The last time I was at my doctor’s office, the topic
was my struggle with weight. I was
explaining that
I am a swimmer and that I swim three times a week for 1200 yards at a good speed. He floored me when
he told me that I can’t lose weight by swimming. I was waiting for him to give me some-
thing about swimming that was positive but he was silent. I was discouraged until I read this article
on the Benefits of Swimming:
It Counts as Both Cardio and Strength Training
In swimming, if you aren't moving constantly,
you're sinking. (Forced cardio!) Plus, water is about 800
times denser than
air.
It's Easy on the Impact
Yes, the low impact means swimming is a great
workout for injured athletes, who need to take it easy
on their joints. But it may also mean more results: "You can swim at higher intensities on a regular
basis without feeling
wear and tear on your body," Walton says. You could have a super-hard workout
one day and still be in the
pool the next, he says. Bonus: in the International Journal of Sports Medicine
shows swimming is better than straight-up rest for exercise recovery, for when you want to take it easy.
Benefits of Swimming:
It's Great for Your Lungs
When your face is under water, oxygen is at a premium.
In turn, your body adapts to use oxygen more
efficiently, Walton says. Plus, it learns to take in more fresh air with every
breath, and expel more
carbon dioxide with every exhalation. A study
in the Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
even found that swimmers had better tidal volume (the amount of air that moves in and out of
the lungs during relaxed breathing) compared to runners. This results in lower resting heart rates,
lower blood pressure, and, as you'll
see next, better running performance.
It Slashes Major Stress
While exercise-induced
endorphins will do wonders for your stress levels, getting in the water for
your
workout may have its own special brand of mood-boosting benefits, Walton says.
Being submerged in
water dulls the amount of sensory information that bombards your body, helping
to bring on feelings of
calm, according to a study published in Pain Research & Management.
Researchers found that regular
flotation tank sessions were effective
at relieving symptoms in patients suffering from conditions related
to chronic stress. No wonder you love
soaking in the bathtub.
It Turns Back the Clock
Regular swimmers are biologically 20 years
younger than their driver's licenses say they are, according
to research from Indiana University. Scientists say that, even up until your
70th birthday, swimming
affects blood pressure, cholesterol levels, cardiovascular performance, central
nervous system health,
cognitive functioning, muscle mass, and blood chemistry to be much more similar
to that of your
younger self. Who needs night cream?
It Hits Otherwise
Underworked Muscles
"You don't sit at your desk with your
arms over your head," Walton says. But when you're in the
pool, your arms are all over the place, meaning you need to work
your often-neglected lats,
deltoids, and traps, he says. And we
know you aren't targeting those when you're on a bike or
pounding the pavement. Plus, since so much of swimming is about staying balanced and level in the
water (while both your arms and legs are moving, mind you), swimming helps you develop the deep
stabilizing muscles in your core and lower back that women often miss.
It Makes You Smarter
Blood flow to the brain increased by up to 14
percent when men submerged themselves in water up to
their hearts, according to a Journal of Physiology study. Researchers
believe water's pressure on the
chest cavity may have something to do with it, and they are now studying whether
water-based workouts
improve blood flow to the brain better than do land-based ones.
Hmm…I feel vindicated! I will
continue swimming knowing that maybe I won’t lose weight but
I have all these benefits! So, there dear doctor! I will be seeing his nurse practitioner for
weight issues
at least she is sensitive to such things.
