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Swimming
Swimming For Weight Loss?
Swimming has gotten a bad rap as an exercise for weight loss. Unlike running, which curbs your appetite, swimming seems to increase it.
Studies comparing swimming with walking and cycling weight-loss programs found that swimmers gained five pounds on average, while the other two groups lost between 17 and 19 pounds.
Check Your Breath
Breathing is fundamental to every form of exercise I can think of; the first concept I teach new Pilates clients is how to breathe. I might know this intellectually, but Hannah my swim coach at Equinox decided my freestyle breathing needed an overhaul.
To prove her point, she even took a video of my form.
Natalie Coughlin: From the Olympics to DWTS
Last season on Dancing With the Stars, we saw gold medal gymnast Shawn Johnson win gold, and this year we're watching Olympic swimmer Natalie Coughlin compete on land.
She made it through the first week, dancing a salsa with Alec Mazo and wowed us last night with her quick step. Although busy dancing and rehearsing, Natalie took time out of her day to answer a few questions on topics ranging from Pilates to her opinion on the ban on high-tech swimsuits.
Learn to Love: Backstroke
As a child who refused to swim because of a strong fear that sharks might live in my swimming pool, my relationship with swimming has come a long way. I now consider it one of my favorite ways to get my heart rate up. One lasting emotional holdout was the backstroke; I just didn't like it.
Golden Boy Phelps Gets Silver
After breaking world records left and right, and taking home a record-setting eight gold medals from Beijing, Michael Phelps came in second place.
This is his first loss in four years in an individual race at a major international meet. German swimmer Paul Biederman bested Phelps in the 200-meter freestyle buy 1:22 seconds.
Tips For Open-Water Swimming
Summertime is swimming time, and if you're looking to swim in the great outdoors — in the first stage of triathlon or an open-water swim — you should check out these tips from Sugar user runningesq. She's a veteran triathlete and currently training for the Ironman Cozumel this November. Needless to say, she has experienced many open-water swims and we can all learn from her experience.
End of an Era: High-Tech Suits Banned From Competition
It seems like it's been years since we've been able to gaze at the long, lean bodies of competitive swimmers — they're all covered by high-tech swimsuits like the LZR by Speedo. Well, times they are a changing. FINA, the international governing board of competitive swimming, just created a new rule for both the shape and material of the swimsuits worn in competition.
Get It Up, Your Heart Rate That Is: Swimming
I know many runners and cyclists who though tempted by the triathlon ultimately skip these races because they're intimidated by the swim. I found a useful piece of advice about training for tris in, of all places, Runner's World.
Swimming, unlike running, is considered a "skill sport" similar to tennis or golf so technique is important.
The Skinny on Swimming Terms
If you feel like you're underwater when it comes to pool distances, swimming lingo, and lane etiquette, then here is a short primer for you. I have put together a few swimming terms to help you navigate poolside life.
Distances- Length = Swim one length of the pool
- Lap = Swim down and back, or two lengths
- Swimmers mile = 1500 meters or 1650 yards
- 30 laps in the 25 meter lanes
- 33 laps in the 25 yard lanes
- Split a lane: Two swimmers share a lane, splitting the lane down the middle.
- Circle: When three or more people share a lane, they swim down one side of the lane and back on the other.
A Simple Solution For Swimmer's Ear
It seems that even simple Summer fun comes with risks, and if you're cooling off in the pool this season, you're at risk for swimmer's ear. When your ear is exposed to excess moisture, whether from swimming or bathing, water can become trapped in your ear canal.
The delicate skin inside your ear can then become soggy and begin to break down.
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