Can Swimming Really Help Me Lose Weight?

Swimming is one of the best ways to get in shape and lose weight. It’s easy on your joints, it gets your heart rate up, and you can work out in privacy without worrying about injury as you would when running or lifting weights. So why isn’t everyone swimming every day? The main drawback to swimming as exercise is that it can be boring or intimidating, especially if you don’t know how to swim very well or have no one to go with. Here are some tips on getting started with swimming as exercise, and why you should choose it as your next fitness challenge!

Yes, swimming can help you lose weight

A swim session can burn as many as 200 calories per hour, making it one of the best aerobic exercises you can engage in. Unlike running or cycling, swimming is non-weight bearing and doesn’t put strain on your joints–which means you can exercise for longer periods of time without joint pain or injury. One of the main benefits of swimming is that it has little impact on the joints, meaning it’s ideal for those with osteoporosis or joint issues. In addition, because it does not work the muscles in the same way as, say, running, it does not leave your muscles and bones sore afterwards. One downside of swimming is its lack of intensity; but you’ll still burn fat and calories at a slower pace. Some people might wonder how many calories they’re burning while swimming. Well, the amount of calories you burn while swimming depends on the length of time that you swim: · swim at a vigorous pace for 10 minutes to burn 100 calories ·Or, swim vigorously for 30 minutes to burn 350 calories ·Or, swim at a moderate pace for 60 minutes to burn 600 calories ·Or, swim moderately for 90 minutes to burn 900 calories.

Here are four reasons why

Swimming is one form of cardiovascular exercise, so it is great for those who are looking to lose weight. Exercising in the water at least three times a week can reduce your risk of heart disease by as much as 30%. That being said, swimming is a low-impact exercise, so it is better for your joints than more traditional forms of cardio like running. It also, thanks to water resistance, will burn more calories for each stroke and kick. As an added bonus, people who swim at least 20 minutes in a day may increase muscle tone in their arms and shoulders—helping them tone up more quickly overall. However, how many calories does swimming burn? To answer that question, a study was conducted to see how many calories each of three groups of people burned during a set number of different activities. One group did 150 laps, one group did 300 laps, and the third group did not exercise at all. Researchers concluded that, over the course of 24 hours, the exercisers burned about 13% more calories than the non exercisers–but when only looking at the exercisers themselves, their burn rate averaged 12 calories per lap.

– You burn lots of calories while swimming

A 130-pound person will burn 527 calories per hour in a swimming pool, according to WebMD. Compare that to only 346 calories burned by jogging and 329 burned while walking at a brisk pace. You don’t need to spend hours in a pool every day to see results; 20 minutes of swimming five days per week will help you lose weight. That’s because it can raise your metabolism for up to 24 hours after you finish exercising. It also helps build lean muscle tissue—which, of course, burns more calories than fat does—and strengthen bones, which makes you more resilient when you hit land again. Plus, there are so many types of workouts you can do in the water: from laps and interval training to yoga or Pilates. The exercises get easier as you swim longer, too: in fact, most people increase their speed on repeat sets.

– Swimming makes you lean and fit

If you want to slim down, swimming is one of your best options because it’s a low-impact activity that works every muscle in your body. This is why experts often recommend swimming as an effective form of exercise for losing weight, since the more muscles you use, the more calories you’ll burn. In actuality, even one hour of exercise a week can reduce your waist size by up to 3 inches in 2 months (the same as if you’d given up ice cream). Your whole body will be leaner than ever, as well as toned. Swimming burns 240-280 calories an hour, meaning it burns almost twice as many calories as jogging. Not only do you get all the benefits of cardiovascular exercise without any impact on your joints, but you also don’t have to worry about running out of breath or becoming fatigued, which are common side effects of other forms of exercise.

– It’s very convenient to swim at home or in the pool

with only fifteen minutes of exercise per day, you can reap the benefits of doing about one and a half hours worth of running or roughly sixty calories worth of exercise. Combining the exercise with running or dancing if you have time can yield even better results. If you don’t have much time but you’re eager to maintain a healthy metabolism, then swimming may be your best bet. For example, when you swim at night or at the end of the day when it’s chilly outside, you’ll be burning calories while you sleep! This hot water is a perk to pregnant women as they can relieve pain in their joints and improve their blood circulation. Additionally, those looking to improve their stamina also benefit as they can shorten their resting time between workouts. It would be great for a swimmer who has no desire to run or do other exercises to not have to bring any extras other than the swim suit.
You will burn some calories by swimming, but it all depends on how long you’re doing it.

– Water provides resistance, which builds muscle and burns fat

When you swim in water, your body will use more energy than if you were exercising on land. It does so because water is much denser than air, so moving through it requires a lot of effort. This makes swimming an excellent cardio workout for your heart and lungs as well as a total-body workout that engages your glutes, quads, hamstrings and abdominal muscles. If weight loss is one of your goals, swimming can help you achieve it by helping you burn fat faster and develop lean muscle mass. A 150-pound person who swims consistently for six months can potentially lose 20 pounds or more!