We are constantly told to lose weight by exercising more. Well the problem I see with that is if you are overweight then you are already putting excess strain on your body, and in particular your joints, just by walking around. Swimming gets round this as it helps to support your joints as you exercise and is low impact, then once you have lost weight you can move onto higher impact exercises like jogging or playing tennis.

Unlike other forms of exercise, swimming is an activity that can be done throughout just about every time period in your life. Swimming is a great, safe, crosstraining exercise that allows for a great workout without putting the body under too much stress. The muscles in your upper body will get the most workout, followed by your legs, but the whole body is worked to some extent. Water workouts can vary in intensity but do not have the pounding or harsh effects on the joints that can be associated with many land-based exercises.

Going for a swim on a regular basis helps to build overall strength, endurance, and can improve cardiovascular health. As well as being great exercise in itself, then swimming can give you increased flexibility and endurance for when you try other things. Having a short swim before you go for a walk or a jog etc can help you to warm up and get the heart pumping. Or it can be a great way to cool down after a workout too. Making just a few laps can help your body relax, cool down, and get blood flowing to muscle groups quicker, which will aid in repair.

There are a few therapeutic benefits to swimming as well. After a long, stressful day, a nice swim can help relax not only the muscles, but also the mind. Water has been shown to have many calming and soothing effects. Many people let their minds empty as they swim along, letting the floating feeling and gentle rhythm of their strokes wash away their troubles. It is not only relaxing, but as swimmers often set goals on the number of laps they complete then by reaching those goals it helps to develop discipline and raise self-esteem.

So swimming is a great form of exercise for weight loss and weight maintenance. It allows you to burn approximately 3 calories per mile, per pound of bodyweight. So for example, if you weigh 150 pounds, and you swim one mile in half an hour, you will burn about 450 calories. The amount of calories actually burned will of course vary based on the intensity of your workout. But with all of these great health benefits, swimming may just be the perfect workout!

If you are looking to lose weight then check out this article on overcoming a weight loss plateau.

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It’s happening again, the same as it does every year. The weather turns hot and people rush to buy affordable above ground swimming pools for their back gardens.

When the temperatures begin to rise, as they’ve been doing in the recent heat wave, people’s thoughts, naturally, turn toward ways that they can stay cool. SWimming pool suppliers struggle to cope with the increased demand.

This results in a list of customers who must wait for more swimming pools to be delivered. Something that is often overlooked is that the high demand at this time of year will often push the prices up.

What many people don’t realise is that the price of swimming pools in the off-season (winter) can often be incredibly low. This is the time of year when swimming pool suppliers do the least business and they will often offer exceptional discounts. It is well known in the swimming pool industry that various popular brands, like doughboy pools, are around 30% more expensive during the peak months of April, May and June than they are during January, February and March.

Another good reason to buy early is construction. There are many models of above ground swimming pools that can be easily constructed without any special skills. Some models of above ground swimming pool are best constructed by an experienced pool construction team. Inevitably these guys are always exceptionally busy during the peak months. This is another good reason why you should plan ahead and get your swimming pool during the off-peak season.

A few other considerations to bear in mind when thinking about swimming pool for your garden:

• Don’t overlook the need for swimming pool water treatment chemicals.
• Remember that you will also potentially need a good pool pump and filter system.
• It is a good idea to get the biggest pool that you can afford.
• Always get some advice from a reputable swimming pool supplier who has a lot of experience with above ground pools.

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