Most of us enjoy a leisurely Sunday afternoon, soaking up some rays and chilling with a cold drink by the pool. But, what happens to all of that goodness once the sun begins to settle and the air turns a little chilly? Do we need to rush around, trying to squeeze in another swim before the sun goes down?
The simple answer is no, not necessarily. While the first swimmer may feel a bit chilly as they emerge from the water, their body’s heat will quickly return and allow them to stay outside for longer.
And, for an even simpler, yet effective, way to fend off the evening chill, simply keep diving in and out of the water!
How about you? How long does your fair fish last before you need to go back inside?
The Benefits Of Diving
When you’re swimming, it’s important to remain hydrated. But, drinking too many fluids can cause you to become bloated and even put a little bit of a strain on your heart. So, when you return from your day of leisure and relaxation, it’s often at the end of a long, hard week, not just the end of your swim workout.
To keep your body hydrated while also maintaining a healthy heart, you should drink plenty of water, but avoid drinking too much (this can cause you to bloat). The best way to stay hydrated while swimming is by drinking water, but avoiding fruit juices, which can cause you to retain more liquid. You should drink at least 12 ounces for every hour that you spend in the water. Having a little more fluid in your system will help to keep your body temperature down and allow you to remain comfortable even after extensive periods of activity. This is great if you want to be able to keep swimming longer!
On the other hand, if you’re looking to stay warm, it’s a great way to do so by getting into the pool. Biking, running, and other activities that you do on land generate a lot of body heat, which is rapidly depleted as you emerge from the water. So, being in the water for just a few minutes can feel like an eternity, especially when the air is chilly and damp. In these cases, diving beneath the surface can provide you with some relief by retaining some of that warmth. You can even place a small space heater in the water, so that when you dive down, you’re enveloped in a warm, cocoon-like atmosphere, as the current of warm air rising from the bottom of the pool gently bathes you in warmth.
As mentioned, a healthy heart is essential, so always make sure that your heart is in good condition and there are no signs of heart disease. If you’re worried about your heart, then you should probably not be doing any strenuous activity, especially not swimming. An excellent heart rate is 60-70 percent of your maximal heart rate, or simply put, a comfortable and effortless swimming pace. The best way to work your heart is by maintaining a steady rhythm and avoiding stagnation. This will help to keep your blood circulating and pumping efficiently. You should know your limits and be mindful of how much exercise you’re able to handle. Even though you may feel fine, you should still take it easy and recover properly, especially if you’re already engaged in a regular exercise routine. Remember, too much exercise can cause more harm than good, especially if you’re not used to it and are not prepared for it!
How Long Does A Fair Fish Last?
As we’ve established, staying hydrated and warm are both great ways to go about enjoying your time in the pool. But, how long does a fair fish last?
Well, that depends on a variety of factors. If you’re wanting to estimate how long your fish will last, then you must consider the following variables:
- The water temperature.
- The weather conditions.
- Your general health status.
- How experienced you are in swimming (the deeper the better).
- How much exercise you get (the more the merrier!).
- How well you assimilate food (some people are slower than others!).
- How quickly you consume food (some people gobble down their food quicker than others!).
- How much you weigh (if you weigh less, then you’ll stay in the water longer!).
- How diligent you are in keeping your body hydrated (if you’re not, then your fish may last shorter!).
- How well you adhere to regular exercise sessions (the more you do it, the sooner you’ll master it!).
- How much you enjoy being in the water (the more you enjoy it, the sooner you’ll become a regular swimmer!).
- Your level of experience (the more you do it, the sooner you’ll become an expert!).
Just remember that it’s never just one factor that makes up your overall time in the water. It’s always a combination of everything listed above that will determine how long your fish will last. So, the next time you’re in the pool, take some time to think about all of the above and the countless number of ways that your body can stay hydrated and comfortable while in the water. Then, you’ll be able to properly time your next swim session and ensure that you emerge from the water, feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to take on the world. And, if you keep all of this in mind, then you’ll have no trouble estimating how much time you have left in the water, at least not within reason. So, don’t fret if the sun is beginning to settle, and you’ve got a bit of a chill, as you can always swim a little longer! You’ll feel better for it eventually. Better yet, you may even decide that, come hell or high water, you’ll never get out of the water. And, at that point, you’ll just have to content yourself with swimming forever. Win-win!