When it comes to weight loss, it really is all about finding the set of things that suit you best and give you the motivation and enthusiasm to keep going. If you aren’t the kind or person who likes the idea of slaving away at the gym or going to exercise classes, then something that might appeal to you is swimming. It’s one of my favourite forms of exercise, so perhaps it might turn out to be one of yours too! Here is how to swim your way to weight loss success.
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1. Diet
It is important to get your diet right when engaging in a regular swimming routine. Being in colder water for a long time and using lots of energy is a combination to make for a very hungry human being. You need to be strict with yourself about what you choose to snack on after a swim. It’s tempting to ‘reward’ yourself with a junky treat after a hard swim, but the only way to lose weight successfully is to get your laps in and then stick to healthy foods that will boost your metabolism and burn fat.
2. Calorie Burning
The maths go like this: you need to burn 3500 calories in order to lose a single pound of body weight. In order to get these numbers achieved regularly, you should be aiming to swim for a minimum of 2.5 hours per week, even more if you want to be head of the class! To burn 3500 calories, you need to swim for roughly 7 hours, so bear that in mind when arranging your swimming schedule for the week or the month.
Frequently asked questions
3. Which Stroke?
To be honest, if you are in the pool at all, you are doing a good thing, but if you really want to maximise your time swimming, then butterfly is the most active and taxing stroke. When doing proper butterfly, you can burn as much as 150 calories in ten minutes! Of course, it is the most effective because it is the most difficult to execute, so if you are just starting out, then freestyle forward crawl is the perfect place to begin.
4. Interval Training
You know how HIIT is one of the best forms of exercise on dry ground? Well, it is pretty much the same for when you are in the water! Have a go at doing two or three really hard laps, then five or six moderate ones. Keep up with this rhythm and your metabolism will receive a major boost along with effective calorie burning.
