There is no better feeling that the sun shining down on one’s body, and relaxing and moving around in a swimming pool.  Not only is it a wonderful feeling, but add some exercise and you have the perfectly enjoyable sport!  There is no getting hot and sweaty here!!   Summer is the perfect time to enjoy an outdoor pool, but there are also heated indoor pools for the colder months, and once you start swimming, it is a sport you can do for your whole lifetime.

Swimming is one of the few sports which is also recreational, we all grow up swimming in the summer, whether it be in crystal clear lakes, at a friend’s pool, or in the sea, and what fun it is to swim with friends and splash about or play games in the pool.  Most of us, while growing up, never realise how swimming protects our heart and lungs and strengthens them.  Many athletes  who either  pound the pavements, track or tennis courts, get injured and swimming is the only form of exercise where there is no impact at all on their bodies.  It can also be used as a cross training exercise.  It is ideal for anyone who can’t put weight on their knees or legs.

Swimming is a great way to help lose those extra pounds, (along with a healthy diet obviously), and any moving around in the water, is helpful as one is pushing against the weight of the water.  We all can’t swim a fast 100 laps in one hour, but swimming at a fast rate will burn 900 calories per hour, so even if we swim laps at our own pace, we shall be burning those unwanted calories.

Try these swimming exercises in the water to lose weight:

• Lie on your tummy and hold the edge of the pool with your hands, and kick your legs as fast as you can, create as much splash as you can!  Try and do this for as long as you can, then rest your legs and repeat.
• Do the same but this time with your back to the wall and holding on to the edge of the pool with your arms.
• Swim five laps using the breaststroke, kicking as hard as you can with your legs and pulling the water back with all the strength of your arms.
• Hold a board in your hands with your arms stretched out in front of you and kick across the pool as hard and fast as you can with your feet.  This is different to holding on to the wall as you can practise your breathing as you hold the board.
• ‘Run’ in the water across the width of the shallow part of the pool.  The weight of the water will make it seem hard to run, which is why it is so good for you!
• Don’t forget water aerobics – stand with legs apart, and move your arms through the water, pushing against the weight of the water all the time.
• Bend your knees, and then stand up straight and repeat ten times.

Swimming training, either doing this at school or at a club while growing up, will have benefited you for life.  If you are still able to swim fast across a pool, it will greatly increase and improve your heart rate and lung capacity.

Swimming will improve your muscle capacity, builds up one’s endurance, strengthens lungs and improves cardio-vascular fitness.

For runners, swimming can be used as a good warm up before a race or practise session, and also a good cool down after the race (excuse the pun !) but swimming after a track meet or race can help move the blood through your muscles and help them recover.

Swimming benefits are innumerable. Don’t forget the wonderful psychological benefits of swimming, either as a fun way to see and be with friends, or in a workout session, all laughing and sharing stories while jumping up and down in the water!  It is a sport the whole family can enjoy.  For yourself, relax in the water, lie on your back, floating in the water, meditate and let your cares literally float away. Stress and anxiety will soon disappear.

Swim every week and your general health will improve tenfold.  As we mentioned above, if you swim regularly, along with a nutritious eating plan you will be fit for life.  We found an amazing eating plan , which complements your swimming regime. Its called Fat Loss 4 Idiots, and is the number one used diet on the internet.  This is because of the high success rate and good word of mouth.  It focuses on WHEN you eat, NOT WHAT you eat.  This is crucial, as it forces your metabolism to burn more calories, which means more weight loss!!  Check it out here, or you can read our review here.

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