Concept2 Forum

Some years ago I used to swim leisurely with fins in 22 degree Celsius (72 degree Fahrenheit) water for 1-2 hrs (with occasional breaks out of the water). I lost weight incredibly quickly. I attribute that to the loss of body heat and resulting increase in metabolism.
Now I row in the cold at night with shorts and short sleeved shirts and hike under-dressed and slightly cold all the time. I am losing weight again. Normally I find it very difficult to lose weight due to weakness of character and resulting eating habits.

I'm a Sagittarian so the cold and water are both out of the question for me

i enjoy the cold. it doesnt really affect me. my family and friends all get annoyed when we are out and about in the wind and rain and cold through winter and i am still wearing shorts/T shirt and jandles. winter here sits in the below 10C range usually around 2 or 3C with high winds and rain. due to a degenerative back injury i have had to stop running and my dream of doing some ultra marathons as a runner/walker are now out the door. i still walk the dog every day and am about to get back into swimming along with continuing the Erg journey. a seed was planted if i cant run/walk an ultra why not swim one. when i row its always in the coldest room in the house and i have the windows open to encourage a cool draft from outside. even in the middle of winter when the room is also sitting at close to zero C i am in shorts only i sweat like a beast and when finished i go into the lounge to sit and stop sweating its like going into a sauna with the fire lit to keep the house warm. i also find it difficult to lose weight due to bad eating habits and too much of the wrong sort of food. once i get back from holiday i am into the pool to take adult swim lessons (due to a super long period between swimming even though i used to teach swimming to kids) to get my form back to something other than a splash fest. on the erg will increase and walking the dog will also change from evenings to early mornings (circa 4-5am start) I still have to drop approx 30kg which will help with my minor health niggles (NAFLD) and ease the strain on my back. with marathon training early on the year (pre back diagnosis) and continued dog walking i managed to clock up over 4000km this year. 2025 is my year to get it done properly

Erik A wrote: ↑

December 16th, 2024, 7:39 pm

if i cant run/walk an ultra why not swim one... i managed to clock up over 4000km this year. 2025 is my year to get it done properly

Sounds like a great attitude and plan. My open water swimming friends tell me that at least in UK one of the biggest issues is dealing with the cold, so your love of it will help, how warm is the water likely to be on your Ultra? 4mM for your cross training is very impressive!

Erik A wrote: ↑

December 16th, 2024, 7:39 pm

i enjoy the cold. it doesnt really affect me.

In that case, you should read Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air." Definitely made me feel cold...

Ombrax wrote: ↑

December 18th, 2024, 2:43 am

Erik A wrote: ↑

December 16th, 2024, 7:39 pm

i enjoy the cold. it doesnt really affect me.

In that case, you should read Jon Krakauer's "Into Thin Air." Definitely made me feel cold...

just had a look at that book and will read it.

Erik A wrote: ↑

December 18th, 2024, 7:08 pm

just had a look at that book and will read it.

Enjoy!