Exercise question

I've read conflicting reports. Is it true that swimming is not as good for losing weight as other exercises?

I am certainly no expert, but I think as long as you're getting your heart rate up and working hard, and you are doing something you enjoy enough to do it often and stick with it, then keep doing it -- whatever it is!

Aloha,

I know from personal experience that water exercise is a great resource for losing weight, I recovered from a pilon ankle fracture and attended water therapy after becoming pregnant and not been able to complete land therapy. I managed to rehabilitate my injury as well as manage my weight. The positive thing about water excercise is that it is low impact. So you go ahead and do what works for you.

Nope - not true.  You cannot get the full effect of weight-bearing exercise in the water, but you can get a whole lot of resistance training without the impact.  The problem with swimming is that some people seem to think floating in the pool counts as a workout.  Active swimming, however, is an excellent conditioning exercise.  Water aerobics classes get a bad reputation since there are often older or obese people taking part who then get fitter and move out of the water for a change of pace, but they are really effective.

Among cardio exercises, swimming is the best. It works all of your muscles, and targets problem areas like the lower back, stomach, upper arms and thighs. Not sure why it has ever gotten a bad rap - i lost 30 pounds in 4 months last year swimming 3 times a week.

Any kind of exercise that gets your body moving and heart rate up is plenty good.  Swimming works just about every part of your body so that alone is pretty amazing.