As a blizzard-filled February comes to an end, we all are hoping that the legendary Punxsutawney Phil's prediction of an early spring comes true. The melting snow and slowly rising temperatures are a good indication that bathing suit season is right around the corner. But as we begin to dig out those swim trunks and bikinis from storage, many of us have a lingering question in the back of our minds-"How am I going to look in my swimwear after such a long winter? "

The task of getting back in shape for the summer can seem daunting, but it doesn't have to be. You have always thought of your pool as a good place to relax, but it is also a great place to get in shape-without having to leave your backyard! Gather up all of your favorite pool toys and get ready to get back in shape!

Here are 3 great areas of focus in order to make your pool workouts fun and worthwhile.

Strength

To build strength in your arms, hold a pool noodle in both handles while standing in shoulder deep water, push the noodle down until your arms are straight and slowly let it come back up. By repeating this exercise frequently you can build up the muscle in your arms. Walking or jogging in the pool is a similarly effective strength-building exercise for your legs. In the shallow end, simply walking from one end to the other will do the trick, but an even more effective way to build strength in the legs is by doing water jogging in the deep end of the pool. Wrap your arms around your pool noodle or kick board and allow your legs to propel you across the pool without letting your feet touch the ground. In addition to strengthening your legs, this exercise will also help tone those abdominal muscles.

Flexibility

To improve flexibility in your legs, take a noodle into the shallow end of the pool and stand on it with one foot. Grab both ends of the noodle and raise your straightened leg to the surface of the pool while simultaneously pulling your chest towards the top of the raised leg. By holding that stretch for 30 to 60 seconds, switching legs, and repeating often, you can begin to improve flexibility significantly.

Cardio

Swimming laps in a pool is an excellent cardiovascular exercise, but can be boring and tedious for many people. A way to make this exercise a bit more fun is by throwing on some flippers and grabbing a floatation device to help you along the way. Put the floatation device in front of you and continue around the edge of the pool at a fast pace. Each day you do this exercise, increase your speed and you will begin to see that you can do more laps around the pool in less time. Another way to make this exercise fun is by doing it with a partner and making it a race.

Getting in shape does not have to mean joining another gym or constantly counting calories. You can make your new workout regimen fun and easy by simply jumping in your pool.

You want to get in shape for the swimming season anyway, why not do it while enjoying your pool?