Swimming as primary cardio on GLP-1 — looking for input

Swimming also helped my loose skin situation massively. I know that's a big fear for GLP-1 users losing large amounts of weight. The constant resistance against the water seems to keep skin tighter. My dermatologist said the improved circulation from swimming helps with skin elasticity. Can't prove causation but at 85 lbs down on tirz, my skin looks way better than I expected.

OK you've all convinced me. Just signed up for adult beginner lessons at my local pool starting April 5th. Also bought a rash guard and swim shorts. The nausea management angle is huge for me — I'm on Mounjaro 7.5mg and days 1-3 post injection I feel rough. If the cool water helps I'm all in. Will report back!

YES! So proud of you. One more tip — swim on injection day +2 or +3 when nausea peaks. The water genuinely helps. I usually inject Sunday evening and my Tuesday morning swim is the best I feel all week. Something about the rhythmic breathing and cool water just resets everything. You're going to love it.

Also look into your local Masters swimming club once you've done the beginner course. Despite the name, it's for all abilities. I joined mine after 3 months and having structured coached sessions twice a week accelerated my technique massively. Plus the social aspect — I've made genuinely good friends there. The GLP-1 journey can be isolating sometimes and having a community that's focused on fitness rather than weight is really refreshing.

One more thing for the thread — if you're swimming for cardio and fat loss, heart rate zones matter. Get a waterproof fitness tracker (Garmin Swim 2 is great, about £180) and aim to keep your heart rate in zone 2 (roughly 60-70% of max) for most of your sessions. This is where you burn the most fat proportionally. Save the high-intensity intervals for one session per week max. Consistency in zone 2 beats occasional all-out efforts every time.