Fitness And Weight Loss

Anatomy of a FishWhile watching your pet fish swimming around in their watery home, you may find yourself wondering how they seem to swim so easily. Their skeletons and muscles work together to allow them to swim, along with their fins and something called a swim bladder. Using the Skeleton and Muscles The primary function of the skeleton is to aide movement of other parts. The skull is the only truly fixed part of a fish. It does not move in and of itself but acts as a point of stability for other bones. These other bones act as levers that cause movement of the fish’s body. While the bones provide the movement, the muscles supply the power. A typical fish has hundreds of muscles running in all directions around its body. This is why a fish can turn and twist and change directions quickly. Using the Fins As water passes over its body, a fish uses its fins to thrust in the direction it wishes to go. The caudal fins supply most of the thrust. The pelvic, dorsal and pectorals assist in s...

Mastering the freestyle swim stroke lets you compete in a variety of events, from sprints to distance races to open-water swims. Technically speaking, a freestyle swimmer can use any stroke he wishes, except during a medley relay. In reality, freestyle swimming is typically synonymous with the front crawl. Learn the fundamentals to improve your freestyle times. Instructions Understand the overall freestyle technique before you begin work on individual elements. Keep your body as flat as possible in the water. Move your arms and legs at the same time — kick your legs continuously while stroking with alternate arms. Begin in a streamlined position with one arm extending forward above the water and the other arm extended backward at your side, below the surface. The forward hand should be in front of your head with your fingers pointed toward the water and your elbow higher than your hand. Face the bottom of the pool and exhale into the water in the middle of each arm stroke. Reach your l...

Swimmers can split a swimming and weight-training workout in a few ways, but it’s typically best to separate the workout into two distinct parts, with swimming in one and weight training in the other. The key question involves which part should come first. The answer depends on your specific workout goals. Whichever route you select, there’s little doubt that dryland training — exercises performed out of the swimming pool — should be a key component of a competitive swim team’s fitness program, as well as for those that swim for fitness. Benefits of Weight Training Before Swimming Conventional wisdom states that you shouldn’t perform weight training when you’re tired, so you should typically hold a weight session before any type of cardio exercise, including swimming. Additionally, by swimming after weight training, you may reduce muscle soreness the following day. Doing your weight training first, before you’re tired out by swimming, lets you lift heavier weights, leading to greater s...

How Many Calories Are Burned Per Mile While Swimming? - Swimming is an excellent form of exercise. It uses a large number of muscle groups and is very easy on joints, such as those in the knees and ankles. Not only is swimming an excellent form of exercise, it will help you lose weight and is one of the best exercises you can do to burn calories. How Fast And How Far? How many calories you burn depends on a number of things. The first two are how far you will swim and how fast will you be swimming. Let’s use the distance of one mile (1,760 yards). We will look at two different swimming speeds in order to judge the difference in calories burned. The first speed will be 20 yards per minute. This is a slow, leisurely swim that is equivalent to roughly 0.66 miles per hour. At this speed, it will take you approximately 88 minutes to swim the one mile. The second speed will be 60 yards per minute. This is approximately two miles per hour and it will take you approximately 30 minutes to swim...

Before jumping in, know that getting your dog in the pool takes patience. It may take days or weeks to accomplish. Don’t force your dog to get in a pool and never resort to simply tossing him in. Stay positive, and let your dog set the pace. Starting with a Kiddie Pool Start small by setting up a kiddie pool, sans water. Get in the pool and encourage your dog to come in with you. If she’s distracted or hesitant, attach a leash to her collar and gently walk her into the pool. Say “Let’s swim” or a similar command, and issue it consistently whenever you want your dog to get in the pool. Praise and treat your dog for getting in to create a positive association. When you want your dog to exit the pool, say “All done” or another command of your choosing. Just be sure to use the same command every time so your dog associates the words with the action. Fill the pool with an inch or two of water and repeat. When your dog is in the pool, toss a few floating treats or a toy into the water and le...

How to Use a Tired Swimmer Carry - “How to Rescue Someone Drowning” I described “Reach, Throw, Row and Go,” the steps that you should take, in their order, to save a drowning victim. Use the same procedures for a tired swimmer, but let’s assume that you’re now in the water. Let me make the distinction clear: a drowning person is usually in full panick mode. You want to keep your distance. A tired swimmer just needs help. This problem might arise if you’re simply out frolicking in the surf with a friend who wearies. Instructions As you approach a tired swimmer ask what is wrong. Offer to swim with the victim. This is the easiest and simplest method. Sometimes, just being next to tired swimmer and offering reassuring words can encourage him to calm down and make it to shore. If the swimmer describes being taken out to sea by a rip current, you can’t swim back the same way. Rip currents are shaped by shore bottom conditions. Swim parallel to shore until the current dissipates, then swim b...

Nothing is more maddening to an in-ground swimming pool owner than to watch her pool’s water level drop daily through some unseen leak. In-ground swimming pool basins develop leaks through various means, including tears in pool liners. Swimming pools, though, can also develop leaks elsewhere, including their hydrostatic valves and filter systems. Other likely sources of in-ground pool leaks include around fittings and skimmers. Finding a leak in an in-ground swimming pool takes a bit of detective work but it can be done. Leak Detection The first place to check when it comes to a leak in a swimming pool is within its basin. Also, pool fittings and skimmer faceplates can develop leaks. A leak in a pool’s basin is detected through use of simple dye test to track colored water making its way to the leak. If you suspect you have a leak coming from your pool’s filter fittings or the skimmer perform a visual inspection for moisture or drips around such equipment. Dye Test Find underwater leak...

Loose goggles are one cause of leakage that can ruin an athlete’s competitive swim event. The frames can also leak if the goggles are not stored carefully between events. The best way to stop leaking is prevent it from occurring. Instructions Place the lenses over the eyes without securing the head strap to test the goggles for a good fit and proper seal. Achieve a suction by pressing the lenses against the face. Bend forward and face downward. Properly fitted, unsecured giggles should stay in place for 2 to 3 seconds. If they fall off sooner, try another pair for a better fit. Press the goggles in place to create a suction and place the elastic strap behind your head, tightening to a comfortable position. When the strap is tightened too much, it can induce headaches and increase the likelihood of leaks because the lenses are being pulled away from the eye sockets. Smear a thin bead of petroleum jelly around the outside gaskets of rubber or silicon, in an emergency, to stop leaking rig...

Reason You Must to Start Swimming Now -  Speed up the process to that summer tan and bikini body by jumping into the pool. Yes, the treadmill is fun, and so are those dumbbells, but they only offer a portion of what a swim workout does. From toning your core to speeding up your metabolism, there are several reasons why you should consider swimming your new go-to. Grab a suit and find out the 10 reasons why you should start swimming! It’s a total-body workout.   Swimming tackles everything from sculpting your back to toning your arms—all without having to pick up a weight. Rather than needing a plan to work specific muscles, all four strokes work to strengthen your entire body. 2. It’s joint-friendly.  If you’re recovering from an injury and are eager to build strength, then look into starting a swimming routine to stay fit. If running is your passion, then swimming is a great way to work out on recovery days, allowing knees a rest from the pavement. 3. It’s muscle-lengthe...