I’ve been swimming since I was around 6 or 7 and never had any issues. I took a break for a while, but I wanted to get back into it because I’m looking for a fun hobby again.
Whenever I try to swim freestyle and do normal laps, I can’t make it. I can manage at most one lap before I find myself out of breath. At first, I thought maybe it was because I was out of shape after not swimming for a couple of years, and I figured it would just take some time to get back into it. Now, a month later, I still see no improvement. I keep needing 20-30 second breaks between each lap. Whenever I try to push for another lap without resting, my head feels heavy and I feel like I’m going to pass out because I can’t breathe properly.
I’ve looked at a few threads here, and they all suggest not to fight the water, to exhale underwater, and to take small breaths when my head is out. I’ve tried that, but I still find myself running out of breath.
I’m really confused about what to do. As a kid, I could swim laps back to back effortlessly, and now I can barely do one. Please share any tips or recommendations you might have.
Did you swim competitively or just for fun during summers? There’s a huge difference between casual lessons and serious year-round training.
If your body isn’t in great shape, it’s normal to struggle when you jump back in. Feeling lightheaded, having a fast heartbeat, and being very tired are all common when pushing yourself harder than you’re used to.
If you’re in decent shape, though, it might be time to see a doctor. There could be some underlying health issue.
@Bryn
I was in a swim club and swam every day. I participated in maybe 1 or 2 competitions a year, so I wouldn’t say I was a hardcore competitive swimmer, but I swam quite a bit when I was in the club.
I’m in a healthy BMI range, a bit of extra weight, but I was much heavier when I was swimming regularly, and I was able to do laps just fine back then. Now, after each lap, my heart feels like it’s racing, and I struggle to catch my breath.
How’s your body position in the water? If your technique isn’t quite right, it might create more resistance, meaning you have to put in more effort. For example, if your head isn’t low enough, your feet might drag more.
@Hux
My head is down, and I make sure I’m not lifting it to the side when I take a breath. I rotate it just enough to maintain my form, and my kicks are normal. My body position feels in line with the water.
It’s tough to provide help without seeing a video of your swimming. People’s understanding of their actions in the water can be very different from reality. If you post a video, that might help people identify what’s going wrong.