Swimming

Benefits of Fitness Swimming

Swimming is one of the most complete forms of exercise and can be enjoyed by people of all ages and proficiency levels.

It builds the body, soothes the mind, regulates breathing, and stimulates circulation, with no stress on bones and joints. Because swimming uses almost all the major muscle groups, it can develop strength and endurance while improving posture and flexibility. By placing vigorous demand on heart and lungs swimming is also an extraordinary aerobic exercise that improves cardiovascular conditioning.

• Finally, with the least amount of joint stress/impact, swimming has the lowest risk of injury of all sports.
• Enjoy safe swimming and always consult with your physician to see if swimming is right for you.

 

Safe Swimming Tips

Regular swimming builds endurance, muscle strength, stamina, and cardiovascular fitness. Fitness swimming can burn more calories than running or cycling. Follow these tips to maximize your workout:

• Plan your swimming routine to build strength and endurance (for example try swimming a series of sprints followed by brief rests).
• Before you start swimming take a few minutes to warm up by stretching your arms and shoulders, chest, lower back, and legs.
• Relax and focus on the rhythm of your stroke and breathing.
• Alternate different strokes to work different muscle groups.
• Once you finish swimming, cool down gradually.
• Drink plenty of fluids before and after your workout.
• Never swim alone.
• HomeSwimmer® is not a life saving device and it is not intended for use as a learning device.

Swimming - A great way to burn calories

With regard to weight loss, fitness swimming gives you the best aerobic workout with the least amount of joint stress or impact. A 1993 study conducted for the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, N.J. found that in a given amount of time competitive swimmers burn 25 percent more calories swimming all out than competitive runners do when running all out. For non-competitive swimmers, the amount of calories burned during a swimming routine will vary based on their weight, the intensity of their workout, conditioning level, and metabolism. The links below will provide comparative information about calories burned for different types of activities.

Activity (1 hour)	130 lbs	155 lbs	190 lbs
Running, 10-min mile	590	704	863
Swimming laps, freestyle, vigorous effort	590	704	863
Calisthenics, (push-ups, sit-ups), vigorous effort	472	563	690
Running in place	472	563	690
Swimming laps, freestyle, light-moderate effort	472	563	690
Aerobics, high impact	413	493	604
Bicycling, stationary moderate effort	413	493	604
Tennis, general	413	493	604
Aerobics, general	354	422	518
Stair treadmill ergometer, general	354	422	518
Aerobics, low impact	295	352	431
Calisthenics, home, light-moderate effort	266	317	388
Bicycling, 10 mph leisure	236	281	345
Walking, 4 mph, very brisk pace	236	281	345

Source. Nutristrategy.com

Activity (1 hour)	100 lbs	150 lbs	200 lbs
Running, 5.5 mph	440	660	962
Swimming, 50 yds/min	325	500	650
Walking, 4.5 mph	295	440	572
Tennis, singles	265	400	535
Bicycling, 12 mph	270	410	534
Bicycling, 6 mph	160	240	312

Source. American Heart Association

 

Swimming Stats

Swimming is commonly recognized as one of the best forms of exercise there is. It provides most of the aerobic benefits that running does, with many of the benefits of resistance training.

• Swimming uses almost all the major muscle groups and places vigorous demand on the heart and lungs. It develops muscle strength and endurance, and improves posture and flexibility. Most importantly, swimming is a low-impact form of exercise that people of all ages and levels of fitness can take up.
• In fact, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, 95.3 million Americans aged 6 and older enjoyed recreational swimming in 2004, the highest number among all fitness-related recreational activities.
• In the case of fitness swimming, the number of Americans aged 6 and older who participated at least once in this activity during 2004 is 15.6 million, a 10.6% increase over 2000.  Within this group, the number of frequent participants (100 days or more) is 2.5 million in 2004 up 20% from 2000.
• The average age of the frequent swimmer is 35.2, household income is $71,000, and he/she has been swimming for an average of 11.4 years.

 

 

Online Shopping              Your Cart

‚ Your HomeSwimmer works wonders & We will now only use our swim-jet to relax our muscles after a good workout with your HomeSwimmer‚

More testimonials >>