FitSugar

Do You Pee in the Pool?

FitSugar — Sun, 24 May 2009 03:30:00 -0700

The Memorial Day weekend means pools across the country will be opening for the Summer. In light of the start of swim season, a bit of news caught my eye - in a recent survey, one in five Americans admitted to peeing in the pool. Wow! A while back a Kelly Clarkson quote prompted me to ask you all about peeing in the shower. Now I am curious about this issue, because I am incredulous about these statistics.

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Jump into ClubSwim!

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:00:00 -0700

During the dog days of Summer, I am always looking for a pool to jump in, especially now that I am all pumped up about Olympic swimming this August. Being that I don't have a pool of my own and neither does my gym, I am always wondering what local pools are available for public use.

ClubSwim.com offers an easy search tool to find local pools in your area. Not only will the results turn up pools within a 15-mile radius, but you can also find out which clubs are public, members only, have indoor and/or outdoor pools, and more. I was shocked to see how many pools were in my area that I didn't even know existed. Check it out today and you may be doing laps (or just splashing around with your kids) this weekend.

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DrSugar Answers: Deadly Pools?

FitSugar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 08:00:00 -0700

DrSugar is in the house and answering your questions.

DrSugar,
I have a friend who was banned from swimming as a child. She grew up with a pool in her backyard and developed a serious ear infection that landed her in the hospital. Her doctor told her that if she ever swam again she could die. Is this lifelong ban from swimming warranted? Is there such an ear infection that could kill you? I cannot imagine not swimming.
Missing Mermaid

To see DrSugar's answer, just read more.

When you dive into the matter, swimming pools can be a mine field of dangers for adults and children alike, ranging from sunburns to dreaded cramps if you swim less than 30 minutes after eating, from skin infections or ear infections. The list of hazards also includes drowning and thermal shock. But swimming is a common form of recreation and with it come some side effects.

Outer ear infections, called otitis externa, are relatively common among aquatic athletes and those who spend a lot of time in the water. The infection is caused by bacteria or fungi, and symptoms include ear pain, a feeling of fullness in the ear and itching. It is generally a mild condition easily treatable with antibiotic ear drops. Common risk factors for developing an outer ear infection include swimming and diving in polluted or infected waters, such as a lake populated with waterfowl, hot and humid weather, eczema of the ears, and any trauma to the ear canal such as aggressive cleaning with cotton swabs.

While outer ear infections are usually relatively benign, there is a very small risk of developing a more serious condition known as malignant or necrotizing otitis externa. Essentially a more severe infection, it can spread to the skull or even the brain. This infection is more common in untreated outer ear infections and people with severe immunosuppresion such as diabetes. Having an outer ear infection also puts you at higher risk for developing another outer ear infection again in the future. To answer your question, it’s unclear why the doctor in this situation banned the girl from swimming forever, but she should definitely consult with an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist before jumping into the pool with you.

If you have a question for DrSugar, send me a private message here and I will forward it to the good doctor.

DrSugar's posts are for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations. Click here for more details.

Pilates in the Pool: AquaVee Pilates Plus System

FitSugar — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 02:30:00 -0700

Looking for a new way to workout in the pool without having to swim laps and laps on end?

The AquaVee Pilates Plus System ($120.00) installs in any pool in seconds and enables you to do a complete Swimming, Pilates and resistance workout in the comfort of any community, condo/apartment or backyard pool. The system comes with one Aquavee inflatable belt with back support, two 78" resistance bands for swimming, two handle attachments with resistance bands, two leg attachments with resistance bands, four High Pressure Suction Cups, four polycarbonate clear sheets and one 2.7 oz tube of Aquavee Silicone rubber adhesive and one Owner's Manual (which you'll want to read to figure out how to use all that stuff). Buy it from AquaVeeOnline.com.

Wouldn't You Love to Swim in an Endless Pool?

FitSugar — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 17:15:00 -0700

When I see fitness ads on TV, I usually laugh or quickly change the channel, but when I saw the infomercial for Endless Pools, I was completely intrigued. This is actually a brilliant idea.

What is it? Let me use this analogy (sorry to sound so much like the SATs): The endless pool is to swimming like the treadmill is to running. It is a mini pool that allows you to swim in place. At one end of the pool there is water pouring out and you can adjust the speed. You just face the current and swim towards it, and the current prevents you from swimming forward.

You never have to stop to turn around like you do in lap pools - you can just keep swimming in place for as long as you want, continuously working your muscles, lungs and heart.

If you don't want to swim in your endless pool, you can also walk or run in the water against the current or do strength training resistance exercises if you are trying to tone up or nurse an injury. On the side of the pool, there are optional hydrotherapy jets, ideal for relieving tense muscles. You can also turn off all the currents and just hang out in the pool and keep cool.

So if you have an extra $20,000 hanging around, you could get your very own Endless Pool (monthly payments as low as $200 a month). OK, so maybe this won't fit into your budget just yet, but it is a cool idea, isn't it? A girl who loves to swim can dream, can't she?

Prevent Swimmer's Ear

FitSugar — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 17:15:00 -0700

Your ears are pretty remarkable. Their unique design helps to tip water out of your ear canal, so you can usually bathe, shower, swim, and even walk in the rain with no problems. The ear canal is also acidic which prevents against bacterial and fungal infections.

However, if your ear is exposed to excess moisture (like if you're swimming a lot), the water can stay trapped in your ear canal. This skin can then get soggy and break down, diluting the acidity and allowing bacteria or fungi to penetrate through the skin, causing an infection called swimmer's ear.

The weird thing is that you don't have to swim to get swimmer's ear. Anything that causes a break in the skin of your ear canal will cause this infection - that's why cleaning your ear with a cotton swab is NOT recommended - if you damage the skin, you could risk getting swimmer's ear.

What are the symptoms? PAIN! The ear may also feel itchy or full. The outer ear may turn red or get swollen, and the lymph nodes around the ear may become enlarged and tender. There may be discharge - clear at first, but then turn cloudy, yellowish, and pus-like. Hearing, understandably, is affected as well.

Fun stuff, huh? So what do you do if you have swimmer's ear? To find out, read more

If your infection is severe, your doctor will prescribe drops that contain antibiotics for 7-10 days to fight the infection, and steroids to reduce swelling. Oral meds like ibuprofen or aspirin may also be suggested to help reduce the pain.

Fit's Tips: To prevent this painful infection during the summer, as soon as you're done swimming, shake your head to one side and then the other to get excess water out of your ear. OTC drops that contain a dilute solution of acetic acid or alcohol can also help dry up your ear canal. If you or your child is prone to swimmer's ear, wearing ear plugs may also be a good option.

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Get Your Butt in Gear: 2 Bathing Suits in 1

FitSugar — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 07:30:00 -0700

Whether you've been swimming at the pool all winter, or you're looking for a new suit to sport on the beach, check out these from Diamondback.

There are 2 models: One with thicker tank straps for added support, and one with spaghetti straps for a more feminine look.

Both are $64, and reversible, so it's like getting 2 bathing suits for one price. They're made of 2 layers of a nylon/lycra spandex blend so they'll be extra supportive and not at all see through (I hate that).

The tank version comes in red/black and navy/red, and the spaghetti strap suit comes in black/blue.

These bathing suits look like they cover everything modestly so while you're doing your laps, you won't have to worry about adjusting your suit because your boob or butt cheek is popping out. That's a huge plus in my book.

Want to see what the back looks like? Then read more

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Pool Exercises

FitSugar — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 10:16:11 -0800

Swimming is a great form of exercise, but when you're in the pool, you can get bored and dizzy just swimming back and forth doing laps. Why not try these exercises to work different muscle groups. You can also use them to warm up or cool down.

Hold on to the side of the pool and work on kicking your legs - do flutter kicks and frog kicks.
You can also use the edge of the pool to keep your balance while doing leg lifts to work the muscles in your tummy, legs and bottom. On each leg, do 10 sets each of lifting your leg in front of you, to the side, and behind you.
Run in the water to increase your heart rate.
Tread water to improve your arm and leg strength.
Just for fun, try doing a handstand in the water - it'll be much easier to stay balanced.
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Pool Push-Ups

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 12:00:00 -0700

I feel like the most effective arm exercise in the world is the push-up and just because you are working out in a pool doesn't mean you have to skip them. Doesn't that make you happy? You can do a push-up variation using the side of the pool.

To learn how to do pool push-ups, read more.

Here's how to use the edge of the pool to work your arms:

Place you hands on the side of the pool, just slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Your fingers should face forward.
On an exhale, push your self up like you are trying to exit the pool. Keep your shoulders away from your ears and don't lock your elbows. Don't forget to use your abs.
Inhale and slowly lower yourself back into the pool, stopping when your elbows are bent to 90 degrees.
Don't touch the bottom of the pool. If you are in the shallow end keep your knees bent so you don't jump to lessen the work of your arms.
Do two sets of 10 to 15 reps.

Fit's Tip: This is a great exercise for strengthening your arms to really power the "pull" of your freestyle stroke.

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Sick of Laps? Try These in the Pool

FitSugar — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 13:30:00 -0800

Swimming is a great form of exercise, but when you're in the pool you can get bored and dizzy just swimming back and forth doing laps. Why not try these exercises to challenge different muscle groups while in the water? These exercises also double as warm-up and cool-down moves.

Hold on to the side of the pool and work on kicking your legs - do flutter and frog kicks. Kind of like using a kickboard but oddly more fun.
You can also use the edge of the pool to keep your balance while doing leg lifts to work the muscles in your tummy, legs, and bottom. On each leg, do ten sets each of lifting your leg in front of you, to the side, and behind you.
Run in the water to increase your heart rate.
Tread water to improve your arm and leg strength.
Just for fun, try doing a handstand or walking on your hands on the bottom of the pool. It's easier to practice your balance as compared to doing it on land.

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