When planning the fitness aspect of one's weight loss plan, most people immediately feel forced into aerobics, running, walking, and going to the gym. These are not your only options. In fact, if you limit yourself to these options, you will get burnt out and end up giving up far sooner than if you were to vary your workout plan with other sports and activities. For example, most people do not realize how much of a workout can be derived from a good swim. Swimming actually burns more calories than running, if you put some effort into it. So if you are looking for a good way to exercise for weight loss without feeling overwhelmed by outdated aerobics, complicated gym workouts and long runs, then swimming for weight loss is a worthy option to consider.
There are a number of different ways that you can use swimming as a means of losing weight. Consider the following information and you may end up with a unique way to lose weight that is fun, challenging and highly effective.
- Swimming is all about resistance. Think about what weight training accomplishes: It involves lifting weight, or capitalizing on resistance in order to build long, lean muscles and lose weight. Swimming follows the same principles in terms of weight loss, because you are fighting resistance in the water, and this allows you to burn more calories and works your body more effectively.
- One trick that will allow you to utilize resistance more fully is to walk or crawl along the edge of the pool in circles, either clockwise or counterclockwise. As you go around, the water will begin to swirl in the same direction, and you will find it easier to move around after a few laps. After this happens, turn around and move in the other direction. You will feel the water's resistance grow exponentially, and it will suddenly be harder to move. Push through it and keep making laps in this alternate direction. Your body will feel the burn, because you are putting out much more energy than before.
- Swimming laps can easily burn more calories than walking or running, because of the water resistance, and the fact that your entire body is burning calories. The resistance will help you build strength in your arms and legs, and the effort will burn calories throughout your entire body. If you are looking for an excellent all over workout, swimming is a great way to go. You do not need to be Michael Phelps to get the most out of a swimming workout, but if you want to know what swimming can do for your and your weight loss efforts, then he may be an excellent role model to look to. Take advantage of the natural resistance that the water lends, and make use of different techniques to lose weight. Heck, if you are not a good swimmer, then another excellent option is water aerobics.
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Originally posted 2008-12-29 05:49:35. Republished by Old Post Promoter
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1 comment so far ↓
Swimming is definitely a great exercise. It works the whole body, and is very easy on the joints. I’m not sure how effective it is to lose weight if you are already overweight, however. The reasons for this are:
1) Fat floats. This makes swimming less of a workout than for those with little bodyfat.
2) Water is very effective at cooling your body down. This makes it more difficult to sweat and reach that optimum fat burning state.
To me, I suspect swimming is excellent to maintain whatever fitness level you are at. However, to lose weight, I’m not so sure. Has anyone out there lost a lot of weight by simply swimming? I’d be curious to know.
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