Swimming & Fitness

Swim Your Way to a Better Body and Better Health

If the sticky summer heat is keeping you from your daily walking routine, maybe it’s time to take a dip! Swimming is a great way to enjoy the warm weather while challenging your muscles in a different way. It’s also a fun recreational activity you can enjoy with your family. Many communities have neighborhood pools or recreational centers that charge a minimal fee for each day that you swim, or they may offer a low membership fee for the summer. Also, check out local gyms or a YMCA that may allow pool access without joining. And a swim in a pond or lake, or even the ocean, is another way to get in some water time, but be careful if swimming in the ocean.

Here’s why you should dive in today:

Cardiovascular Exercise
Swimming is a low-impact cardiovascular exercise, which means you can work your heart without putting too much stress on your joints. In fact, many older people or those with ailments like arthritis choose swimming as their primary form of exercise because of its gentle nature. Regular swimming also helps build endurance and muscle strength, and it burns a lot of calories at the same time.

Try Interval Swimming
Like interval walking, in which you alternate periods of fast walking with slower recovery periods, interval swimming involves the same process. To begin, swim a few laps to warm up, then swim a lap (or half a lap) as fast as you can (even if it’s not very fast at first). Next, swim slowly to catch your breath and recover. Repeat, alternating fast and slow swimming, working up to a 20-minute workout with intervals as you get fitter. Not only does interval swimming burn more fat and calories than swimming at a steady state, it also keeps your metabolism revved after you’ve stopped. Alternate interval swimming (or interval walking when you can’t swim) with core-strengthening exercises on alternate days and you’ll see a fitter, trimmer body in no time.