In this guest blog post, MySwimPro Ambassador Marc Forrest (@MarcForrestZA) shares how he lost over 30 kilograms (66 lbs) by swimming 4 times per week with MySwimPro!
Meet Marc
Hi MySwimPro Community! My name is Marc and I am from a small town on the North Coast of Kwazulu Natal in South Africa called Ballito. I am a dad of 3 amazing kids who all love swimming. We are a “swim family” that spends a lot of time at galas and swimming events on the weekends.
I am a bit of a tech nerd and love sharing my knowledge about tech and apps. I love working out doing swims, running & cycling and I’m also a bit of a stats nerd… I get anxiety when my swims aren’t logged properly 🙂
My Swimming Background
In 2018 I had surgery on my lower back. I had injured it doing a deadlift in the gym and was at a very low place in my life. I didn’t work out, I ate terribly and I weighed the most I ever have, coming in at over 160 kg.
It was a bad space to be in, but after lying on my bed for six weeks recovering, I knew I had to do something.
I had heard about MySwimPro and downloaded the app while I was recovering. I started watching some of the videos on the YouTube channel, and knew that swimming was exactly what I needed to do after I had finished my recovery period.
Being in a full-on “Swim-Family” where all 3 of my kids are competitive swimmers, swimming was the most logical choice of exercise given how much time we spend next to the pool!
“Before I started swimming I was overweight, tired and had no zest for life. My lifestyle has completely changed and I can’t go a day without wanting to get in the pool and do a few laps!“
So in September 2018, I got the go-ahead to start exercising and the next day I got into the pool and started swimming. Slowly but surely my fitness increased and my weight decreased.
Now, I train at least 4-5 times a week in the pool, and try and do open water swims when I can. I have lost over 30 kilograms (66 pounds) in the last year from swimming 4-5 times per week.
My life has completely changed and I feel like a new person!
When I Discovered MySwimPro
Before I started training with MySwimPro, I simply used to get in the pool and try to count laps in my head as I swam back and forth. MySwimPro helped to keep track of my training as well as have an insight into programs that allowed me to improve my swimming. My workouts are much more structured now.
I have the app on my iPhone, and I mostly alternate between my Apple Watch & Garmin to keep track of my swims using MySwimPro. The app allows me to get an insight into how I am improving as well as detailed times for my strokes.
“As a family we often watch the MySwimPro videos and Whiteboard Wednesdays to keep learning!“
Over the past eight years, swimming has become a staple in our household. Having three kids who train daily and compete often, leads us to spend many hours next to the pool or dams.
It really is a sport I have grown to love and enjoy and have taken a keen interest in from a technical perspective as well, having become an accredited Timekeeper and Judge. I am also proud to be the Team Manager for NC Dolphins Swim Club.
My Swimming Goals
I have completed a couple open water swims and train around 3-4 times per week, averaging 1-3km. I honestly can’t imagine my life without swimming at the moment.
In February 2020, I will be swimming ALL 8 races in the Midmar Mile Open Water Race, which is the largest open water swimming event in the world. I will be raising funds for The Swimmers Trust which helps promote Learn To Swim programs in South Africa. All the information and opportunity to contribute to my fundraising details here -> http://bit.ly/8mile2020
I cannot wait to be part of this community of Ambassadors and to use MySwimPro to help me achieve this goal in my training and lead-up to this exciting event!
My Advice For New Swimmers
1. Get in the water. Simple. If you haven’t ever swum. Don’t be scared. Even if you do 100m on your first day, it’s 100m more than sitting on the couch.
2. Don’t worry about what other people think. Gyms and pools are very intimidating. Do what you can.
3. Use the MySwimPro app to improve your technique & learn more about swimming. Give it a try!
4. Try an open water swim. You’ll be surprised at how much fun it is. Many people are intimidated by open water swimming, but there is no feeling like running out the water once you done. Many events offer smaller races for beginners. Try those and see how fun it is!
Thank you so much for sharing your story, Marc! We are proud to have you on our Ambassador team and cannot wait to see you reach your goals this year!
Download the MySwimPro app and sign up for MySwimPro Coach to start your own custom Training Plan! Save 20% when you use code MARC20 at checkout.
2 Comments
I’m so proud of you dad ❤️🥳
Pingback: Get 20% Discount on MySwimPro Elite Subscription | MarcForrest.com