Nutrition and Swimming

May 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Nutrition during any workout is essential. During swimming it is crucial since workouts while swimming you are using increased intensity and burn more calories. Ensuring that you maintain your health while working out is very important, otherwise the benefits of swimming can lessen performance to your body and total health. Nutrition as a whole helps your body perform. Whether you are swimming for pleasure, workout, or competition, you definitely want your body to perform well.

Some nutrition tips to consider are to stay hydrated. With any exercise regimen, you want to ensure that you are keeping your body hydrated. As muscles work hard, your heart rate increases, and expels water in the form of sweat. Yes, even while swimming you can get sweaty. So, keeping hydrated should be your number one concern while working out.

Eat well balanced meals that include lean proteins and complex carbohydrates in the form of fruits and vegetables. These are what your body will be burning as you workout, so not only do you want to ensure you eat a well-balanced meal prior to a workout, but you will want to restore these complex carbohydrates after your body cools off. The body absorbs nutrients at its best capacity between thirty and ninety minutes after a workout. So, make sure you feed your body well during this time when nutrients go straight to the muscles you’ve worked so hard.

Eat as fresh as possible. Modified and processed foods pose potential risks to your body and can leave you feeling ‘heavy’. Eat the foods your body needs for true success during your workouts.

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Salt Water Pools

March 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Swimmers know exactly how damaging chlorine can be on the clothing and hair. It can really have some effects on the body such as rougher skin and other problems. This is why many pool manufacturers have started to create what is known as the salt water pool.

A salt water pool is a traditionally swimming pool that is filled with water. The only difference is that instead of having chlorine that is used in the water it uses salt crystals. The natural salt crystals along with the water creates its own chlorine so there is no need to add the chlorine to the pool.

The reason that many people have started to use salt pools instead of chlorine pools is because it is better on the skin, clothing and body. It also offers a more natural swimming experience compared to the chlorine infested pool.

One of the best features of the salt water pool is that it does not require the use of harmful chemicals or other items in it. Instead pool owners can go years without putting chemicals or other items in it. In fact, it is seven years before the pool owner needs to put more salt in the pool. The only thing the pool needs is a pump that will filter in the salt and the water. This will keep the pool fresh and clean and allow everyone to enjoy their pool.

Salt water pools are quickly becoming a growing trend and many many people are turning to it instead of the traditional chlorine pool.

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How to Teach Children To Swim

March 24, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Every parent wants their child to learn to swim. This is especially important if you are active and around water. However, some parents do not know how to properly train their child to swim which could lead to fear of the water and not learning to swim. Here is a look at what you need to keep in mind if you are going to teach your child to swim.

Inner Tubes/Floating Devices. To help get your child comfortable with the water try a floatation device that will allow them to see the water and how it works. Try to encourage them to move around the water and really get a feel for it.

Start Out Slow. Start out slow and in the lower end of the pool so your child can get a feel for the water.

Lay on Their Backs. Many parents use the laying on their back method to help their child. This is where their child lays back and the parent holds them. They will slowly move their hands away from the child so that they are not supporting their child. Before they know it their child will be supporting themselves.

Encourage Movement. It is important that you encourage movement in your child. Tell them to keep kicking their legs and arms. Try to swim along with them and just offer encouragement.

Do Not Use Arm Floats. Arm floats are not recommended for children. Many children do not have the upper body strength to help them learn how to swim with these items. In fact this could hinder the swimming process. Try to avoid arm floats whenever possible.

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Helping a Chronic Problem in Swimmers

March 20, 2011 by Leave a Comment

A common problem that almost all swimmers face at some point in time is a condition known as swimmers ear. This is when the ear gets water that is trapped inside it. There can often be a swishing sound or a muffled sound. If the water is left in the ear too long it can result in loss of hearing or infections. If you are experiencing swimmers ear here are some ways you can cure it.

Drops for Draining. Put your head to the side and place a few drops of water into a dropper. Place the drops of water into the ear and quickly turn your head to the side. Wait a few second and do this again. You will try to drain the water out of the ear this way.

Vinegar/Water Solution. Try to put into your ear a solution that is made up of half water and half vinegar. The vinegar should be able to dry and evaporate the water of the ear in no time at all so that you can get the water out.

Sleep with Ear Up. If you sleep with your infected ear up the gravity of the earth will tug on the water and could loosen it up so that your water will drain.

OTC Eardrops. There are over the counter antiseptic eardrops that are specifically designed for swimmers ear. Try to put those into the ear and see if it will help clear up the ear and water.

Hair Dryer. You can try to dry up the water using the low setting of the hair dryer. This has not been successful in a lot of people but it could be worth a try to try this method.

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Learning the Trudgen Stroke

March 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment

There is a swim stroke that works kind of like a combination of the crawling swim stroke and that of the scissor kicking action of other swim strokes. This swim stroke is known as the Trudgen Stroke and is fairly popular swim stroke to be used by swimmers all over.

Here is how to perform the Trudgen Stroke when swimming.

Step 1. You will want to start in a face down position that will leave you looking into the pool. This is often called the glide position and is how many swimmers start swimming.

Step 2. Start to perform the crawl stroke that is famous with the crawl stroke. This is swinging your arms around like they were windmills. Make sure the hands are sorta cupped so that they can cut through the water and get you to the other side.

Step 3. When moving the arms make it so that they are back to your back and you will be able to push the water away. A slight bend of the elbow is recommended as it allows people to move forward.

Step 4. Move your head. If you have your left hand up you will breathe on the left side and if you have your right hand up you will breathe on your right side.

Step 5. You will start to snap your legs as if they were a pair of scissors. Do this while your arms are moving into and out of the water.

Step 6. Every few minutes you will stop moving your legs so that you can focus on the arms. When you are changing arms your legs will not be snapping. The key is to combine both so that they appear to work together.

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Swimming Facts

March 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Swimming is the general term for what people do to move through the water. However, the technical term for what they are called is swimming strokes. There are a lot of different facts about swimming and swimming strokes that people do not know. Here is a look at some of the facts about swimming that you may or may not have known.

Types of Strokes. There are different types of swimming strokes that swimmers all over the world use. There is the butterfly stroke, backstroke, freestyle and even some called the sidestroke.

Benefits. Swimming and swim strokes have long been used as a leisure form of exercise. It has also been used as a way for people to compete against each other and even as a way to spend their warm summer days. Swimming has been around for a long long time.

Where it Started. Swimming does not have a place where it is invented. It dates back so long that many people do  not know who came up with what swim stroke and therefore it is just assumed everywhere has always had swimming. There is even evidence that there were Egyptian carvings and paintings with swimmers and swimming strokes.

The Doggy Paddle. Even though people make fun of the doggy paddle it is actually an actual swim stroke. It is believed to be the easiest swim stroke which is why many people learn it first before any other swim stroke.

Freestyle Competition. When there is a swimming competition that is titled freestyle the swimmers are allows to use any style of swimming they desire. In fact in competitions there is only 15 meters of underwater time for every swimmer the rest is done by swimming.

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The Joys of Learning to Swim

February 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Cover of "Learn to Swim (Dk Childcare)"

Cover of Learn to Swim (Dk Childcare)

Everyone who likes swimming knows just how fun and enjoyable that it can be. There are many ways to begin to learn how to swim. Many start learning how to swim at a very early age, at around three, four or five years of age or sometimes even younger. Some children are even born in the water and seem to grow up loving the water. Some learn to swim when they get a little older, early teens to late teens and finally some people don’t learn to swim until adulthood.

When learning to swim there are many ways you can get started. One of the most likely ways is for parents to teach their children and even their children’s friends how to swim. The ways parents teach their children to swim vary from person to person. The reason this is one of the best ways to learn is because children trust their parents explicitly and this leads to being less afraid of water.

Another very effective way for people, adults and children alike to learn how to swim is to engage in swimming lessons. You can sign up for swimming lessons at your local recreation center or sometimes your local high school.

One of the many benefits of signing up for swimming lessons is that you get taught how to swim from professional swimming instructors and sometimes from lifeguards who know what they are talking about. These instructors allow you to learn how to swim in a controlled environment and to learn at your own pace.

Whether you learn to swim at home from your parents or from a professional instructor swimming must be first and foremost fun and enjoyable. You will find it hard to enjoy swimming and learning the various techniques when you are not enjoying what you are doing. You will also learn faster when you are relaxed and having fun as opposed to afraid of the water.

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Learning to Swim as an Adult

January 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment

If you didn’t grow up around the water or weren’t taught to swim at a young age, it can be daunting to learn to swim as an adult. There are a lot of reasons why many adults do not know how to swim. In addition to the reasons listed above, a lot of people are simply afraid of the water. But with proper instruction even the most frightened adults can learn.

The best, most important thing an adult needs to do before beginning to swim is to relax. Confidence and a calm attitude are the hardest-won parts of this battle. You must be loose and somewhat fluid to float and execute swim strokes. Once you can calmly enter the water you are ready to learn to swim.

Next, you have to learn how to put your head underwater and blow air out your nose. It may be surprising to learn just how many adults struggle with this, but once you overcome your fear it’s very simple to do. To begin, just take a deep breath through your nose, and put your face only fully in the water. Then exhale through your nose. Once you are comfortable with this, repeat the procedure but by fully submerging your head underwater.

The next important step is learning to float on your back. This is a very frightening step for many adults who don’t swim because they feel that they are not in control of the situation. But they are! You learn to float in shallow water by working with a trusted friend. Have that person place their hands under your lower back while you gently lay backwards. Relax, and arch your back a little – this improves your buoyancy. Have your friend remove their hands while you remain still with your arms outstretched. If you get frightened, simply put your feet down.

Follow these simple steps and you’ll be swimming in no time.

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Swimwear Trends – Choose What’s Best for You

January 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment

While it may be the miserable middle of winter now, it won’t be long at all before the stores are full of the latest swimwear styles for the summer. Here is a guide of what to look for when you go shopping for your swimsuits this year.

When it comes to fashion, it is all in the details and it is no different in swimwear. This year, look for interesting dressmaking details like ruching, ruffles, embroidery, belts and more. Swimsuit designers are also using a lot of exciting prints in their fabrics this year. Bold stripes and floral prints, and bright colors in almost every hue will dominate the stores.

The best designers use these details to highlight your body’s assets – and disguise those parts of your body you would prefer people not notice.

You should also choose a swimsuit style that works best with your figure. Few people enjoy shopping for a swimsuit, but thankfully swimsuit designers work hard these days to develop a variety of fits and styles so that nearly everyone can find something that will work for them.

Bikinis are a perennial favorite for many people. This traditional style comes in many versions, from barely-there to the almost full coverage tankini style. People who prefer a bikini top but more coverage on their legs sometimes choose the boy leg style pant.

Serious swimmers always choose a traditional one-piece, or tank, swimsuit for active swimming and water workouts. The coverage, fit and comfort level of a well-made tank swimsuit can’t be beat. If you are planning to shop for this type of swimsuit, you will want to invest in a quality suit because in the case of swimwear, the old adage of “you get what you pay for” definitely holds true.

Finally, consider some accessories to coordinate with your new swimsuit. Sarongs, dress and skirt cover-ups and flip flops or other sandals can complete your summer swimming look.

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Taking the Polar Bear Plunge

January 4, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Dressed in swimsuits, wet suits, or sometimes just shorts and a T-shirt, the crowd lines the beach in the dead of winter, waiting for the signal to begin. Then on cue, they will run into the nearly freezing water, submerge themselves, and dash back out.

To the uninitiated observer, it looks crazy. But it’s not. Well, OK, maybe it is. But “it” has a name – it’s a polar bear plunge.

In the United States, plunges, as they are often known, have a long history. One of the more famous plunges, The Boston New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge, has been around since 1903. Most plunges here raise money for charities, such as the Special Olympics. The largest plunge in the country, Maryland’s Plungapalooza, supports this charity. The event has raised more than $2.2 million dollars a year for the group, and has had more than 12,000 people plunge at once.

In the U.S. plunges occur all winter long but in Canada, they are typically associated with New Year’s Day. Events there date back to the 1920s, and typically include thousands of participants. One exception to this rule is the annual Freezin for a Reason plunge in Yellowknife – this one happens in the early spring once things begin to thaw out.

No one seems to know how or why polar bear plunges got started. Perhaps it was just an attempt to break up the monotony of a long, cold winter. Whatever the reason, “plunge fever” has swept the nation and thousands of groups now hold these annual events. The bold come out in droves for the chance to freeze themselves for a good cause.
No, taking the plunge will not do a thing to improve your swimming skills. But if you are tired of indoor workouts and will do anything to get back into the lake or the ocean, this just might be your chance.

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