| Have you taken up swimming as an exercise to help | | | | Australian Institute of Sport pointed out that |
| you to lose weight? If you are, you are not alone | | | | competitive swimmers typically have body fat levels |
| because most people think that swimming is effective | | | | that are higher than those of runners or cyclists who |
| way to tone muscles and lose weight. This is why the | | | | expend a similar amount of energy when they train. |
| public swimming pools everywhere are always | | | | Why is that so? This is because swimmers feel |
| packed in the evenings and on weekends. | | | | hungry after swimming and may simply replace all the |
| Before I disappoint you, I must first declare that I am | | | | calories they have burned with a large meal and a |
| not against swimming. On the contrary, I swim regularly | | | | sugar laden drink after their swim. |
| for the sake of my cardiovascular health. | | | | On top of that, they may even consume more calories |
| However, some research seem to suggest that | | | | than they have used up. |
| swimming is not an effective way to lose weight and | | | | "Some research suggests that this is due to the cool |
| in fact, one can even gain weight with swimming. | | | | temperatures in which swimmers often train in and by |
| Getting more bewildering eh? | | | | contrast, runners and cyclists usually experience an |
| Swimming is considered by many as one of the best | | | | increase in body temperature during their training |
| exercises to lose weight and to tone muscles because | | | | sessions, which may help to suppress appetite." |
| when you swim, most of your muscles are called into | | | | Professor Burke said. |
| action and you are actually having a full body workout. | | | | Professor Burke also noted that competitive |
| Furthermore, swimming also has an aerobic effect and | | | | swimmers are less active when not in training |
| so the heart and lungs are getting their dose of | | | | sessions. The swimmers are so tired from the hours |
| exercise as well. | | | | of intensive training that they sleep, relax or avoid any |
| However, a research published in the American Journal | | | | active physical activities outside their training sessions. |
| of Sports Medicine demostrated that in the absence | | | | Deja vu? Do you feel tired and sleepy after a swim? |
| of a controlled diet, swimming has little or no effect on | | | | Now, let's talk about toning muscles. Do note that most |
| weight loss. | | | | of the work your body does when swimming involves |
| Professor Grant Gwinup conducted an experiment | | | | positive muscle actions and no negative action and we |
| correlating swimming with weight loss and came up | | | | know all know that the negative phase, that is, when |
| with surprising results.a) Test subjects put in a cycling | | | | lowering the weights during weight training is very |
| program lost 19 pounds in a 90 days study.b) Those | | | | important in building muscles. |
| following a walking program lost 17 pounds in the same | | | | So can your muscles develop properly when only the |
| period.c) Now, brace yourself for this! Subjects in the | | | | positive muscles are worked on? By the way, before |
| swimming program actually gained extra 5 pounds! | | | | you say that competitive swimmers have nice muscle |
| Did the findings shock you? I couldn't believe what I | | | | tone, that is because they lift weights to maintain |
| was reading when I first came across the report. | | | | muscle balance as well as to gain strength for more |
| Professor Gwinup then assumes that swimming in cold | | | | powerful strokes. |
| water stimulates the appetite to increase caloric | | | | Please, do not give up swimming if you enjoy the |
| consumption. Do you feel hungry after a swimming | | | | sport. Doing any exercise is better than not exercising |
| session? If you do, then professor could be right. | | | | at all. Just make sure that you don't eat more or |
| Professor Louise Burke, Head of Nutrition at the | | | | become more less active after your invigorating swim. |