Three Tips for Swimming and Weight Loss

There’s a weight loss craze sweeping the nation right now – really, when isn’t there? – and shows like NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” are introducing people to the potential for weight loss they already have inside themselves. But weight loss isn’t an easy thing if you’re looking to lose a significant amount of body fat. One way you can make your journey easier is to learn to exercise effectively, and one of the most productive workouts is swimming.

Swimming works both your upper and lower body and acts as a resistance workout because of the difficulty of moving through the water. But simply getting in the pool won’t solve your weight loss problems. Here are some tips for using swimming to achieve healthy weight loss.

Tip #1: Learn full-body strokes.

Some people enjoy a leisurely swim on their back, simply kicking their way through the pool. But if you want to burn the most calories possible during your session, you’ll want to make sure that you use your entire body – or as much as possible. This means using both arms and both legs to propel yourself forward, and twisting and turning your body to work those core muscles when it’s time to head back the other way. Learn three basic swimming strokes so that you aren’t working the same exact muscle groups every single time. This will help you vary your workout and become a better overall swimmer.

Tip #2: Eat plenty of protein.

When you’re swimming, you’ll be building up muscle. This means that you’ll need plenty of protein to replace that muscle, or else you might lose that muscle as part of your overall weight loss. Since the goal is not to lose too much of your lean body mass, and instead lose unhealthy fat, you’ll want to make sure you get plenty of protein to replace the muscle you lose when you work against the resistance of the water. Egg whites and poultry meats make great, lean protein snacks that can help you pack on the muscle while losing the fat.

Tip #3: Get plenty of rest.

It’s one thing to be dedicated to your exercise; it’s another to lose out on improvement because you’re not getting enough rest. Make sure you have plenty of time to sleep – at least eight hours or so – and that you schedule days off strategically. Remember that if you stick to a schedule, a day off doesn’t mean that you’re being lazy; it actually demonstrates patience and discipline to stick to your schedule.

Photo Credits: gabyu

Originally posted 2009-07-29 05:22:14.

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Posted by Bike Swim Run on October 22, 2009 in Health, Swimming. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.