Swim Your Way to a Fitter Lifestyle

I wish I could swim that well...

When I was growing up (many years ago) I was told that swimming is the best form of exercise that you can get because you use pretty much every muscle that you have. Now, I can't remember who said this to me and I don't have the medical background to prove this but it's something that I've always believed. I guess it's common sense - as you move through the water you need to use your arms, legs, core muscles, back muscles, neck...you get the picture. As exercise goes, it works for me and for the many people who swim to stay in shape. So, as an enthusiastic, amateur swimmer how can I convince you to swim your way to a fitter lifestyle? Here are 5 reasons why you should go swimming.

1. You feel like you've achieved something. There's no doubt that when I've been for a morning swim I feel good for the rest of the day. It's the feeling of having exercised that stays with you and makes you feel good about yourself.
2. It's non-weight bearing. Running, walking and cycling to a lesser extent are all weight bearing forms of exercise that put strain on your joints. Swimming is a non-weight bearing activity and so your joints don't suffer in the same way. That's not to say that running, walking and cycling are bad for you - any form of exercise is better than none at all - but if you do have concerns about your ankles, knees and hips then maybe swimming would be a good option for you.
3. It's inexpensive. You don't need any equipment (other than swimwear to hide your modesty!!) and the cost of a swim is only a few pounds at a time. Less if you become a member of your local pool.
4. You can go at a pace that suits you. You're not in competition with anyone and it's not like the gym where things can get a bit competitive. You'll be in a pool with likeminded people who generally just want to go at their own pace and swim to their own capability. So, if you're concerned that you'll look out of place then my advice is don't be - get down to your local pool and give it a go. If you can only swim a short distance (maybe half a length) then that's OK - if you continue to practice you'll be suprised at just how quickly you improve and how much your confidence will increase.
5. It can fit into your daily routine. Most swimming pools are open throughout the day, starting early in the morning to late into the evening. Therefore, it's relatively easy to fit a swim into your routine - whether it's first thing in the morning; after you've taken the kids to school; your lunch time; or sometime later in the day you should be able to find time for a quick swim (remember you don't have to swim for hours - 20 minutes at a time is OK).

There are lot's of other convincing arguments for swimming as a way of keeping in shape but the ones listed above seem to be relevant to most people that I know. The thing is, if you recognise that you need to get fitter then you'll probably try a number of different activities until you find something that suits you - I guess that the main thing that I want to say is that don't discount swimming and don't let any bad childhood experiences of swimming (we've all had them) put you off. Give swimming a go and, like me and everyone else involved with this blog, you might be hooked for life.