Is swimming two times a week enough?

[u/asuyaa]

Hello, I am new here. I recently took up swimming again (I used to do competitive swimming when i was little) and have been going swimming two times a week. I like to swim breaststroke and backstroke and I usually swim around 10 laps (1km) in a session, 2 sessions a week. Is this enough to see benefits? Would increasing to 3 times be marginally better? Should I push for more laps? It takes me around 25-30 minutes to complete 10 laps. I don't like to go super fast but I try to keep up pace and get my heartrate going. What would be a realistic goal goal I should push for?

Please give me advice I am a newbie

[u/Retired-in-2023]

The more often you go or the longer your sessions, the more benefit you will see. I don’t think it will matter initially if you increase distance or go a third day. Once you max out whatever you choose, increase the opposite so you go more often and do more laps.

Another thing to consider is how does your availability sync up with lap swim times? At my pool that limits how often I can go each week and how much time I can spend in the pool which dictates my number of laps.