When I look back to when I was a kid, I remember spending summer days in the pool. It was such a blast to go swimming that nobody even thought about how much exercise they were getting. Now that I’m older, I realize that getting back into the swim is a fun way to get exercise and win at weight loss.
What is it about swimming? It just feels good to float, weightless. The rules of gravity on your body don’t apply anymore.
Unlike jogging, water exercises are easy on the joints. The low impact nature of swimming means that problems like joint pain and arthritis will not be aggravated. It feels effortless while you’re doing it but later you realize that you have had a good work out.
One important reason that water exercises are great for adults is that it promotes meeting like minded people. Unlike jogging it’s easier to meet people while in the pool. Having a supportive group of people to share exercise with makes it so much more enjoyable.
You get the same aerobic benefits from swimming that you get from running or stair climbing without the pounding stress on your joints. Add in lowered blood pressure, improved cardiovascular functioning, weight loss and an increase in metabolism and you have an almost perfect exercise.
Your body can also get the same benefits that come with strength training while you’re exercising in water. Dumbbells made of plastic are specifically designed for aquatic exercises. They’re light on land, but work with them in the water, and you’ll feel the difference right away. Pushing and pulling these light dumbbells through the water takes the same effort as working out with iron dumbbells on land. The difference is that you’re not stressing your joints when you’re in the water.
Regardless of doing it in the water or on the land, training for strength brings many benefits. Improved balance, mobility and flexibility all come along with increase in strength. As we all get older, these things become even more important.
Even if you don’t have an exercise routine planned in the water, just plain swimming is an exercise that’s great for anyone. Your core muscles, your lower back and abdominal muscles, are strengthened right along with your arms, shoulders and upper back muscles. Your endurance improves also as you are able to swim for longer and longer periods.
Any form of exercise improves not only the body, but also the mind. With physical activity, the brain releases endorphins, the legal “feel good” substances that help to improve your mood and overall outlook. With the increased oxygen to the brain, your mind is sharper and your thinking is clearer.
Remember how much fun swimming was when you were a child? Remember how well you slept at night after getting such great exercise? Then get back to an exercise that’s fun and good for your health at the same time.
Find out more about an exercise plan that’s right for you. You can visit HealthyLiving411.com for informative articles and reviews to learn about the right weight loss plan for your needs.
Comments on this entry are closed.