Swim to Get Sexy and Slim

Swim to Get Sexy and Slim

Thirty minutes of freestyle swimming burns more than 200 calories.

With summer here, we've got beaches, bikinis and swimming on our minds. And we're especially stoked about the latter — no matter what your fitness level, going for a dip is one of the best ways to get in shape because water cushions stiff joints and provides far more resistance than air to help build long, lean muscles. Plus, as long as we're wearing adequate sun protection, it gives us a delightful excuse to soak up a little sun!

The absolute best way to get started is to join a U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS) team. You don't have to be a master at swimming to do so — anyone over the age of 20 can join, from beginners to experienced athletes.

Swimming on a Masters team allows you the benefits of an experienced coach, a structured workout and a group of dedicated swimmers to keep you motivated. You'll have to pay a membership fee of about $40 to USMS every year as well as individual membership fees to swim with your local Masters team, which can range anywhere from $200–$400 for a six-month membership. To find a Masters team near you, go to usms.org. You can even participate in competitions year round to motivate you in your fitness goals.

If you can't find a Masters program in your area, or you'd just like to swim on your own, visit the personalized swim workout service called swimplan.com. It's free to use and all you have to do is register and create a profile with your experience level, favorite strokes and fitness goals. Next, you can select the duration of your practice (from 30–45 or 45–60 minutes) and the distance you'd like to swim, and you'll be provided with a workout, complete with intervals for resting and a warm-up, core set and warm-down. Simply print out each workout, place it on the wall in your lane and splash it with a bit of water so it stays in place while you swim.

For more inspiration, be sure to pick up a copy of Olympic swimmer Dara Torres' new book Gold Medal Fitness: A Revolutionary 5-Week Program (Broadway, 2010), packed with her personal fitness tips for getting — and maintaining — a perfect swimmer's body after 40. And don't miss our interview with Torres in the May/June issue of VIVmag.

How will you change up your workout routine for summer?

Photo credit: Nadia Pandolfo