I almost always get that bloated, full of air feeling after longer swims. No biggie in a standalone swim workout, as everything is back to normal in 2-3 hours. This is a concern in races- I often feel bloated on the bike, and feel like its hard to get enough food down the hatch in a HIM. This could really suck in an IM. I figure the cause is something in my swim technique, which I will correct this winter, but with 8 weeks to IM, I’m hoping for a temporary workaround or quick fix to experiment with. Suggestions?
Finally, someone else that gets “pool belly”!
I chew gum after my swims, it sometimes helps to get rid of the gassy bloat feeling. And I burp a.lot. on the bike.
Both those tricks have worked in the past for me.
Try making an extra effort not to swallow any water. I always get that pool bloat after a hard swim where I accidentally swallow a pile of water, it stinks.
it is possible you are swallowing air and that is what you feel (or it’s just water you have swallowed)
try to only inhale and not swallow air (sounds silly) - make sure you exhale fully before turning your head to breathe.
As others have posted, it’s likely a breathing problem. Either trapping air, or swallowing too much water. Try taking something like Gas-Ex after your swim to see if it relieves it. You can find them in a chewable form. Since IM swims can be a bit of a slugfest, I feel the possibility of swallowing some extra water and/or air is high, so I keep a couple chewable tablets in a baggie and stick them in my jersey pocket in T1.
I’m not sure if taking one before the swim would be effective. It might be something for you to practice.
scott
I’m almost completely certain that I’m swallowing air. I’m figuring it must be the way I’m turning my head, or something similar, when I breathe. I was kind of hoping that simethicone drops (anti-gas) would work.
Yep, you are swallowing air.
Can’t be sure what’s causing it, but try to check if your breathing mechanics are correct. It is possible you are feeling slightly our of breath and then are gasping for (and then gulping) air when you inhale. Aim for smoothness and a feeling of control.
don’t swallow air when you breathe. That should solve the problem. at least it did for me
I have/had the same problem. Work on taking deeper breaths and using your diaphragm (chest/abdomen expands outward) as opposed to your chest (abdomen contracts inwards upwards) to breath and you’ll suck down a lot less air into the GI tract. Even taking a few deep, diaphragm breaths during a long swim set will help the problem a great deal.
cool, I’ll give it a try on the long swim tomorrow.
By your name, you might be there as well- I swim at Ohio St. Beach.
Off to run!
Old screen name - should be changed to SuburbanChiTriBoy. I do miss swimming at Ohio St. beach. Nothing wakes you up in the morning like looking down on your swim and being startled by the sight of a 50 gallon trash barrel that someone rolled into the lake the night before.
yeah, some days good, others gross. Funny you mention moving- I work downtown, but live way the hell out in DeKalb
You say it like it’s easy; how would you recommend actually doing it?
yeah, some days good, others gross. Funny you mention moving- I work downtown, but live way the hell out in DeKalb
I knew it would happen eventually. DeKalb is now a far, far west suburb.