Calorie-burners: Swimming vs. Running
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Swimming Burns more Calories than Running
Most people think that running is a crucial part of an exercise plan that's designed to help someone lose weight. While it's true that running can burn a lot of calories, it may not be the best way to rapidly lose weight. Believe it or not, swimming almost always burns more calories than running does. It should be noted that this depends on how fast you run versus how fast you swim and it also varies by the stroke that you use when swimming. However, as a general rule, you are going to burn more calories when you're swimming than when you're running. And if you're anything like me, you think swimming is a whole lot more fun!
Personally, I don't like to run. I've never gotten the ‘runner's high'. I've never felt pleased with myself after pushing my body to run. And I've never really stuck with any running-based exercise regime for long because it's not something that's at all enjoyable to me. Swimming, on the other hand, is something that I can enjoy. It's relaxing. It's that "summer sport" that can be enjoyed leisurely but it can also be done throughout the rest of the year in a gym or fitness center. Because I prefer swimming to running, I was pleased to find out that quality swimming actually burns more calories than running does.
Of course, there are some drawbacks to using swimming instead of running as your main form of weight loss exercise. The main thing is that it's easier to find a place to run than it is to find a place to swim. Unless you're really averse to running in various climates, you can step outside anywhere and start to run. Running can be done on vacation and around the neighborhood. In contrast, swimming requires that you have a pool. Most people can find a pool at their vacation hotel or at their neighborhood gym but it's certainly not as simple as finding a place to run.
People who don't necessarily prefer one to the other frequently find that a fitness program that combines both running and swimming is a great combination. Swimming may burn more calories but running also gets your heart rate going and will help you to lose weight. The benefit to a fitness routine that includes both types of exercise is that you will work out different muscles while losing weight. This will give you a more balanced muscle level throughout your body than would a fitness regime that included only swimming or only running. An exercise program that combines two days of running with two days of swimming is one that will give you a total body workout, toning all of your muscles while helping you to lose weight.
Anyone who is interested in learning how many calories they burn during running versus those that they burn during swimming should check out an online calorie burning calculator such as the one available here. Keep in mind that varied swimming strokes will alter the amount of calories that you burn, with back stroke swimming being the best way to burn calories quickly.
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Comments
really informational. i find i get hungrier after swimming which defeats my high-burning workout whereas i'm less hungry after i go for a good run. :P but that's just me...
Thanks for this. I love running but haven't been able to for years (knee probs) & .often feel swimming is a soft option although I enjoy it. This will encourage me to swim more often
you are wrong
swimming does not burn more calories than running. As a zero impact exercise, it is impossible for swimming to burn more calories than running at the same intensity. Even your link that is a reference shows that running burns more calories than swimming. Yes it is a good idea to combine bith running and swimming into your workouts, but i recommend you stop giving workout advice to people because you do not know anything yourself!
Hmmm Good article, and this is coming from a Track runner!!! I've always been interested in swimming, but was always involved with either track or football. I know that running can be a big burden on your knees and shins, while swimming poses virtually no strain or stress on joints and bones. Swimming or water aerobics can be done at almost any age, that makes it very attractive.
Swimming is great, but like anything it is probably how intense you do it. When I was in an adult swim squad many years ago, if the coaches thought we were looking a bit flabby, they'd make us do the sets with fins on. That really gets the heart pumping and is great for the legs and butt!
I understand that we should combine swimming with a weight bearing exercise as we get older particularly as it affects our bone density.
I hate jogging and swimming! For fat burning I prefer hill sprints or kettlebell workouts. That being said, jogging is better for fat loss. I think swimming in cold water has some funny effects on metabolism and causes people to overeat. There are so many fat swimmers I have trouble believing it is a good fat burning workout!
For me, it is easier to put on a pair of shoes and just go running. I don't own a pool, but I do own a pair of legs. Good hub.
i got results with combined exercise of swimming and burning. Good analysis!
Running with poor technique or with the wrong footwear can cause joint problems, especially on hard surfaces (road running). It's great exercise but has to approached the right way. Recovery days are essential. Hill running burns far more calories and also exercises the abdominals. But it's hard! Hill swimming on the other hand...
Prefer to get on my bike and see a bit of the countryside. Doesn't feel like exercise then.
Useful Topic.
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thank you
that gives me some motivation to go to the gym now
I've always heard swimming was really good for you, sounds like that was definitely the truth!
Yes, I hated running too until I started doing it more. Now I still hate the before and during, but love the after. Will have to check out swimming now too. And I'm sure that sport has a ton of fans now thanks to Mr. Phelps ....
Thanks -I'm a keen runner, but swimming is also highly recommended. Problem is, many pools are so crowded these days.
If you doubt swimming is less difficult than running try it. I know people who can run really well but are completly stumped when in the water because it works more muscles than running does.
great information. I am the opposite to you...comfortable running and never got in the zone swimming......it the drowning sensation when you get tired!!! that spoils it for me, water up the nose heugh heugh,.. if defense of running isn't weight bearing excercise better for driving calcium into your bones? Swimming is better for the whole body strength and balance tho.
Great Hub Kathryn. I definitely do think that swimming is a great fat burning exercise. However, it is not everybody's cup of tea. First of all, you need to learn swimming. The next problem can be finding a place to swim. Indian girls are reluctant to wear swimming costume and swim in the sea and swimming pools charge too much. One of my friends even got an allergy after using a swimming pool.
http://hubpages.com/hub/Walking-your-way-to-Health
Swimming is a fantastic workout indeed. My problem is the whole breathing thing creeps me out! Running is a nice addition to my fitness routine. Nice Hub!
Thanks Kathryn very timely for me - had a nasty back accident so anything that involves walking/running up hills or slopes or distance is out but swimming is about to become my no 1 exercise - cheers.
Not true. Swimming does not induce as much thermogenesis, as the body does not have to work as hard post-exercise to cool down. To the first comment--adults do not have much brown fat. Infants do, but adults do not.
Either will work to control weight, provided you do not overcompensate afterwards (i.e. I just ran a mile, so I can have an entire cheesecake!).
Doing something you enjoy will have more benefits, as you will stick with it longer.
However...running DOES burn more calories. Check your facts, and don't believe everything you read, especially on the internet.
hello,
nice article...i don't like running either...round & round & round...where the heck am i going-back to the same place i started. BOOORRRING! i run a few miles...find a field run hard to and fro....then, hit that pool!
I believe swimming burn more calories...swimming works more muscle group: neck, back, shoulders, triceps and biceps, chest, abs, gluts and legs. Running aslo work some of the same muscle group but not more than swimming...If u dont believe, Try running a mile then swimming a mile...
Calorie
Swimming is definitely the best workout for the body. Not only do you use more muscles but you also spare your joints and bones. Anyway the most important is that you enjoy your workout what ever it my be.
just come back from the pool. Always feel better every time .great for the mood- gauranteed. As well as doing laps I do a few other exercises such as somersaults both ways forward & back to loosen & flex the spine safely & tread water for five minutes & try & use most of the body in the process...
Great Hub! I think both of these excersises is a great way to burn calories, and both should be used in a work out routine.
Great information! Who would think there was such a difference in the type of exercise you choose? Swimming is on my list of exercises now.
ya. water provides extra resistance to burn extra calories.
I have a bad Knee and bad hip and may need replacement of both. I have played three major sports, baseball, football and basketball in high school and college, but that was forthy years ago. I still cinsuder my self for my age in good shape but about 30 pound over weight, I weight 195 at 5 foot 10. I just bought a recumbembent bike 2 days ago What do you thik of these?
The Sanndman
I do a lot of running and swimming myself. It is true that you swimming is a better choice.
It has been shown in studies that people engaged in routine workout activities of swimming are more likely to gain weight due to the increased desire to consume after swimming. Compared to running and biking, these two actually decrease caloric desires after excercise.
i think swimming is more effective than running
Good to know, a lot of the people i talk to can't run.
Following geogaddi comment, I advsie not eating afterwards for a couple of hours.
Any exercise is good exercise, some is more efficient and with the right knowledge it can be a lot easier to loose weight or maintain the weight loss.
Keep moving regardless.
It has been shown in studies that people engaged in routine workout activities of swimming are more likely to gain weight due to the increased desire to consume after swimming. Compared to running and biking, these two actually decrease caloric desires after excercise.
Thanks - I do both like running and swimming, and I like that you don't bash running, haha :-)
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This may seem shallow but swimming pools are mostly uninviting to swim in, what with all the phelgm and snot...sorry if this disgusted you. But your support for it really tempts me to try it out again after a hiatus of 3 months. Great article by the way!
well when you get hungry u supose to eat just don't eat the grease food man , common not such a hard thing to do go to the vitamin store look for high protein low calorie low carb suplements and mix with skim milk. get the and aplyfy double chocolate is the best tasting belive me i have gone thru lots os protein shake and they taste auwful....
Great hub! I used to be on my high school swim team for competition. Swimming is a lot more fun that running. I am not a runner!
I was forced into swimming for my aerobic exercise because I'm now in my late fifties and my joints will no longer allow me to do much hiking or any weight lifting or calisthenics. I have been swimming for a year now three times a week for a half hour to an hour each time. My joints have not complained at all, it has been much easier to keep my weight under control, and people comment on how trim and fit I'm looking these days. I live in south Florida and so outdoor swimming is possible all year, and I can think of no better way to exercise in the Florida summer! (You in the colder climates may need to be concerned about "thermogenesis." We get that each time we step outside, let alone doing yard work! I'm glad for a form of exercise that actually cools me down!) As far as swimming increasing your appetite, that has not been true for me. I seem to swim better on an empty stomach and so I'm often hungry when I get to the pool but by the time I'm finished the hunger pangs are invariably gone. So, I'm now a swimming enthusiast, which is full circle because that's the first form of athletics I got into (a swim team) when I was seven years old.
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec01/ch006/ch006e.html
"If weight loss is one of the main goals of exercise, however, swimming is not the best choice. Exercise out of water is more effective because air insulates the body, increasing body temperature and metabolism for up to 18 hours. This process expends extra calories after exercise as well as during exercise. In contrast, water conducts heat away from the body, so that body temperature does not rise and metabolism does not remain increased after swimming. Also, swimming tends not to build muscle, because the muscles are supported by the water, which restricts the type of movements the muscles make. And because swimming is not a weight-bearing exercise, it does not help prevent osteoporosis."
I enjoy swimming so much better than running, although running is a part of my weekly workout it does not provide me the all body workout that swimming does. Good post!
highwaystar says:
17 months ago
Thanks for sharing releavnt info, great hub...swimming isn't a weight bearing exercise like running, both have advantages depending on your physical abilities and body structure. Swimming in cold water increases metabolic rate, so when you shiver your burn more calories faster in order to keep warm, body temperature is almost completely fueled by fat, especially brown fat which is more responsive and metabolically active (the flab that makes you look fat is white fat).