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ToggleSwimming is one of the best forms of exercise you can do. It works your entire body, improves cardiovascular health, and burns calories. Swimming regularly has many benefits for both physical and mental health. In this blog post, we'll explore the benefits of swimming, review some swimming googles, and answer common questions about swimming.
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You might want to give this vegetable recipe a try; it's not only healthy but also great for replenishing your energy after a long swimming session.
Introduction
Swimming is a low-impact activity that can be done recreationally or competitively. It is a great workout for people of all ages and fitness levels. Swimming works all the major muscle groups - arms, legs, core, shoulders, and back. It improves cardiovascular endurance, muscle strength, flexibility, and balance.
Some key benefits of swimming include:
- Improved cardiovascular health - swimming strengthens the heart and lungs
- Tones muscles - uses all major muscle groups for a total body workout
- Burns calories - swimming laps for 30 minutes can burn over 200 calories
- Low-impact - easy on joints, ideal for those with injuries/conditions
- Supports mental health - releases endorphins to boost mood and reduce stress
No matter your swimming ability, adding swimming to your weekly routine provides excellent health perks. Keep reading to learn more about swimming for exercise.
How Many Laps is a Mile Swimming
When trying to determine how far you are swimming, laps are a useful way to track distance and set goals. But how many laps make up common distances like a mile?
Most standard 25-yard pools require 70 laps to complete 1 mile (1650 yards). For a 25-meter pool, it takes 56 laps for a mile, since meters are slightly longer than yards.
Here are some conversions for laps to distance:
- 25 yards pool: 70 laps = 1 mile
- 25 meters pool: 56 laps = 1 mile
- 50 laps = 1 kilometer (1000 meters)
- 36 laps = 1 kilometer
To increase endurance and speed, try interval training by swimming shorter distances at a faster pace with rest intervals. Mixing up long, slow laps with faster sprints engages different energy systems.
Setting a goal like swimming a mile in a session is an easy way to benchmark progress. With consistent swimming, you’ll be hitting the mile mark faster than you think!
How to Get Water Out of Your Ear After Swimming
Dealing with water stuck in your ears after swimming is annoying and uncomfortable. Fortunately, there are several techniques to clear clogged ears quickly.
Here are some easy methods to get water out of ears:
- Tilt head sideways - Tilt the affected ear down towards the shoulder. Gravity helps drain the water out. Repeat on the other side.
- Blow nose - Pinch your nose closed tightly and blow out your nose gently. This builds up pressure to open the Eustachian tubes.
- Wiggle jaw - Open and close your mouth while tilting head from side to side. This helps pop the ears.
- Dry ear drops - Place a few drops of isopropyl alcohol or over-the-counter dry ear drops in the ear canal. This helps absorb leftover moisture.
- Hot shower - Let hot shower water run into the affected ear. The steam and heat help dry out the ear.
- Yawn and chew - Yawning and chewing gum opens the Eustachian tubes to let air in and water drain out.
- Don’t use cotton swabs - Avoid sticking cotton swabs or other objects in your ear. This can push wax and water deeper into the ear canal.
If water is still stuck in your ear after a few days, see your doctor to check for swimming ear or infection. With some patience and these handy tricks, your ears will be water-free again.
How Many Calories Does Swimming Burn
Swimming is rightly considered a great calorie-burning exercise. But just how many calories does swimming laps burn?
The calories burned swimming depends on your weight, swimming speed, and the time spent swimming. On average, a 160 lb person burns approximately:
- 363 calories per hour leisurely swimming
- 519 calories per hour doing moderate laps
- 656 calories per hour swimming vigorous laps
Some additional estimates for calories burned per 30 minutes of swimming:
- 130 lbs - 179 calories (moderate pace)
- 160 lbs - 216 calories
- 190 lbs - 267 calories
- 220 lbs - 305 calories
As you can see, someone heavier burns more calories swimming than someone lighter performing the same exercise. Up the intensity, swim longer distances, or incorporate swimming sprints to torch even more calories.
Swimming engages your arms legs, core and heart - using lots of big muscle groups that require energy. Combine swimming with a healthy nutrition plan to lose weight and improve body composition.
What Muscles Does Swimming Work
Swimming is a full-body workout that engages all your major muscle groups. When swimming laps, here are some of the main muscles being worked:
Core: Rectus abdominis, internal/external obliques, transverse abdominis
Back: Latissimus dorsi, trapezius, rhomboids
Shoulders: Deltoids, rotator cuff, upper back
Arms: Biceps, triceps, forearms
Legs: Quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, calves
Chest: Pectorals
Different swimming strokes target muscles in unique ways:
- Freestyle and backstroke heavily work the lats, deltoids, triceps and quads.
- Breaststroke employs the chest, hamstrings and glutes powerfully.
- Butterfly uses strong core rotation, working the obliques and abs vigorously.
The water resistance involved in propelling through a pool lets you strengthen and tone muscles while protecting joints. Swimming can improve posture and develop a strong, balanced physique.
How to Waterproof a Tattoo for Swimming
Many fresh tattoos need to be kept out of the water during healing. But once a tattoo is fully healed, you can swim without worry with some smart precautions. Here are some tips to waterproof your ink before hitting the pool:
- Apply an oil-free waterproof sunscreen on tattoo before swimming. This prevents fading from chlorine and sun exposure. Reapply after 40-80 minutes.
- Cover with waterproof Tegaderm bandage when swimming for long periods. This transparent film protects from direct water contact and friction. Replace when 2/3 wet.
- Rinse tattoo in fresh water after leaving the pool or ocean. Pat dry gently with paper towel. This prevents irritation and removes drying salt or chlorine.
- Moisturize after swimming with a mild, fragrance-free lotion to replenish hydration and nourish skin.
- Avoid soaking in hot tubs, lakes or rivers until tattoo is fully healed. These contain more bacteria that could infect a new tattoo.
- Swim only in clean pools with proper chemical balance. Poor water sanitation raises infection risks.
With proper aftercare and moisture barriers, you can swim without tattoo damage. The key is caring for your skin and being attentive when in the water.
How Many Gallons Are in an Olympic Size Swimming Pool
Olympic size swimming pools need to meet specific dimension standards for competitive swimming events. But what is the volume of water needed to fill these giant pools?
An Olympic size swimming pool holds:
- Minimum 660,430 gallons of water
- Minimum 2,500 cubic meters of water
- Minimum 25 x 50 x 2 meters
The typical dimensions for Olympic pools are:
- Length: 50 meters (164 feet)
- Width: 25 meters (82 feet)
- Depth: Minimum 2 meters (6.5 feet)
For pools with 8 lanes, each lane must be 2.5 meters wide. There is extra space on each side for overflow gutters.
The large volume ensures excellent wave dissipation so swimmers aren’t impeded. This amount of water also meets competition standards for water circulation and filtration.
Olympic diving pools are even deeper, with depths up to 5 meters providing a safe space for divers to perform various acrobatics. That’s a lot of water!
Review of Swimming Goggles
A good pair of swimming goggles is essential gear for any swimmer. Swimming goggles protect your eyes from chlorine while providing clear vision underwater. We’ll review some top swimming googles options for fitness and competitive swimming.
Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 Swimming googles
One of the most popular swimming goggle models, the Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 offers a comfortable, leak-proof fit for all faces. The curved lens shape provides a wide, panoramic field of vision. The low profile design is ideal for competitive swimmers who wants minimal drag.
Key features:
- Flexible silicone seals for comfort and no leaks
- UV protected mirrored lenses
- Dual adjustable straps for custom fit
- Stylish mirror lens colors
Cost: $15-25
Aqua Sphere Kayenne Swimming googles
The Kayenne swimming goggles stand out for their ultra clear vision with their polarized lenses that cut glare. The curved lens shape enhances peripheral vision. The Softeril-K silicone skirts are super comfortable while preventing water intrusion.
Key features:
- Polarized lenses for zero distortion
- 180 degree of vision
- Softeril-K silicone for comfort
- Quick-adjust straps
Cost: $25-40
Swedish Goggles
These simple, old-school goggles remain a top choice for competitive and lap swimmers who want minimal eye coverage without the bulk. The low profile Swedish goggles have a tight fit that won’t come off mid-swim. While they can leave raccoon eyes, the clear vision can’t be beat.
Key features:
- Low profile design
- Clear vision with minimal framing
- Tight fit stays secured during laps
- Comfortable foam padding
Cost: $3-15
Conclusion
Swimming provides one of the best workouts available. It engages the entire body, burns significant calories, and builds endurance. Following proper techniques for breathing, stroke, and turning can help maximize the benefits. Equipping yourself with quality swimming googles improves comfort and vision in the pool.
This post covered how to benchmark swimming distances by laps, get water out of ears, estimate calorie burn, identify which muscles swimming uses, protect tattoos in water,swimming googles and how much water is in Olympic pools. Adding regular swimming workouts improves cardiovascular health, respiration, strength, and mood. Dive in and enjoy all the perks of swimming exercise.