Summer is here and like everyone, I love escaping the summer heat with a dip in the pool. Not to mention you get to stair, flirt with, and meet pool hotties like the one in the picture to the right.
So guess what I’m going to do today? I am going to talk about swimming.
As well as being a fitness guru, and bodybuilder, I love to swim. Why? It’s fun. Better dig out that swimsuit!
As far as cardio exercise goes, Swimming is the best kind of exercise for bodybuilders. Running, which is a great cardio workout for the lungs and heart , is not so good on the joints. (Although you should be sprinting for maximum all around results.) If you spend a lot of time doing squats, you need to keep your ankles and knees in good shape and swimming is the way to go.
Here’s some more reasons why you should swim…
Swimming gives you a great full body workout.
What is so wonderful about it is: No Impact! For the bodybuilder, it strenghtens your muscles and cardiovascular system without putting any stress on your joints.
There is the added benefit of swimming being good exercise to build flexibility (although you should always stretch before you swim too, remember what Ole Uncle Caleb’s told you about always stretching!). This is great for bodybuilders, many of whom spend too little time on building flexibility.
You need other cardio too though!
Now, there is one thing which bodybuilders should be aware of when it comes to swimming. You shouldn’t do this as your only form of exercise. While swimming is great for your health, it won’t help you get that ripped, defined look that competitive bodybuilders are aiming for.
The reason for this is that your body reacts to the cool temperatures of the water by distributing your body fat differently. Body fat is more evenly distributed, but is stored just under the skin, making it difficult to have a lot of muscle definition.
Don’t let all this scare you out of swimming. Work it into your other cardio routines, whether you walk or bike, and enjoy the variety.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
So i should run as well as swim. I swim 7 days a week and competitively too yet I still don’t have that much muscle definition
No. Just swim, better for you anyways.
I have started doing simple weights on my shoulders and chest as well as my swimming. Still I don’t have good muscle definition that I want. How many reps and how many sets of shoulder exercises should I do and how long will it take to get good definition?