Swimming To Lose Weight - A Few Facts You Should Know

If you're wondering whether swimming is the right cardio workout for you to do in order to lose weight, this article is perfect for you. There are a few studies regarding the effectiveness of swimming for weight loss and how it compares to other cardiovascular workouts for the purposes of weight loss.

Let me start by saying that swimming is a wonderful sport. It works your entire body and combines cardiovascular stimulation with a strength one. There's no doubt that you can build a great looking body by swimming regularly. You only need to look at the stunning body of competitive swimmers to see how effective this workout can be.

If you like swimming then I highly recommend that you do it. I always favor doing workouts that you enjoy. It's more likely that you'll do more powerful and consistent workouts that way.

However, if you're not particularly partial to swimming and you just want to know which cardio workout is most effective for weight loss, you should know that there are a number of studies which show that swimming may not be the best choice for losing weight.

The reasons why swimming may be less effective for weight loss than walking or running is unclear. There are some theories but none has been proven. One likely reason may have little to do with the workout itself and a lot to do with what goes on afterward.

It seem that people who swim tend to eat more after their workout is completed than those who perform other sorts of cardiovascular workouts. This is something which is called post workout compensation and it refers to the fact that you can undo much of the effects of a workout by consuming too many calories afterward. Basically, if a particular workout tends to make you hungrier than others and if you burn a similar number of calories in each, then this is not the best workout for weight loss.

This tendency to overcompensate seems to be connected to the temperature of the water in which you swim. Swimming in cold water tends to make people hungrier than swimming in warm water does.

Does this mean that you shouldn't swim at all if you want to lose weight?

Not at all. As I said, is swimming is your thing then do it. You can lose weight with it. However, you may see faster results with other forms of cardio workouts.

To learn more about this issue visit Swimming For Weight Loss Research.

To learn more about how to not "undo" your workouts visit Post Workout Compensation Tips.

Jonathan Dunsky writes about health and fitness issues.

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Swimming Pools Offer Great Aerobic And Weight Loss Benefits

There are times, when it's so hot and humid in the summer when you simply can't bring yourself to get outside and exercise. If you have a swimming pool in your own backyard though, you can exercise no matter how hot it gets! Whether you're looking to swim for recreation or for exercise it's a great way to undertake a workout even when the sun is high in the sky. Swimming is a great way to get a cardio workout and build endurance. Even individuals who suffer back, hip, knee pain or deal with arthritis or other painful joint issues. In a swimming pool, the buoyancy relieves the stress on the swimmer's joints and muscles but swimming offers great resistance and allows you to get a great workout in a short amount of time.

Swimming routines provide the same aerobic results as running or walking, all without stressing your knees, legs or back. Additionally, when you're swimming you're working to strengthen your shoulder and back muscles as well as your abs, heart and lungs.

Individuals who commit to a regular swimming routine will quickly enhance cardiovascular fitness, build endurance, increase lung capacity and tone your body as well. Because the resistance you feel in the water is more than the resistance you encounter in the air - ie if you're running or walking - your muscles have to work harder but because of the buoyancy of the water, you do it in a way that doesn't put harmful impact on your joints. Additionally, swimming will improve your body's overall circulation.

Try out various swim strokes for your work out, try to change it up every time you swim or change it up every few laps and work on the breaststroke, freestyle strokes and the backstroke. As with any type of workout, you want to begin your workout with a five to 10 minute warm up of water walking. If you're a beginning swimmer, you should plan your workouts for intervals of 15 to 20 minutes several times a week.

As a weight loss regimen swimming will help you lose weight as the activity burns as many calories per hour as if you'd run for six miles in one hour. Add to the calorie-burning mix, swimming is a relaxing exercise as well and many people find it to be a great time to meditate and help relieve the stresses of the day.

Robbi Hess is a writer/editor/blogger with more than 20 years experience as a writer on assignment. She is a professional writer on assignment who has served on the staff of newspapers, magazines and with book publishers. You can see more about her at http://www.robbihess.com/.

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