| As a physical fitness instructor, when I am | | | | some people into shape, but not the body shape |
| meeting potential clients to assess their fitness | | | | of world class competitive swimmers. Now, |
| objectives for the first time, a very common | | | | unknown to most people, although swimming is a |
| request would be "Can you help me develop a | | | | fantastic exercise, trying to get a muscularly |
| swimmer's body?" The question seems like a no | | | | toned physique through swimming may get you |
| brainer, don't you think so? The most logical and | | | | into trouble because swimming only develop the |
| simplest answer would be to swim more often, | | | | muscles that are used to pull and not to push. |
| isn't it? | | | | You can swim in any stroke and in any style, |
| Really, do you think it just that simple? If that is | | | | your swimming actions are all pulling actions. That |
| the case, you will see many people with lean | | | | means that swimming only develops your pull |
| muscular bodies in your neighborhood swimming | | | | muscles. This can lead to muscle imbalances. An |
| pools, right?. So why isn't that the case? | | | | imbalance in a muscle group will cause the |
| Firstly, we need to know what do my clients | | | | opposite muscle to work too hard, causing pain, |
| mean by getting a swimmer's body? Is it the | | | | loss of strength and endurance in that muscle |
| body of your local lifeguard or of world class | | | | group. Never thought of it that way, did you? |
| competitive swimmer's physiques like those of, | | | | Now, since the opposing muscles (push muscles) |
| say, Ian Thorpe? I put my last dollar down that | | | | are not being trained, the development of the pull |
| they meant the latter. | | | | muscles will also hit a plateau pretty quickly since |
| Most of you would have seen Ian Thorpe's | | | | your muscles like to grow and gain strength |
| superb body shape in swimming competitions or | | | | symmetrically. This is your body's natural way to |
| commercials that he is endorsing. Do you really | | | | protect you from muscle imbalances and will put |
| think world class competitive swimmers get their | | | | the swimmer's improvements to a screeching halt. |
| awesomely well toned muscular body by merely | | | | That is one of the reasons why competitive |
| swimming? Of course not. The reason for them | | | | swimmers have to train with weights not only to |
| having such fabulous body shapes are that they | | | | strengthen their pull muscles but to develop the |
| include weight training into their exercise program. | | | | push muscles as well. |
| So their toned muscles are built mostly in the | | | | So you see, competitive swimmers get their |
| gym and not in the pool. | | | | muscularly toned body not by swimming training |
| The perceived misconception about swimmers | | | | alone but through weight training as well. So if you |
| having well sculpted lean muscular body is that | | | | are one of those who desire to get that fabulous |
| people only see them swim but did not see them | | | | swimmer's body, then you must include weight |
| working out in a gym. | | | | training into your swimming program. |
| Yes, swimming is a fantastic exercise and will get | | | | |