Swimming to Lose Weight
Boost Metabolism Naturally

Interested in swimming to lose weight? Here is some information about swimming as an exercise that may help you.

Swimming is usually categorized as a cardiovascular type of exercise - which it most definitely is - but less promoted is that it is also an excellent form of resistance/strength exercise. It is this aspect of swimming that makes it a good activity for becoming more fit and losing weight.

Strength training and weight loss go together exceptionally well. This is why swimming to lose weight is a good thing if you enjoy swimming. It is strength training - exercises that use resistance, such as swimming, Pilates or mini trampoline exercise for example - that increase the amount of energy production units in muscle cells.

Having more of these energy production units (called mitochondria) requires more fuel to burn for energy - so more fat is burned as a result.

Another benefit of swimming to lose weight is that when you strengthen muscle, creating more of the energy producing units as just described, your body requires more fuel on a constant basis. That means burning more fuel even while you're sleeping!

Boost metabolism naturally

Swimming is one of many things you can do to boost your metabolism naturally. Because it combines cardiovascular and muscle strengthening types of exercise, you get a "double whammy" when it comes to increasing the efficiency of your metabolism.

Metabolism is all the different processes that nutrients in the food you consume go through to change into new cell tissue and energy. (See "What is metabolism" for a better understanding of what metabolism is and how it works.)

Tips:

• You need to have a regular swimming work out, not just splash around in the water once in awhile. Check out "water aerobics" as a fun but effective water exercise.
• Avoid very cold water, as that can cause you to need and want to eat more after you swim.
• For best results, combine swimming with other physical activities that you enjoy.
• And most important to achieving a healthy weight - learn about healthy and unhealthy eating. There's more to weight loss than the oversimplified "less calories in and more calories out." Giving your body the nutrition it must have in order to function will pay you back in improved health, including weight loss! Check out the Food, Nutrition & Health section on this site to learn more.

In otherwords, swimming to lose weight can be quite effective when you include a healthy diet in your lifestyle!

Cheers,
BB

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