When you think about losing weight and the various exercises you can perform, the standards of jogging, aerobics and weightlifting likely come to mind. One exercise many people do not think of that is sometimes even more effective than the standard methods is competitive swimming. Swimming offers one of the most effective all-over body workouts with the least amount of impact, allowing you to exercise without the risk of serious injury.

Weightlessness

If you have tried other exercise programs but have had to quit or delay your efforts due to serious injury, you will love the benefits of swimming. Once your body hits the water, you become weightless, taking away all the aches and pains your body previously felt. This allows you to exercise in the water more frequently than other heavy-duty exercises that wear on your muscles, creating the need to relax to allow the muscles to repair themselves.

Various Strokes

There are a variety of strokes you can perform in the water, each of which burns a different number of calories. If you switch up your routine often, you will give your body the most benefits by working different muscles each time. The various strokes you can perform in the water include the freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, breast stroke and side stroke. Create the perfect routine to incorporate all the strokes into your workout, and you will realize the greatest benefits in your weight loss efforts.

Equipment

Swimming is a sport you can do without any equipment, but if you want to add more intensity to your workout, there are various pieces you could use. If you want to take a break from swimming but still want to work out in the water, water dumbbells are a great way to lift weights while still remaining in the water. If you want to increase the resistance of the water while you are swimming, you can wear aqua fitness gloves to give your upper body a more intense workout. If you want to focus solely on your legs, you can use a kickboard to keep your upper body stable, causing your leg muscles to perform all the work.

There are a variety of competitive swimming methods you can use to achieve your weight loss goals. Whether you have a large amount of weight to lose or you simply want to tone your body, swimming is one of the best exercises you can do. It is appropriate for almost anyone in any health condition and is easy on the body, reducing the risk of serious injury while you meet your health goals.