If you know and love swimming, then it is perhaps the best and most enjoyable way to lose weight. Swimming gives the entire body a good workout which is why it is acknowledged as a superior form of cardiovascular exercise. Also, with swimming, you tend not to injure yourself. You can swim as rapidly as you like or as leisurely as you like – swimming can definitely help you lose weight.
What are the Health Benefits of Swimming?
American Heart Association says that just half to one hour of swimming daily can help you lose weight at the rate of several pounds in a month; provided of course, you don’t binge on food. Unlike most other forms of cardio, swimming provides a full body workout. Physicians say that individuals with joint pain can also benefit from slow swimming. The gentle movement of the limbs supported by water exercises the joints and improves blood circulation around the joints.
Swimming to lose weight
If you haven’t been swimming on a regular basis, then it would be best to do tiny laps followed by rest of equal intervals. Each day increase the lap distance by 30% and number of laps by a third until you are swimming at least for one hour with just one or two tiny rest intervals. Intensity is the key in swimming to lose weight.
Eat before or after swimming?
Does not matter! If you need to eat before swimming do so but make it a small meal. Don’t worry about cramps or not having energy to swim. There will be enough blood and energy in your body to do some pretty intensive swimming. Also, the meal before the swim can be high in carbohydrates so that you have a quicker release of energy. Fruit is best.
After swimming you can have a regular meal. However, if you are huffing and puffing, it might be best to relax a bit before you tuck in.
Does swimming lead to weight loss or weight gain?
Some of our readers wrote to us saying that they knew of people who claimed they gained weight after swimming. The reality is that any exercise will make you hungry. Whether you exercise control over yourself or not will determine whether you lose weight or gain weight. Why blame the exercise?
In a research conducted by the University of Florida, they found that some of the participants had their appetites stimulated probably as a combination of the exercise and the cold water temperatures. The fact that they felt ravenously hungry indicates that a massive amount of energy was spent. If you exercise control and have a regular balanced meal after swimming (as against binging), you will definitely end up losing weight proving beyond doubt, that swimming helps you lose weight.