Swim and gym exercise for toning your legs

08/07/2016

Combining swimming and gym exercises is an effective way of toning your legs. To help you out we have created a simple swim and gym toning your legs exercise.

Our pick and mix swim and gym exercises help you mix things up a little. Enjoy all the benefits of exercising in water after a light gym workout, but with a focus on one area of the body for maximum impact.

Remember to always warm up before any exercise. Head over to our stretching video collection to warm up legs, arms and upper body. Note, you will need to be able to swim at least 10 lengths in one swimming stroke to do this exercise.

Toning your legs – in the gym

OK, first off is the gym. This should take 20-30 minutes with stretches to warm up. It is important to ensure you have the right weight. A few rules when choosing weight:

If it’s your first time or haven’t been to the gym in a while start with a very light weight
Never choose a weight because someone else is using it. Listen to your body.
You should struggle doing the final few repetitions.
If you finish all the sets easily you need to increase weight on the next visit
Complete the full movement at a steady pace. Don’t use bounce to help you, this may cause injury

Follow these rules for each of the exercises below. Take time to find your right weight on each. Contact the gym staff who will be happy to help. You will be doing the follow exercises:

Leg Press – three sets of eight
Hamstring or Lying Leg Curls – three sets of eight
Calf Raises – three sets of eight
Squats – four sets of six

Toning your legs – in the pool

Next up is to head to the pool. We have two choices here depending on how confident a swimmer you are. If you are not confident use this one. Work from 1-4 taking the rests required after each.

For less confident swimmers

If you can only do one stroke and can swim 10-12 lengths a visit then choose this option.

Section	What to do in the pool	Rest Period
1	Swim for three minutes using front crawl, backstroke or breaststroke without resting.	Up to one minute after the three minutes.
2	Swim four lengths using either front crawl, backstroke or breaststroke.	30 seconds after each length.
3	Swim six lengths using the same stroke as above.	Every two lengths until your breathing returns to normal.
4	Swim for three minutes using any stroke without resting.	–

For more confident swimmers

If you can swim more than one stroke confidently and are capable of swimming more than 30 lengths in a visit then choose this option. You will also need a float.

Section	Session Set	Rest Period
1	Swim for five minutes alternating between front crawl and backstroke every length without resting.	After the five minutes until your breathing returns to normal.
2	Hold a float in front of you and kick for six lengths using any stroke.	Up to 15 seconds after each length.
3	Swim eight lengths using the same stroke as above.	Up to 15 seconds after each length.
4	Swim 12 lengths alternating between your two favourite strokes every length without resting.	–