Check out our water-themed T-shirts, now available in v-necks! Unique designs to show your water love!
Even hearing the basic concept of “water fitness,” people often write it off as being “too simple. There’s no way I’m going to get fit doing water exercises or water aerobics.” They give a slight bit more credit to swimming laps but have a hard time committing to that exercise as well.
It is very simple.
You take off your clothes and put on your swimsuit; you get in a large body of water like a pool, the ocean, a lake – and you move. ‘Taking it off’ helps you to tell the world to “bring it on!”
With water fitness, you have a built-in assistant in getting you in shape: the water itself. That’s right, the water creates resistance before you ever pick up any equipment, e.g. a pair of buoys (water dumbbells) or a noodle. Simply walking back and forth in the water creates resistance, a necessary ingredient to building muscle.
Add a little rhythm and pick up your steps so that you’re running in chest-high water. Now your heart rate is increasing, your blood is pumping, and talking is a little challenging. All of this is good news. You’re opening up your lungs while working your core and your legs. Simple, huh?
If you feel your mind start to wander while running, that’s cool too. You’ll find that your day’s problems seem to present solutions, you relax, and your confidence begins to grow.
I discovered years ago that doing only this – running in the water – is a good workout. It’s jogging with a current of resistance.
But why stop there? Don’t you want your arms to get in on the action? Grab a pair of .42 ounce buoys. That’s right, that’s all they weigh. But in the water, they’re super heroes!
Buoys (water dumbbells) take your workout to the next level. Doing a simple bicep curl in the water with a set of .42 ounce buoys is the same as using 6 lb. weights on land. I’ll wait here while you Google that. So do a few of those! Try 10 and work your way up to 30 on each arm. Pretty simple…
Do some overhead jack arms with those buoys. Hold them over your head with your palms facing forward and act like you’re doing a jumping jack. Jog while you’re doing jack arms, and voila! You’ve added to your repertoire.
Nothing complicated so far.
Hold the buoys over your head with palms facing each other, each buoy in line with your shoulder. Go straight back as far as you can, then come forward again. You’ve just worked your triceps (bat wings, soft underarms). Repeat.
This workout is still pretty darn simple but you’re doing amazing things for your body. You’re building bicep muscle, strengthening your core, and getting rid of old lady/old guy arms.
Add some more exercises until you get your workout plan. Taking a class helps to develop your workout, and there are also plenty of videos and a few good books detailing water exercises out there. Comment below if you want some suggestions from me.
And just think: All you did was take off your clothes and get in the water.
Other simple ideas:
- Keep your diet simple. Count the calories you burn while working out. We’ll call this (B). A water-proof smart watch is perfect for this. Then count the calories you put in your mouth. We’ll call this (E). Then you subtract E from B. Keep adjusting your intake and exercise until you get a deficit there. When you’re taking in (eating) less than your working off (burning), you lose weight and/or maintain your present weight.
- Vote. For decent interactions with people. For belief that the best days are ahead. For love, not hate.
- Keep your life simple. What does God require of us? “To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) That’s all.
Thank you and I’ll see ya’ in the water!
Take a moment and check out our water-themed t-shirts, now available in v-necks! Unique designs to show your water love!