When people think of exercise, things like perspiration dripping down your face, being out of breath, and “no pain, no gain” come to mind. While breaking a sweat is good, and working your body out and feeling “good” pain is also good, one exercise really doesn’t feel so much like “exercise” in the above sense at all. One of my all-time favorite activities is swimming.

Swimming Tip: Non-Weight Bearing

Swimming is great because it is non-weight bearing, meaning most people, even people who are overweight and out of shape can likely swim without causing further injuries. As with any exercise regimen, it is important that you consult with your doctor first to determine appropriateness, and if you have injuries, you may want to talk to your doctor about physical therapy. In fact, I know people who have benefited greatly from “aqua therapy” which is a form of physical therapy and exercise in a pool.

Swimming Tip: Enjoy the Cool

The nice thing about swimming, especially in hot weather is you can exercise and burn calories while staying cool–doesn’t that sound great? Also, swimming encourages you to stretch and work your core muscles–your abdomen and chest. To start out, try swimming  for 10 minutes, then gradually increase your time to 15 and then 20, etc. Start timing yourself–as you swim more, like any other activity, you should be getting “better” or quicker. You may want to start with 10 laps one day, and see how long it takes you at your normal pace. Try again in a few days and again in a couple weeks. Your time should be slightly better. The idea isn’t to overdo it, but you want to push yourself to improve.

Swimming Tip: Plan Your Pool Spots

If you don’t have a pool or live in a community with a pool, consider joining a YMCA or other facility with a pool–many in colder climates have indoor pools, which are really nice in the winter months, when exercise outside is tougher because of cold winds, snow, and ice. Surprisingly, even in Florida, outdoor pools can become quite chilly during the winter months if they aren’t heated. If you are looking to join a facility, finding out if they heat their outdoor pool in winter is an important consideration, even in South Florida. Getting into an 85 degree pool on a 45 degree morning is a lot easier than getting into a 65 or 70 degree pool! I know people who have rented in communities or joined gyms in Florida because of the beautiful outdoor pool, only to learn come November that it really isn’t usable for several months of the year because the unheated water is too cold! Imagine their disappointment!

“Neptune Pool” by Jim Epler. Hearst Castle, CA*

Also, when I travel, I like to find hotels that have pools that are accessible to guests. In cities, and in colder climates, this can be more of a challenge, but a number of places offer indoor pools or have arrangements with nearby health clubs for their guests. If fitness is an important part of your life, like it is mine, and you are planning to travel, do your homework by checking the websites of hotels you are considering, and then call the hotel and confirm that the pool is in fact open and accessible (hours, etc). I have found that sometimes a pool may be seasonal, or even under renovation, so the phone call is worth it to find out information they may have left out on the website. Especially after a long day of walking around or doing business in the city, a nice swim can do wonders to restore me.

Swimming Tip: Choose Your Water

Being able to put on a bathing suit and swim is beneficial to our mood, our skin, and to our circulation. Water has been shown to have a rejuvenating and healing effect. I have personally found that pools with “salt-based” chlorination systems are preferable to those with chlorine. When we are traveling, it is hard to be picky, a pool is better than no pool, especially if it is clean and the water temperature is right, but the salt systems are much less harsh than straight chlorine, and better for your skin, hair, and eyes. If I had a choice, I would always choose a pool with this type of system. In any event, if you swim, regardless of the type of chlorination system, I recommend applying moisturizing lotion to protect your skin after showering off as being in any water for an extended period of time depletes the natural oils that protect and keep our skin moist.

Fred Bollaci Swimming Tip (the tip that’ll make a difference!)

If you are overweight like I was, I understand if you are reluctant to put on a bathing suit and swim, especially in public. However, once I finally did (I was still substantially overweight), I saw how my self-consciousness limited my ability to enjoy life and to exercise. Don’t think that you have to be in great shape to put on a bathing suit and swim–lots of people swim and wear bathing suits, all shapes and sizes–if you want to get in better shape, make up your mind to start moving and to try a new activity. Swimming is one of my favorites, especially when combined with other activities, such as walking, running, bike riding, and lifting weights. The combination of different activities you may be able to do keeps your body on its toes and striving to get more fit.

So what are you waiting for? Give swimming a chance, you’ll be glad you did!

*Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikipedia.