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Can Swimming Make Me Fat?

I've heard that swimming increases body fat. Is that true? I thought it would be a good pre-wedding workout.

Surprisingly, some research suggests that swimming does not promote weight loss as well as other physical activities, because of how the body's heat mechanisms react to the water temperature. "It's like putting energy on reserve," explains Carol Espel, an exercise physiologist for Equinox Fitness Clubs in Leeds. "Instead of burning calories in the pool, your body tends to store them to combat the cold water. Also, a swimmer needs to have a certain amount of buoyancy, so the body wants to retain a layer of fat to keep the body afloat and to keep it warm."

That said, swimming is a great way to get your heart rate up and to maintain your cardiovascular fitness. But if losing weight is your goal, you should increase your heart rate to your training zone for at least 20 minutes, three times a week, by doing weight-bearing activities (think running, walking, or in-line skating). If you swim because you have an injury that limits you to a low-impact workout, ask an orthopedic specialist if you can try exercising on an elliptical machine. These simulate running and walking-without all the pounding. And if you crank up the resistance, you can burn serious calories.