Tips for getting out of back float - overweight and very, very Buoyant

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I weigh a lot and can just roll out of a back float. I’m not sure I follow.

Same. I'm fat and physically cannot sink but I can't imagine getting stuck in any position.

[Anonymous]

You sound like you are trying to flip to roll over (like a somersault?). To roll over in the water you roll along your length, like a log in the water. So you turn on your side and then keep turning. Does that make sense?

[Anonymous]

I am actually teaching an overweight person how to back float and how to recover.

Body fat is more buoyant than muscle. Also where a person carries their body fat can make a huge difference on how one floats and their ability to recover.

I suggest that you only practice in a pool where there is a life guard. Teenager or not, they are trained to deal with ALL body shapes and sizes. And until you are proficient, practice in water that is not much deeper than waist or lower chest level and with one hand on the side of the pool.

It is not necessary to roll to your stomach to recover from a back float (although some say it is easier). What is necessary is to get your feet back underneath you to be able to stand up. Try to get yourself into a seating position. Drop butt down, bend legs at knees, bring chest toward knees and if core is too weak to get into this position, then use arms almost fully extended, hand w/fingers together and slightly cupped and push the water behind you.

The person I am teaching is in their mid 70’s, so core muscles are not very strong. They are doing core muscle strengthening exercises in the pool to help with the floating to standing position. Try googling aqua core muscle strengthening exercises. That may help.

Good luck!!