I am a swimming instructor for a YMCA. I mainly teach preschoolers and beginners.  I spend anywhere from 1 to 3 hours in the water about 3 days a week. Would this be good cardio or should I do more?

Hi Ams8099, 

Thanks for writing!  It sounds like you have a pretty physically active job. That is great, as lifestyle activity is very important to the long-term success of any weight loss program!

However, to answer your question, if you are just "in the water" with the preschoolers/beginners, and not actually swimming, then I would recommend that you are going to need additional exercise.  If you're not getting your heart rate up for about 30 continuous minutes while instructing, then you are not getting the full benefits of a cardio workout, including heart-healthy benefits and a good caloric expenditure.  Try other great cardio workouts such as walking, jogging, stair climbing, or a Taebo DVD! 

Ideally, you should be getting in 30-60+ minutes of some form of exercise on most days of the week.  This would include cardio, as well as strength training.  By including strength training 2-3 times per week, you'll begin replacing fat-mass with lean muscle mass, which promotes a more efficient metabolism!  The alli website provides very helpful animated demos for a full-body workout.  Go to "myactivity" and click on "strength training log" to view them.  

Best of luck and in fitness! 

Your friend in health, 

Kelli

Thanks Kelli!

Hi Ams8099, 

You are more than welcome!  Glad to help.  Please continue to stay connected to the alli community for support, encouragement, and to get any and all of your health and fitness questions addressed!  

Have fun with those toddlers and stay committed to your health and well-being, as well! 

Your friend and fitness, 

Kelli