Swimming for Exercise?

 There are a great many benefits to owning a pool of your own. One of the major ones, however, is that you have an easy way to exercise right in your own back yard. If you bought your pool with the intention of losing weight and getting in shape, you’ll be glad to know that swimming is a highly effective exercise. It’s low impact, burns major calories, and can work all parts of the body. Even better yet, there are many tips you can follow for an even more effective exercise experience.  

Tip #1: Gradually Increase Your Swimming Time

Depending on your weight and other factors, an hour of swimming can burn as much as 700 calories! And, the more you swim, the more calories you can burn. However, even just one hour of swimming daily can make a big impact. Of course, if you’re new to swimming, doing a full hour all at once can be tough. However, you can gradually work your way up to an hour and then more. Swim for as long as you can on your first attempt. Then, set a goal to add anywhere from one to five minutes to your swimming time the next day. Keep adding on time and, before you know it, swimming for an hour will be no sweat.

Tip #2: Vary Your Strokes

Most swimmers have a stroke that they prefer. It’s often the one that comes naturally to them, that feels the most comfortable, and that requires the least work. However, for a truly effective workout that targets various parts of the body, you should include a variety of strokes in your swimming sessions.  This will also keep you from getting bored and enable you to enjoy your workouts more. And, the more you enjoy exercising, the more likely you are to keep doing it.

Tip #3: Push Yourself

While slow and easy swimming is fine when you’re just starting out, eventually you’ll need to push yourself to get real results. Try to pick up the pace each day that you swim. The faster you swim, the more you’ll raise your heart rate, which can increase calorie burn. A good timer or a friend willing to time you can help you to ensure you’re gradually increasing in speed.

Swimming regularly is one of the best things you can do for your health and your body. And, with a pool of your own, you have no excuses. So, get out there, work hard, and then enjoy the results!