Why Do I Get Tired Easily When Swimming? 7 Main Reasons
Swimming is good for your health. By health, we mean emotional, social, mental, and even physical health. But there is a downside to this fun water sport too: swimming can make you tired.
It does not matter how experienced you are; you will get tired. Of course, if you only swim three times a week at the same pace, it gets to a point where you no longer feel too tired as your body reaches the plateau stage. If you are challenging yourself, it is okay to feel tired.
So, really, why does swimming make you tired? Swimming is a high-resistance exercise, tougher than a rowing machine, running on a treadmill, or on track. It is an energy-intensive exercise, so it makes you tired.
Please note that this does not mean you should experience out-of-bounds fatigue after swimming. If the fatigue levels exceed what you have been used to, you need to look into it.
Keep reading to see why you experience unusual fatigue after swimming and what you could do about it.
Reasons for feeling tired after swimming
We could possibly come up with tens of reasons for post-swim fatigue. However, the 8 we will look at here are the main ones.
1. You don’t have enough swimming skills
If you do not have enough swimming skills, it means you will use more energy to do the same amount of work as a person who is used to swimming.
For instance, if you can’t float on your back, you will be unable to rest and catch a breath in the water.
Floating is a very fundamental skill for swimming, so if you can’t do it, you will be doing almost double the work to stay afloat.
There are other reasons you feel excessively tired, attributable to lack of swimming skills. You do not know how to conserve your energy. You are not used to exerting your body to the kinds of excesses required when you are learning to swim by yourself, or with a trainer.
As you get more experienced, learn how to float on water, the post-swim fatigue will reduce. You can swim faster, and longer.
2. Pre- and post-swim nutrition is lacking
Remember the information about having to wait 30 minutes after eating to swim, or not eating at all before a swim?
Perhaps you have taken them to heart.
The truth is, you need to eat before and after swimming. It is recommended to eat your meal at least 30 minutes before swimming to give your body the chance to absorb the nutrients. Also, eat after swimming to replenish your calorie and energy levels.
Don’t eat a full-blown meal before or after your swim, especially if you feel dizzy after swimming.
Take small, balanced, and nutrient-filled meals before and after.
3. Swimming is a high-resistance exercise
Water offers more resistance than air, by more than 10 times! This means swimming makes you do more work
This is why swimming burns calories and helps you lose weight.
Now, if you are swimming in the ocean, you will use more energy because the currents are stronger.
You are bound to feel more tired when you swim, especially if you challenge yourself to swim faster and harder every day.
To reduce resistance, please wear the best-fitting swimsuit for women or swim shorts with compression liners for men.
4. The water temperature is too low
Swimming in cold water creates a higher energy demand, so your body burns more calories. In cold water, you have to swim harder to keep warm and to keep moving in the water.
Try wearing a wetsuit for swimming in the ocean. It traps warmth between the skin and the neoprene material, keeping you warmer longer.
If the pool temperature is below 78 to 80°F (25 to 26°C), that is low. Consider heating your pool to continue swimming in winter.
5. The sun makes you tired and sleepy
The swimming season kicks in during the summer, when the sun is hot in Texas, Florida, and just about everywhere else.
The sun affects people in different ways, so if you feel too tired after swimming, it could be a combination of the heat and the work you have done.
Try swimming in the morning or evening when the sun is less vicious and see whether you feel as fatigued as when you swim at other times.
6. Dehydration makes you tired
Because of are in contact with the water, most swimming beginners do not know that they can be dehydrated. Yet swimming whips up quite a bit of sweat.
When you sweat, you do not lose water alone. Rather, you lose important electrolytes too, and that is why you feel too fatigued.
Constantly taking a sip of your energy drink or water can prevent dehydration and too much post-swim fatigue.
7. No pre-swim warm-up
It is a good habit to warm up before swimming. This means taking at least 10 minutes to stretch, jump, lunge, and so on, to get your blood moving.
After swimming intensively, you can do a few post-swim exercises to cool down properly. Again, stretches can unwind those muscles.
Does chlorine make you tired?
The answer is… no.
Chlorine is used to kill microbes and sterilize swimming pools. If the water is too dirty, shocking the pool with chlorine is recommended.
While chlorine keeps the water safe and clean, some swimmers may experience fatigue or other symptoms after swimming in chlorinated water.
This has led some to wonder if chlorine makes you tired.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say there is no evidence to suggest that chlorine exposure can cause fatigue or other health problems.
However, exposure to chlorine and other chemicals commonly found in swimming pools can cause respiratory irritation, eye irritation, and skin irritation.
In rare cases, exposure to high levels of chlorine can cause more severe symptoms, such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath.
If you are experiencing fatigue or other symptoms after swimming in a saltwater or chlorinated pool, it is possible that it is related to the physical exertion of swimming rather than the chlorine itself.
Swimming is a demanding form of exercise that requires the use of multiple muscle groups and can quickly deplete your energy reserves.
Does swimming make you tired the next day?
One of the most common complaints among swimmers is feeling tired the day after a swim. This is known as delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). It is a normal response to the physical exertion of swimming.
Swimming engages multiple muscle groups, including your arms, legs, the core, and the back. This can cause microtears in your muscle fibers, which can lead to inflammation and soreness. DOMS typically sets in 24 to 48 hours after exercise, and it can last for several days.
While DOMS can be uncomfortable, it is a normal response to exercise and is not a cause for concern.
Take it as a sign that your muscles are adapting to the physical demands of swimming and that you are becoming stronger.
The day you don’t experience post-workout soreness, just know you have not been exerting yourself enough.
How to avoid feeling tired after swimming
Pace yourself: To avoid feeling tired, pace yourself. Don’t swim too hard too quickly. Start with shorter distances and slower speeds. Gradually increase the intensity and duration of your swims as your fitness level improves.
Stay Hydrated: Swimming, especially in warm water in your above ground pool can reduce your body’s fluids. Stay hydrated before, during, and after your swim. This ensures that your muscles have the energy they need to perform at their best.
Stretch: Stretching helps to improve flexibility, reduce soreness, and enhance recovery. After your swim, take a few minutes to stretch your muscles and enhance relaxation.
Warm-up and cool down: Before you start swimming, warm up your muscles and prepare your body for the demands of the swim.
A proper warm-up can help reduce the risk of injury and minimize feelings of fatigue after your swim. Similarly, cooling down after your swim can help flush out the lactic acid and reduce post-workout soreness.
Eat something: Take nutrient-rich foods before and after swimming. Don’t eat too much food before swimming. A small, balanced, and nutrient-rich portion will take you through the swimming session. Also, taking a sports drink during the swim helps you replenish your body with energy.
Do not overexert yourself: Take breaks to allow your body to rest and recover. If you are feeling tired or fatigued during your swim, rest for a few minutes. This can help prevent injuries, and it minimizes the impact of fatigue.
Use proper swimming technique: This helps to reduce the impact of fatigue and soreness. If you are a swimming beginner, consider taking lessons from a certified swim instructor. You will learn the best swim stroke to minimize impact.
Wrapping Up
Swimming is going to make you tired. That is how you know you did some work and lost calories.
If you swim and you don’t feel tired, you are at a plateau stage, where your body is not getting enough challenge. You might want to consider swimming every day for a month or taking longer sessions.
This does not mean you should sit back and wait for delayed-onset muscle soreness to set in. Rather, you should follow the guidelines outlined here to prevent that.
Again, if you feel too fatigued to the point of not being able to do much after swimming or the following day, perhaps you need to change your swimming technique.