Want to Lose Weight? Swim!

If you’re looking to shed some pounds, the best place to look may be the one that’s most often overlooked – the swimming pool! Swimming is fun, relaxing, and also a fantastic way to get in shape. Swimming in an above ground lap pool means a ton of exercise for you without having to go to the gym. Investing in the Fitmax iPool, which is designed for resistance swimming, can let you swim at your speed and boost your cardiovascular system with none of the joint stress and impact. But no matter what kind of pool you choose, it can help you lose weight. Here is some advice to get you started:

• You don’t want to find yourself splashing around, so try these swimming styles. The most difficult swimming style is the butterfly stroke. This is when you are moving your arms in a windmill motion. Start by stretching your arms out in front of you, with your thumbs touching. Pull your arms to your waist and when they get close, bring them out of the pool and over the top of your head. While doing that, do a dolphin kick. Yes, that’s a lot of work, but it will pay off. An average size person swimming the butterfly stroke can burn over 700 calories in an hour.

• For an easier swim style, try the classics. The backstroke can burn just under 500 calories after an hour of swimming. To perform a backstroke, lie face up in the water and alternate arm strokes as you flutter kick. If you want to switch it up, flip over and face down towards the water. Move your head from side to side as you are alternating your arm strokes. Flutter kick like with the backstroke, and after an hour you will have burned almost 700 calories if you were going fast, or just under 500 if you were going slowly. This swimming style is called the front crawl.

So what are you waiting for? Hop in the pool and get your swimming style set!