YAHOO! LIFE – Let’s be honest: When January 1 hits, we’re usually left with a few extra pounds that we’re not exactly excited about.
The good news is that maintaining a healthy weight doesn’t have to be difficult. It simply requires mixing up your exercise routine.
The One Workout That Will Help Prevent Weight Gain
Experts agree the best exercise to prevent weight gain is swimming. Here’s why.
Swimming is an excellent form of aerobic activity that helps in generating the benefits of physical activity while still being easy on the joints.
It can help promote weight loss, build muscle, prevent injuries and relieve back pain, trainer John Gardner, Co-Founder & CEO of Kickoff, explains.
The water resistance helps you exert more effort and burn extra calories without feeling you’ve put in all that effort as the buoyancy of the water supports your body helping you continue swimming for longer periods than you would out of the water, Gardner adds.
Swimming can help build more muscle
As a result of the water resistance, you end up exerting more effort, targeting different muscles that help you stay not only afloat, but also maneuver in the water.
This power and effort need helps build more muscles which also works on burning more fats and helps you lose weight, Gardner states.
Swimming builds endurance and strength
Swimming can help burn calories, but it doesn’t feel like a hard workout. It’s also low impact, which means it won’t hurt your joints or muscles. Swimming is also a great way to build endurance and strength, Lalitha McSorley, physiotherapist, says.
How to Optimize Your Swimming Workouts
In order to lose weight, you should opt for swimming at least four to five times a week for at least half an hour …
