Are you spending these hot summer days lounging by the pool? You can still stay active, fit, and safe while enjoying your summer days. Here are this week’s Friday Five, tips to use by the pool.
The 20-Minute Water Workout
University Hospitals (@UHhospitals) detail three simple water exercises (jumping jacks, cross-country skiing, and poolside raises) you can do anytime you jump in the water to cool off. Linda Lavalle, fitness trainer and certified arthritis instructor, says there are advantages to exercising regularly in the water including: less impact on joints, muscles and bones, getting a cardiovascular workout which helps with balance, and an opportunity to relieve pain (even more so when the pool has heated water.) For a more advanced fitness workout, Lavalle suggests the H2O Bootcamp from IDEA Health and Fitness Association (@ideafit.)
Benefits of Swimming: 10 Reasons Every Woman Should Get in the Water
Fitness Magazine (@FitnessMagazine) shows ten benefits of swimming for women. Why pick swimming as your go-to workout? It counts as both cardio and strength training, it’s great for your lungs, it makes you a better runner, and it gets rid of stress. These are just a few of the advantages author K. Aleisha Fetters (@kafetters) describes in this article.
10 Excellent Exercises for the Pool
Exercising in the water can improve your flexibility and strengthen your muscles according to the The American Physical Therapy Association (@APTAtweets.) Here are 10 pool exercises they say will help your balance and provide a great cardiovascular workout. Read their tips on how to prepare the pool (wear water shoes, water should be waist or chest high) to ensure a safe and effective workout. Click here to learn more about aquatic physical therapy.
Try These Healthy Snack Options for Any Poolside Day!
Jennifer Christman, RD, Clinical Nutrition Manager at Medifast (@Medifast) outlines a list of healthy and fun snacks that your family will love while sitting poolside. Think outside the box when preparing fruit, veggie or even sandwich kabobs. Don’t buy frozen popsicle treats that are filled with sugar. Instead, make your own pops out of fruit as a much healthier option. This summary also includes links to some of their products, Sea Salt Popcorn and Peanut Butter Crunch Bars, that come in pre-portioned packages so you don’t overindulge.
13 Ways to Stay Healthy at the Pool This Summer
While hanging out at the pool is meant to be relaxing and fun, it is imperative to also stay safe. U.S. News and World Report Health and Wellness (@USNewsHealth) has developed a comprehensive list of 13 points to make sure you are staying safe by the pool. Key points include taking a shower before you swim, watching out for uncovered drains, bringing eardrops, goggles and pool shoes, and staying off your cell phone.
