Why swimming workouts rock

I often talk to people about their weight woes. My job at the Y puts me in contact with an assortment of folks looking to change their bodies but they are often at a plateau in the weight loss journey. Whenever I listen to their challenges (bad knee, excess tummy fat, sore shoulders etc.) I usually suggest changing their workout routine a bit. I always bring up the option of adding swimming laps to their routine. Everyone, and I mean everyone, pooh-poohs the notion of swimming for exercise. I don't really know why, honestly. There are so many good things about swimming I thought I'd list them here for all to enjoy.

1. Swimming laps in very meditative. No noise. No loud voices, or music, or t.v.'s. Just you, your thoughts and the water.

2. Swimming requires very little workout equipment. Swimsuit, goggles, swim cap, towel. That's it. It saves me a load of laundry because my regular workout clothes get a break.

3. Swimming is a great shoulders, arm, back workout. Lets face it, during the summer months wouldn't you want to be sporting muscular arms, backs and shoulders? All those little cap sleeve tops look much better with toned shoulders and arms.

4. Swimming gives your legs a bit of a break. I do almost all of my laps freestyle, which is about 80% upper body and 20% lower body. So my swim days give my legs (which are usually taking a pounding) a bit of a breather.

5. Swimming widdles your middle. Seriously, if you have tummy flab and just can't shake it, swimming is the answer- plus eating healthy. The motion of swimming strengthens your stomach in ways that I just cannot explain.

6. Swimming is non impact. You can swim with almost any nagging injury and do just fine. Plus, swimming won't give you injuries. Win-win!

7. Swim workouts are quick. Thirty minutes, or even less if you are just beginning.

8. It feels totally awesome to swim faster than the person in the lane next to you. So, if you stick with it long enough you will either get faster or swim next to a very slow floater and they your ego will get a boost as you cruise by the swimmer next to you.

9. Swimming is a good skill to have. Say you are out scuba diving in the ocean and you pop up to the surface after 30 minutes or so and your boat has left you. Now you are 3 miles from shore. Knowing how to swim long distances will come in very handy. So, think of it as a great survival skill.

10. You get to take the most awesome hot shower right after your swim. I love standing under that steaming stream of water for a good 5 minutes as a reward for all of my hard work. BTW, at our local Y the shower stall closest to the pool in the ladies locker room is the best shower of the bunch. The water runs long and hot for at least 5 minutes, the others require you to push that blasted button every thirty seconds or so.

So, there you go. Ten good reasons to add swimming to your repertoire.

Friday

Swimming:

1200 yards

31:05

Saturday

Running:

5 miles

53:08- slow pace today. I felt sick to my stomach and needed to walk about 100 yards at the end. I'm still struggling with eating or not eating before workouts. I haven't come up with a good solution yet.