalon, but swimming is my big weakness.

I'm starting to want to do one too but I only swim - haven't been on a bike in at least 20 years and have never run. doesn't sound to hopeful does it.

Re breathing even if you do breathe at the wrong moment you cough it up ratherr than drowning. Ifrequently mistime my breathing doing breaststroke especially when the pool is busy as sometimes the person coming the other way puts up a bow wave that I inhale. I do find that wearing a nose clip helps though as its easier to breathe through your mouth.

I did wonder about a nose clip but wondered whether this was relying on something that I didn't need to?

It's never too late to start. Somedays I think I'm mad having entered in a triathlon, with only 7 weeks to train in. I'm not much good at running, and before this I hadn't been on a bike properly for 4 years, since I came off and hurt myself. The only swimming I'd done was once a year on holiday. All of a sudden in May I decided to go swimming and it all took off from their.

Well, I decided to take the plunge (no pun intended) and sign up for some improver lessons to try and get to grips with the front crawl. The local Adult Education ones are full, but I am down as first reserve on the waiting list.

I'm going to see what the gym has when I go later as well.

Otherwise its going to be me in my goggles practicing in the bath - I have dug them out from the bottom of the drawer and put them in my bag in case I'm feeling brave next time I'm at the gym!?

Well done on signing up for lessons. Do pass on any good tips. When I went swimming with my son on Saturday morning he tried ever so hard to teach me the tumble toss but I just couldn't get it right - always ended up facing the wrong end of the pool!! Co-ordination has never been my strong point. Hopefully I'll get it done before the end of the month!!

My hat goes off for you for trying it - not only am I completely un-coordinated but I have a real fear about putting my face under the water...

The gym have given the number of the instructer so I can speak to him about which class would be the best for me. Enrolment starts in the next day or two, so I should be able to get on a course.

I'm pretty scared at going right round in the water. I don't mind putting my head under but going right under is a bit scary. I'm determined to get it done now.

I did plan on doing some ironing half an hour ago but this site just eats up your time sometimes... Hubby is watching some old cowboy film (thrilling!!) so I was forced up here!!

Same here - my husband is watching some blood and guts film, so I'm on here instead.

Am hoping to go swimming after work tomorrow - we have a new pool in Hexham.

OK, I'm starting to get worried now - I went swimming this evening with my goggles, just to try and get used to them.

I found that after a few minutes I couldn't hardly see anything because they were steaming up and felt like they had water in them... and when I put my face in the water I forgot to breathe out and water went all up my nose...

Does anyone have any recommendations about goggles - is it that mine don't fit properly? They are supposed to be anti-fog but I don't seem to be getting on very well with them...

I've ordered a nose clip from Amazon (it sort of fell into my basket by accident, along with a pedometer...) but I'm really needing some advice about goggles. I've read a few reviews and most get good reviews, but the ones I bought were about £10 and don't suit me at all. I don't want to waste any more cash - has anyone any tips??

Hi Teresa, I only buy cheapish goggles but they usually work fine (they do start to seep when they get old and the seal goes) You should wet them before you put them on (pre anti-fog days you used to wipe spit on them to stop them fogging) I usually take mine into the shower with me before I get in teh pool. Also spend a bit of time adjusting them so they are snug but not tight. Quite a few people in my pool have swapped to swimming masks (like snorkelling masks but not quite so big) and seem to be happy with them as they don't cause that red mark/bruising you sometimes get with goggles. Hope some of that is useful.

Thanks for that - the ones I have are supposed to be anti-fog and I did wet them before I got in, but within a few minutes I couldn't hardly see out of them because they felt all steamed up and/or had water on the lens... I'm not sure why, and that means I'm a bit wary about getting a different pair in case I have the same problem...

I did wonder about a mask as my skin marks really easily and I didn't want to end up walking round afterwards with red circles round my eyes!!

You could always ask one of the pool attendants for a bit of help. The ones we have are very helpful at times.

Hey I wonder if any of you have been put off swimming by being so short sighted you don't know where you are. I was but can I put a word in for prescription goggles. You can get ones that are close to most prescriptions quite cheaply or few a lot more you can get them made to your prescription.

I've seen some Zoggs ones with interchangable lenses that look very reasonable. I can get away without glasses in the water but they did look like a very cheap option if you couldn't.

I always wear a seal mask as I too, used to end up with red marks around my eyes. They cost a bit more than ordinary goggles (about eighteen pounds) but last forever! I swim every day and have been using my present ones for about eight months or so. I highly recommend them. I get mine out of a swim/sports wear shop which specialises in water sports.
Keep practising that tumble turn Jaki - I learnt to do it and so can you!
Good luck!

Do you get a better field of vision with a mask too? I feel very restricted when wearing goggles.

I was looking on the Zoggs swimming 4 fitness website last night and they had some instructions on how to do the tumble turn.

I'm up and down with goggles. The current pair (Speedo) are great and fit better when I'm wearing my swimming hat (I wear it to keep the googles on as my hair gets wet!!). The strap splits and one bit I put up about pony tail height (think High School Musical pony tail) and the other halfway up my head. A great bit of advice for antifog is spitting into each one and rubbing it in - it seriously works and 2 swimmers have told me that!! I've had disasters with goggles though and nearly lost my temper one session as they kept leaking all the time. My ex colleague swam for Wales and in those days they never wore goggles!! Can you imagine!

Just read your last comment Teresa, I'll check it out - my 7 year old can do it perfectly (they teach it in his lessons) but me???

Now, this is really a drippy question in more than one sense of the word!
With my sister now staying with me for about half of each week, and her recovering from an intervention on her knee, I foolishly said that if she fancied it we could go swimming together. I haven't been swimming for at least a decade and it's much longer than that since I've been in a swimming pool. I'll definitely be a newbie there, but am expecting to still be able to swim. It's like riding a bike, isn't it? I mean, you're awkward if you haven't done it for ages, but your body still remembers how to do it and you don't have to relearn the basics. This is what I'm hoping any way.
The question is, what do people do nowadays if they have long hair? Can it just be put back/up in a band? I can't remember seeing bathing caps in shops for ages, so I'm assuming no-one wears them any more. And what advice can people give for avoiding verrucas? I know I caught one about 20 years ago and it took me ages to get rid of it as I am allergic to the creams. This and the chemicals in the water were what put me off swimming.

I go to the Wales National Pool and they don't insist on hats but most pools seem to sell them if you want them. Why don't you put your hair into a plait and then twist it up out of the way.

Swimming definitely is like riding a bike - you won't have forgotten. I did this in reverse as I got on a bike with much trepidation in my 20s and loved it. Not sure about the verrucas - they used to have foot baths on the way in but don't do that any more. I haven't caught one in our pool and I've been swimming a few years now, so maybe there's a particular chemical in the pool that keeps them at bay?

Let me know how you get on.

By the way, one of the PE teachers in school said that your muscles have 'memory' too and can remember a certain way you move your arms etc.

Thanks for the above, Jaki. Interesting that foot baths have disappeared. I do remember them from school swimming. They were probably worse than nothing!
Yes, I know that with muscles remembering movements and it is part of how we remember how to spell too. Most of the time, our hands and wrists just know the spelling and we don't need to think unless it's tricky.
With regard to the caps, I'm a crawler, so hats never kept my hair dry any way. Will now just have to check and see if I fit into my cossie and if my sister remembers hers next week.

Well, I'm determined to finish the ironing tonight (how sad is that on a Saturday night???) so will endeavour to get on here tomorrow. I've got some books to mark tomorrow - why did I take in books on a Friday????