Swim Instead of the Gym

When I was a child, I was always so excited for summer and couldn’t wait to go swimming in the pool.  I practiced wading, the doggie paddle, and the butterfly stroke up until the very last minute of swim time. When my parents would finally coax me out of the water, I was a wrinkly prune!   After a long day in the pool, I was always exhausted and would go to bed early. 
I slept so sound after a day of swimming!   So, now that I’m older, why do I hardly
ever get in the water?

I know, we all get self-conscious in a suit, but did you know that swimming can be a great form of exercise that doesn’t just concentrate on one problem area.  It works all the major muscle groups, including the shoulders, back, abdominals, legs, hips, and glutes.  In comparison to air, water renders 12 times the resistance in every direction, making it a great way to build strength.  Not many exercises offer a cardiovascular and strengthening workout at the same time, but you can probably guess which one does……swimming!

People with physical limitations or those that can’t perform strenuous exercise find that swimming is a good alternative.  This is because water provides buoyancy which gives a feeling of weightlessness in the water and puts less stress on the body.  Water submersion also initiates a lower metabolic rate causing the body to use fewer calories.  So, if you’re looking to lose weight, try incorporating some interval training in the pool where you push hard for short spurts, and then drop back to a less-intense level.  With any activity, if you follow the same fundamentals and challenge yourself, you will see results!

Swimming is such a fun workout and something I have always loved - I think I am going to add it back in to my routine this summer.  How about you, do you enjoy swimming?  What summer activities keep you moving?

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