This is an exercise tip for those who want to consider swimming laps to lose weight.
If you have never swum laps before, or (like me) are VERY out of shape, you might find it's easier to kick the laps using a kickboard. That way, your head is out of the water and breathing is not as big an obstacle.
My recommendation is to start out doing just kicking laps. You can even try using fins or flippers to mix it up if you want. Then try adding in actual swimming, maybe swimming 1 lap for every 4 you kick, or some ratio like that. You can eventally work down the ratio until you are doing mostly swimming.
As a former competitive swimmer, I learned that kicking by itself is really almost a much of a workout as actually swimming. The leg muscles are among the largest muscle groups in the body - kicking works the legs and also the lower back and abs. And when you start doing the whole stroke, your legs will be in great shape and able to carry you while your upper body gets into shape. In all of the competitive strokes (freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly) the greater percentage of power comes from the lower body (except the breaststroke which is 50/50).
So if you find that trying to swim laps is leaving you gasping for air, try using a kickboard to increase exercise in the pool until you are strong enough to put it all together.
GOOD LUCK!!!
