Monday, May 21, 2012

Swim to be Trim and Slim

Swimming is definitely not built for the aqua phobic. However, if you love the water, it’s a sport you must not miss out. Apart from the fact that it passes away time and helps you relax, swimming also helps you exercise and stay fit. It can also help you lose weight. It can help you slip into that little black dress you’ve always wanted or on that pair of jeans you’ve longed for.

Here a few tips and reasons to make swimming work on your weight and exercise.

  • Consider your physical condition.


Unlike other sports, swimming welcomes anybody with limited physical conditions. People with disabilities can still perform swimming. Having joint problems such as arthritis also does not limit you from doing swimming as well as being overweight. Swimming has been proven to benefit people with these kinds of conditions. However, if you have heart problems, consult your physician before engaging in swimming as your form of exercise so that he can give you the do’s and don’ts and to monitor your heart rate.

  • Always do the warm-ups.


As important as with any other exercise, swimming requires you to perform warm-ups. In this way, injury can be avoided and to condition your body prior to swimming. Start with stretching your arms and legs and down to your waist by leaning backward and bending forward. Then work on stretching the muscles of your central body. After having your body warmed up, do the leg kicks in the pool. Prior to swimming, avoid eating huge meals to avoid cramps.

  • Equip yourself.


Before you start with your swimming it’s very important to have the basic equipment such as a comfortable swimsuit, swimming goggles and swim cap to protect your hair from the constant exposure to the pool’s chlorine. As you progress with your swimming, certain equipments can help you develop and tone muscles. Kickboards and fins can help strengthen your leg muscles and your lower body while hand paddles and pull-buoy works on your arm and shoulder muscles and the rest of your upper body. Flotation belts also help you work on your heart rate through aqua jogging.

  • You sow what you reap.


Yes, with swimming you’ll surely be getting the benefits as long as you practice it. Be sure that while swimming you don’t work on only one stroke. Use the different strokes such as backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle, sidestroke, doggy paddle and butterfly, and don’t forget to alternate. This would work at all the different major muscles in the body from your arms, legs, shoulders, back, and abdominal muscles. Constant movement in the water also burns calories. So keep moving. However, if you need to rest get a drink of water. Then go back to your routine.

  • You are what you eat.


It has been studied that swimming in cool temperature increases your appetite in comparison to land exercises. So it’s very important to watch your meals after swimming. Be careful that you don’t overeat after you swim and watch those calories. A swimming routine exercise won’t be as beneficial if you won’t watch on your diet.

  • Consistency translates to success.


Apart from watching what you eat, swimming just like any other sports does not show its effects overnight. You have to be consistent with your swimming. Work on it three times a week then increase if you have to. With this, you can constantly burn those calories and build those body muscles.

Once you’ve adapted these, in no time you will be having the toned body that you’ve always been longing for. Swimming in comparison to other sports works on all the major body muscles without the strenuous impact required with other sports. It gives you the cardiovascular benefits while strengthening on your muscles and working on your flexibility. So if you’re looking for the most relaxing way to be trim and slim, go for a swim.

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