How I became a mermaid:the pleasures of swimming.

My first introduction to swimming came when I was about ten years of age. The primary school I attended took us to the local baths (swimming pool) on a regular basis. I do not know where my anxiety(not quite fear) of the water originated; perhaps passed on by my mother as she was anxious about the water too. It was enough swimming in the shallow end but when they had us climb up to the diving board, at the deep end! I stood there staring over the edge into the space below and the fathomless depths below that. I did what any sane child would do: I said loudly, clearly, audibly, "NO!" and made my way forcefully through the queue of expectant ten year old behind me back to solid ground. Let them risk it if they wished, I WOULD NOT!.

So how, some forty years on, do I come to claim the status of mermaid? Over the years I have came to like swimming in short sessions, sometimes urged on by my brother. Recently after a period of extreme personal stress, culminating in the development of hypertension, I looked for a way to improve my chances of managing the disorder. I had gained a significant amount of weight and in the winter months, the prospect of taking to my bicycle and cycling did not appeal to me. I decided that the gentle sport of swimming would be an excellent way to begin. I became a regular attender at the local swimming pool. My first visit saw me short of breath after my first width but gradually I built up my stamina. I managed two widths; then back and forth I was going. My ego however was frequently deflated by the presence of one particular male swimmer who would swim at least twenty lengths continuously every single visit. Where did he find the stamina? I wondered.

That was over five years ago, now I love to swim. I too try to do at least twenty lengths at a time but I do cheat a little and take a break somewhere between eight to ten lengths. My greatest pleasure is actually swimming under water, a pleasure which has been enhanced by a new pair of goggles. Sometimes my weekly swim is my only form of exercise and although my stamina is increased, swimming has not contributed to weight loss. A research on swimming and weight loss has been conducted and is available at www.thefactsaboutfitness.com. This appears to indicate that although an excellent form of exercise, swimming does not achieve the objective of raising metabolic rate to the degree necessary for weight loss. This is compared to other aerobic type exercises such as walking/ running/ cycling which do.

Additional factors are discussed such as the fact that swimming may result in the swimmer feeling extremely hungry after a session (something to which I can testify ) and therefore replenishing the calorific loss achieved during the swim with a hearty snack afterward. Whatever the exact mechanism for this situation; swimming still remains an excellent and enjoyable form of exercise and if it's only benefits were to be increase of the 'feel good factor', it would still be well worth the effort, after all, some exercise is far better than none.

Learn more about this author, Denepher Smith.
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