If your New Year’s resolution is to lose weight and get fit, you are not alone, it is a common theme among adults of any age. If you’re not ready for strenuous exercise, don’t worry. There is still a way to increase your strength levels and lose weight, all while having fun at the same time: swimming! Find out why indoor pools are great places to start your fitness journey.
Why swim in indoor pools?
Swimming is great exercise (more on that later), but if you live in a cold climate, it can be difficult to find a place to swim without feeling like you’re taking part in a polar bear dive! However, indoor pools have temperature controls, which can help ensure that it is not too cold or too hot when you exercise. Look for one with hot water and full dressers to make sure your hair is completely dry before heading outside.
Also, look for indoor pools that have convenient open hours for swimming so it’s easy to fit exercise into your busy schedule. When times are convenient, it is more difficult to find an excuse to stop exercising.
Swimming burns a lot of calories
When you are trying to lose weight, it is basic math. Your calories should be less than the calories your body uses. Swimming is great exercise because it can burn a lot of calories. Actual calorie burn can vary based on what stroke you’re doing, so if you’re unsure how many you’re burning in the pool, consider purchasing a heart rate monitor. Make sure you find one that is designed to be worn in the water so as not to damage you, and look for one that uses a chest strap to accurately track how many calories you’ve burned.
Swimming is ideal for people with injuries or physical limitations
If you are very overweight or your joints are in poor condition, running, biking, or even walking can be difficult. However, swimming is a perfect exercise. The water takes up to 90% of your body’s pressure off your joints so you can swim without worrying about pain. In addition, the water reduces the possibility of injury.
Swimming is great for the muscles
When you ride a bike or run, the only muscles that are exercised are the legs! However, when you are swimming, your whole body moves. The resistance that water provides helps build muscle throughout the body, but especially in the quads, triceps, and pecs. This full-body workout can help ensure that your lower body doesn’t overdevelop, neglecting your upper body. Resistance also acts like a natural weight, which means you won’t need to waste any more time lifting weights. When you eliminate resistance training and cardio at the same time, you maximize your efficiency and spend less time exercising.
If you are looking for a great way to burn calories but are concerned about physical limitations, there is nothing better than swimming in indoor pools. Make this the year that you truly fulfill your New Year’s resolution to get fit or lose weight and look for local indoor pools that can help make this happen.