I had just started my freshman year of college. It was the morning of Wednesday. The alarm went off at 5:30 a.m., exactly on time. I rolled out of bed, slipped on my sneakers, and walked out the door, reluctantly.

Even though it just held a single notepad for class, some lightweight training clothing, and my favourite protein bar, my backpack felt extra heavy this morning.

I travelled across campus in the dead of night, with only the low light of street lamps to guide me to my destination.

It was only a five-minute walk, but it seemed like a lifetime in the morning hush. I walked into the big dome-shaped structure that I had come to loathe and began speaking with some of my cross-country colleagues. It was 6 a.m. after only a few minutes. My coach cried, “Jump in!” and our 30-minute swim workout began, just like every other Wednesday.

I hated those Wednesday morning workouts.

The early wake-up call, the icy cold water, and even the lingering chlorine odour that I couldn’t seem to get rid of drove me insane.

But it was what happened after I finished swimming that really irritated me. I was never satisfied, no matter how much food I consumed.

                   My gut felt like it was bursting at the seams.

Strangely enough, this never happens to me when I do any other type of exercise. I’ve gone for 13-mile runs and felt less hungry than after a 30-minute swim.

And everyone I’ve ever spoken to appears to share my sentiments. I’m sure many of you can empathise with me. It turns out there could be a scientific explanation for why you get so hungry after swimming. It’s here.

You might be thinking that it has to do with calories.

That isn’t the case at all. Swimming laps, running at a 9-minute-per-mile speed, and cycling at a 15-mile-per-hour pace all burn roughly the same amount of calories.

So, here’s the real deal: Swimming in a chilly pool will make you feel considerably colder than exercising on land.

When you’re cold, your blood vessels contract, preventing the production of chemicals that make you feel less hungry.

This is a natural response, comparable to how bears build up body fat as the temperature drops in preparation for hibernation in the winter.

The research that back up this idea of increased appetite were conducted on small groups. As a result, it’s important to note that there are no clear answers. However, I think the reasons they provide for swimming making you hungry are fascinating. And I don’t think the large appetite I get after swimming is merely a figment of my imagination. I’m sure you’re thinking the same thing.

So, why is the sport so good for you?

Swimming may make you feel more hungry than other forms of exercise, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it. It is, in reality, a fantastic sport. Swimming has a variety of great benefits that you should not neglect when incorporating it into your training programme.

Some of them include:

• It’s a low-impact sport, so it is a great alternative to running or biking if you’re injured, feeling run down, or have chronic pain.
• It can help your body recover from a hard run or other form of intense exercise. When I had access to a pool at my college, I loved getting in and swimming around for 10 minutes after a hard workout. It always seemed to loosen up my legs immensely.
• It’s a fun sport. Health and fitness should be first and foremost about joy. If you can get past the initial jump into the frigid water, you’ll quickly warm up. That was always the hardest part for me. But once I was in there swimming, I really did enjoy it.

Final Thoughts

Swimming might not be your first choice of sport. If I had to choose between a run and a swim, I would always choose for the run. Even if you don’t enjoy swimming, you can benefit from its ability to aid recovery, keep you healthy, and allow you to continue doing the activity that you do enjoy.

Consider incorporating it into your training programme. Remember to bring an extra snack (or four!) on days when you do swim, such as these tasty and healthy high protein chocolate chip muffins. Source : Medium