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BioGuard® Pool Fitness Tips
From Fitness® magazine
Pool fitness routines are a great way to sculpt your major muscles, burn fat and enjoy your pool all at the same time. And because it’s low impact, you get the benefits of a healthy workout without the stress on your knees and feet. Remember to always consult your physician before starting any exercise program.
Looking for some great workout tunes to get started with? Visit Fitness® magazine top 100 workout tunes.
Beginner Pool Fitness Routine
The basics: Swim freestyle, using your rate of perceived exertion (RPE, or how hard the workout feels on a scale of 1 to 10) where indicated. Distances are based on a 25-yard pool (one length). To do these routines, you should feel comfortable swimming at least 100 yards without stopping.
You'll need a kickboard, fins and a watch or clock with a second hand.
100 yds.
(4 lengths) Warm up (RPE 3)
50 yds.
(2 lengths) Flutter kick on side (RPE 3).
Lie on one side with lower arm extended, ear resting on arm, upper arm along body; hold on to a board with top hand if necessary. Kick from hips (not knees), looking up and keeping knees and side or back of head in water.
50 yds.
Flutter kick with kickboard (keep head in water and breathe to both sides (RPE 4).
5 x 50 yds.
Swim at a moderate to hard intensity (RPE 7) for 5 laps, taking a breath every 3 strokes. Take 50 to 60 seconds to swim each lap, resting at the wall, if you have extra time.
2 x 50 yds.
Swim easy (RPE 3) for 2 laps, taking 1 to 1:15 minutes to swim each lap.
100 yds.
Swim at a moderate intensity (RPE 6), (2 laps)
100 yds.
Cool down, easy (RPE 3).
You just swam: 750 yds.
Intermediate Pool Routine
200 yds.
Warm up, easy (RPE 3)
100 yds.
Pulling, freestyle (RPE 4). Squeeze a pull buoy between upper thighs and swim only with upper body (no kicking).
2 x 50 yds.
Moderate/hard in 40 to 50 seconds (RPE 7).
1 x 100 yds.
Moderate in 2 to 2:15 minutes (RPE 6).
2 x 50 yds.
Moderate/hard in 40 to 50 seconds (RPE 7).
1 x 50 yds.
Easy in 1 minute (RPE 4).
2 x 100 yds.
Moderate/hard in 2 to 2:15 minutes (RPE 7). For the first 25 yds., breathe every 3 strokes; second 25, breathe every 5; third 25, breathe every 7; fourth 25, breathe every 9. Repeat sequence.
1 x 50 yds.
Easy in 1 minute (RPE 4).
2 x 50 yds.
Sprints with fins.
4 x 25 yds.
Cool down. Flutter kick with kickboard and fins (RPE 4–7). Do first 25 yds. slow; next, medium; then fast and very fast.
100 yds.
Easy (RPE 3). Count arm strokes every 25 yds., trying to reduce stroke count with each lap.
You just swam: 1,200 yds.
Advanced Pool Routine
100 yds.
Warm up: Flutter kick with fins (RPE 3), 25 yds., facedown, 25 yds. on left side, 25 yds. on back, 25 yds. on right side.
200 yds.
(RPE 3) Swim first 25 breathing to left every 4 strokes, next 25 breathing to right every 4 strokes, final 50 breathing to either side every 3 strokes. Repeat.
5 x 150 yds.
(RPE 5–6): Swim 150 yds.; rest 15 seconds.
Swim 125 yds., then swim 25 yds., breathing every 9 strokes; rest 15 seconds.
Swim 100 yds., then swim 50 yds., breathing every 7 strokes; rest 15 seconds.
Swim 75 yds., then swim 75 yds., breathing every 5 strokes; rest 15 seconds.
Swim 50 yds., then swim 100 yds., breathing every 3 strokes; rest 15 seconds.
1 x 100 yds.
Swim at an easy pace (RPE 3).
5 x 50 yds.
Swim 25 yds. fast (RPE 7), 25 yds. slow (RPE 3). Then swim 25 yds. slow, 25 yds. fast. Rest 15 seconds between sets.
1 x 50 yds.
Easy in 1 minute (RPE 4).
8 x 25 yds.
Sprint (RPE 8–9) 45 seconds.
4 x 25 yds.
Flutter kick with kickboard and fins. Do first 25 yds. slow, next 25 medium, then fast and very fast (RPE 4–7).
100 yds.
Cool down: swim easy (RPE 3).