Swimming is a great source of low impact, fast fat burning exercise to carry out for your cardio. In fact, Swimming as full body workout routine is the lowest form of impact cardio readily available to the vast majority of people.
This is so due the the lack of heavy resistances often encountered in most other types of cardio, such as jogging, where large forces are exerted through the body.
These large forces result in an increased recovery
times as opposed to Swimming where recovery times are usually the
fastest.
It is for this reason, we commonly hear of sport persons
using
Swimming pools for rehabilitation from injuries and other such
ailments.
The light resistances in the water give the
individual the opportunity to increase
flexibility and strength in the
injured area.
It is advisable for those who engage in high impact exercise and sports to take a day of cardio in the pool rather than the road or field.
For those wondering does swimming burn fat what you may be pleased to hear is that swimming is ideal in more ways than one. Swimming not only burns calories, but it also builds muscle, primarily to the ab muscles and upper body. Over a period of time this muscle will act as a calorie dispensing machine!
In other words, speeding up your metabolism. So,
for example Currently:
Your consumption -- 2000 Cals
Burn in cardio -- 400 Cals
Metabolism burns -- 1300 Cals
Surplus -- 300Cals
Week 8 of consistent swimming 3 to 4 times per week:
Your consumption -- 2000 Cals
Burn in cardio -- 400 Cals
Metabolism burns -- 1900 Cals
Deficit -- 300Cals
For those trying to aquire their ideal body fat percentage, it is advisable (as with every type of cardio) that it be done for greater than 35 minutes and no more than an hour at a slow to moderate pace for optimal results. As a general guideline, 60 to 70 percent of your maximum effort.
Also, depending on your swimming capabilities, it maybe wise to alternate your style every ten lengths. Whether it be breast stroke, front crawl, backstroke or whatever takes your fancy.
This kind of variation can help to improve your flexibility and strength according to the muscle groups predominately used!
they be truly challenging.
Personally, I have always advocated HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) in every type of Cardio that is orientated around burning Calories and in turn burning fat fast. For swimming my attitude is not different.
The workout in the swimming pool that I find extremely effective is as follows;