Swap 30 minutes of watching TV for 30 minutes of swimming laps and you'll burn more than eight times the calories, according to the American Cancer Society. That's just one of the benefits that comes with a lap pool. Lap pools give you a place to work out hard and fast, without even breaking a sweat.
Trimming
Swimming laps can burn up to 602 calories per hour for a 150-lb. person, more than eight times the 72 calories used while sitting around watching TV, according to the American Cancer Society. Since water adds resistance to your workout, swimming ends up working muscle fibers that remain largely unused on dry land.
Toning
Toning and sculpting are two other attractive side effects that come with pool workouts, "Fitness" says. Swimming laps works all muscles of your body to begin with, but you can even take your routine one stroke further. A number of other water exercises burn mega-calories while they shape and tone specific body parts. Try pool jumping jacks to work your arms, legs and butt, or water marching for more lower-body toning. Grab a beach ball and do a few otter rolls on the surface to slim down your abs, legs, back and butt.
Weekly Dose
Swimming laps offers a complete aerobic workout to fill your recommended dose of activity per week, MayoClinic.com says. The general rule of fitness dictates 2.5 hours per week of moderate aerobic activity such as swimming to keep you in top shape. That boils down to 30 minutes of lap swimming five days per week. Since working out in a pool tends to be fun, the minutes are likely to fly by. Swimming also is a low-impact exercise, ideal for people suffering from arthritis, joint problems or other health issues that make dry land exercise a painful chore.
Owning
The lap pool itself comes with a number of benefits, especially if you can afford one in your own home or yard, Backyards and Gardens notes. Lap pools come in both in-ground and above-ground options and are generally smaller and easier to maintain than larger, traditional pools. Their narrow shape makes them easy to clean and ideal for smaller spaces. They will not consume your entire yard, but rather a single strip to create your own personal workout space.
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