It's more than likely you keep tabs on your calorie consumption and calorie exertion. But, like many of us, you probably wonder how much energy is burned when you head to the pool for a training swim.
Swimming is, without question, an effective way to torch calories. And, since swimming is a non-impact sport, it's neutral on common problems areas like the lower back and knees. So if you're plagued by injury, it's a great option for many adults looking for an energy-burning activity.
But how much of a calorie-burning workout is it, truly? And how does it stack up to other endurance activities like running and cycling?
The answer varies, but we do have a few numbers you can chew on.
The Variables
A few things to consider here: First, your weight plays a big factor in how much is burned. Generally, the more you weigh, the more you burn.
But to make things even foggier (goggle pun), a person's metabolism is also a factor in how many calories are burned, and metabolism varies no matter what your weight is.
It's difficult to calculate individual metabolism, so these numbers are based on basal metabolic rate for average people in a variety of weight classes.
How Many Calories are Burned Swimming?
The site Nutristrategy.com has estimates from research data from the American College of Sports Medicine. These estimates are based on one hour of swimming, rather than the total distance an athlete covers.
And of course, it varies by your weight:
- A 130-pound person swimming freestyle for one hour will burn 590 calories swimming fast, and 413 calories swimming slower.
- A 155-pound person swimming freestyle for one hour will burn 704 calories swimming fast, and 493 calories swimming slower.
- A 180-pound person swimming freestyle for one hour will burn 817 calories swimming fast, and 572 calories swimming slower.
- A 205-pound person swimming freestyle for one hour will burn 931 calories swimming fast, and 651 calories swimming slower.
Other Strokes
The estimates don't stop at freestyle. Generally, swimmers will burn the same amount of calories doing backstroke than they will doing a slower freestyle, according to Nutristrategy.
Swimming breaststroke for an hour will burn a similar amount of calories to doing a fast freestyle workout.
For the king of calorie-burning swimming workouts, though, swim an hour doing butterfly (if you dare). The calorie torching ranges from 649 calories for a 130-pounder to 1,024 calories for a 205-pounder.
How Does it Compare to Other Sports?
With those numbers in mind, is swimming the best option for someone looking to burn calories?
Well, no—of all the activities Nutristrategy documents, cross-country skiing uphill burns the most (have fun doing that!). But among the most common endurance sports disciplines, swimming holds its own.
Running for an hour at a 9:00/mile pace burns anywhere from 649 to 1,024 calories depending on your weight, and the amount of calories burned naturally goes up the faster you go. This is in line with the widely held belief that running is the best endurance sport for weight loss.
Cycling for an hour at 15 miles per hour will burn anywhere from 590 to 931 calories depending on weight.
Swimming is right in the discussion, and considering how easy the sport is on your joints, it's a workout you can enjoy doing—while knowing that you're getting results.