Swim it out!

With so many exercise crazes out there these days, it's hard to know which one would work best for you without, well, just trying them! And that's ok! Exercise should be fun, keep you moving and be something you look forward to, not loathe....
If you're the outdoors type, grab your bike or take a hike! Love to be social? Join a gym or take a group fitness class. More the do it yourself"er"type, working out at home can be just as beneficial, with a jump rope, an exercise tape, free weights, yoga, your own equipment, the possiblities are endless!!
AND don't forget about a great way to get that exercise in this Summer....THE POOL! When you're at your local pool this morning, sunning yourself on that pool deck and enjoying that latest trashy novel.....jump right in and take a few laps! Swimming is so beneficial to your cardiovascular healthy, not to mention, good on your joints! NO heavy impact means no knees. legs, ankles being pounded into the hard ground like some exercises can do.

Here are some other wonderful facts about swimming from our friends at Swim.org:

Here are a few more health and fitness facts you may not know about swimming:

• Because water is about 800 times denser than air, you can work harder, and burn more calories, in a pool than out of it
• Female swimmers have been shown to experience significantly less tension, depression and anger after exercising than before.
• At least one in six people in Britain suffer from depression at any one time - rhythmic and aerobic forms of exercise such as swimming can improve psychological well being.
• Swimming can support up to 90% of the body’s weight in the water, meaning that those with disabilities, injuries or illnesses such as arthritis can take part in a comfortable and safe environment. It also means you gain a full body workout.
• The support of the water for arthritis sufferers allows less painful movements in affected joints as well as toning up the supporting muscles. Swimming can also reduce the risk of arthritis by helping to retain normal muscle strength and joint structure.
• Taking part in physical activity such as swimming can prevent diseases and conditions that cause loss of function in later life.
• Different swimming strokes challenge different muscles within the body so you can choose where you tone up.
• The pressure of water causes a shift of blood volume from the periphery of the body to the thorax. This increases venal pressure and so leads to a decrease in heart rate of up to 20bpm lower in water than on land. The same intensity of exercise at a lower heart rate. Only in the pool!

DID YOU KNOW?? Many people cycle or run to get fit but don't think of swimming as another major route to a heathlier lifestyle. What a mistake.
Even a gentle swim can burn over 200 Kcal in half an hour and a fast front crawl can burn as many calories as an 8mph run? It is true.

So get out there, get moving and maybe take the plunge into that POOL!!