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Swimming and floating...

9 replies · 1,976 views · Started 02 June 2007

Okay, I have this theory. I've noticed for people with a lot of body fat, it's easy to float. For people without, it's not, and that makes sense.

What I'm thinking is, though, if your fat ratio is low but you're still heavy due to being big, is it possible that you can't float, or that it's just immensely more difficult?

I weigh something like 155 pounds (I think), am 5'11", and think I'm relatively skinny (a little bit of a belly and my thighs have enough fat to be pretty wobbly and almost never cut while shaving). And boy do I suck at floating.

Anyone know much about how this works?

Regardless of your body fat index, the human body is, on the whole, less dense than water and will always float. You may not be able to keep your head above water without treading, but you will float regardless.

Doesn't work, I'm 95 lbs and I've fallen asleep while floating. The only way I sink is if I breathe out and hold it.

Yep, they hit the bull's-eye. Because you are filled with air, you'll naturally float due to buoyancy. As you exhale, you should sink.

Dead bodies also float because the decay of flesh creates gas.

Holding in a deep breath allows pretty much anybody to float on their back with their face out of water with ease. Some may have difficulty breathing while floating but nothing some well trained treading can't solve.