How would I start a fitness program baised on swimming?

how many laps to start with, what strokes to use ect.



I just signed up for a gym that has a pool and I want to make the most of it.How would I start a fitness program baised on swimming?If you have to choose only one aerobic exercise, swimming is the best (whole body workout and low impact).



The number of laps does not matter, and is tedious to count anyway.

Do all the strokes that you know, changing each laps, for variety and whole body workout.



Swim for 20 minutes to start, if you're out of shape, then add some minutes every time you feel like it until you can do one hour.

Some days, you'll feel full of energy (maybe you ate a good meal 2 hours before) so you'll go fast.

Other days, you'll want to go slow and easy...listen to your body and you'll be fine.



Edit:

Sometimes I do a very fast crawl so the next lap, I go with a much slower stroke and sometimes even just float on my back, only using my legs, with both ears in the water, closing my eyes and meditating. Swimming is also great for the mind. So relaxing when you're slowly floating.



A pool is great because you can adapt it to your fitness level, from the elderly or obese people, walking in the water, to the high school student, in the swim team, doing very fast crawl laps endlessly, in they Speedo with their special little glasses.How would I start a fitness program baised on swimming?if you want to use swimming for weight loss you have to work at least 30 mins high intensity. its hard to say because we dont know your fitness level, experience of swimming etc.

if you are a beginner do lessons if not try 2 lengths front full speed then 2 moderate then 2 sprint etc.

good luck :)How would I start a fitness program baised on swimming?Pick an amount of time in the pool, not a set number of laps. Counting Laps is annoying, makes it tedious, and means you cant use the time in the pool to think about other things.



I would say a 20 min. minimum because if you do less then that you are not getting the cardio benefit. I dont know you current fitness level so it is hard for me to tell you what you should be doing, but start with some amount of time and build from there.



I also dont know how confident of a swimmer you are but any of the four strokes are great (free/back/breast/fly). Try sticking with one stroke for a few laps so your muscles are getting the most benefit from each stroke.



Good Luck : )