Summer is coming....

Today is April 6, but it feels like August 6. 92 degrees and sunny. Over the weekend it was in the high 70's, sunny and just lovely. It was time to get into summer mode and so it was off to go kayaking. Pohick Bay Regional Park is 30-minutes south of Washington, DC and is open for kayaking earlier than anyone in the city. One place, Jack's Boathouse won't open until April 15 and Fletcher's Boathouse probably won't open until the end of April or early May. It was a really nice day, we were out on the water for two hours and saw many birds. Kayaking is very good upper body and abdominal workout. Shoulders, obliques and biceps. If you are in anything but calm conditions you'll get an excellent workout, but even in calm conditions you can work fast and hard.

With the summer weather on its way I'm posting some good exercises for swimming. We'll be in the pool before you know it. Of course if your gym has an indoor or heated outdoor you can start right away. Happy pool time.

These are from Jillian Michaels newsletter.

1. Push-ups on the side of the pool.

2. Dips on the side of the pool.

3. Treading water. (If this is easy for you, hold a dumbbell over your head and try it.)

4. Hold weights in your hands and try running laps in a lap pool. This is fun and challenging.

5. Hold a kickboard and do only kicking-drill laps.

6. Place a Styrofoam block between your legs and hold it tight so that your legs are totally stationary. Now try swimming laps using only your arms.

7. Up-downs: Go into the deep end of the pool. Dive to the bottom and then jump from the bottom back up to the surface. Catch your breath and repeat.

Try to do each of these exercises for 5 sets of 10 repetitions — do what you can in the beginning, and work up to it!