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10 Swimming Tips to Lose 45 Pounds Like I Did

Dive into smart tricks to lose weight in the pool.
FACT CHECKED BY Christopher Roback

Brandon (@savewithbrandon) is a social media influencer and TikToker who lost 45 pounds, attributing his weight loss to swimming. In one of his viral clips, he shows an impressive before and after photo highlighting a "45-pound difference" over a period of 6 months, claiming that all he needed was a pair of goggles and a swimsuit. "Just jump into a lap swim pool. Just get into a lap swim pool and start moving your arms forward like that. Just keep going and going and going until you're tired. If you're tired right away, just keep going," he says. Here are ten reasons why you should try swimming for weight loss, too.

Swimming Helps Tone Your Muscles

@savewithbrandon

45 lbs ⬇️ underrated weight loss advice 🔥 **personal experience only** #health #fitness #journey #weightloss #swimming #cardio #muscle

♬ original sound – Brandon's Deals & Random Reels

One "big difference besides my stomach is that my arms and my shoulders have gotten extremely cut from swimming," says Brandon.

Swimming Is a Full Body Workout

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Brandon also maintains that swimming is a full-body workout. "You literally work every single part of your body when you swim," he continues.

Swimming Burns Lots of Calories

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"Not only that, you burn so many calories," he says. "Like I can go home and eat half a bag of Cheetos and still lose weight. According to the CDC, an average 154-pound person can burn 510 calories per hour swimming "slow freestyle laps."

Swimming Is a Low-Impact Workout

Female swimming front crawl.
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Swimming is a great low-impact workout. "People are able to exercise longer in water without increased joint or muscle pain, which has been shown to be especially helpful for people with arthritis and osteoarthritis," says the CDC.

Swimming Improves Heart Health

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Swimming is great for heart health. One study commissioned by Swim England found that swimmers have a 41% lower risk of death due to heart disease or stroke than non-swimmers and a 28% lower risk of early death overall.

Swimming Is Great for Cognitive Function

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Swimming is also good for your brain. One study found that swimming regularly can improve cognitive function.

Swimming Will Help You Breathe

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Swimming is also good for your lungs. Studies have found that elite swimmers have superior lung capacity when compared to other athletes, including football players.

Swimming Burns Body Fat

Professional man in swimming pool. View underwater
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Multiple studies have found that swimming is linked to decreased body fat, including a study of middle-aged women who swam three hours a week for 12 weeks. Research also found that sedentary women who swam three times a week were more successful in losing fat in their weight, waist, and hips compared to those who walked three times a week.

Swimming Is Fun

Summer, sport and athlete swimming in pool for competition, race or cardio training for triathlon. Fitness, workout and man exercise for health, wellness and practice stroke outdoor with water splash
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Swimming is also fun, which means you are more likely to do it. The CDC maintains that it is the fourth most popular sport in the United States.

RELATED: 5 Foods That Grow Muscle Fast After 50

Swimming Is Adaptable

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Another great thing about swimming? You can adapt it to your needs. Swim faster or slower, try a different stroke, use a kickboard…the possibilities are almost endless. And if you enjoyed this article, don't miss 12-3-30 Walking Method: 20 Proven Tips to Lose Weight Faster.

Leah Groth
Leah Groth has decades of experience covering all things health, wellness and fitness related. Read more