Does swimming in freezing water still burn calories??

Yes.

If this is even a real question...

Of course it does.

Just because I am curious based on your question of "does it even burn calories?", please tell me you have in fact trained for this by actually swimming?

I say this because I do Ironman races which start with a 2.4 mile swim. I am hungry as hell after my training swims. It is significant exercise. I'm worried that for you to not know that means that you haven't been training, and I have to tell you, that sounds dangerous. Swimming long distances is not easy. Please tell me you have been training or please re-think the swim.

Just because I am curious based on your question of "does it even burn calories?", please tell me you have in fact trained for this by actually swimming?

I say this because I do Ironman races which start with a 2.4 mile swim. I am hungry as hell after my training swims. It is significant exercise. I'm worried that for you to not know that means that you haven't been training, and I have to tell you, that sounds dangerous. Swimming long distances is not easy. Please tell me you have been training or please re-think the swim.

This is what I'm saying...

you'll burn twice as many calories if you sleep with your hands in warm water.

Being cold, exercising in cooler temps, swimming in cool water actually burns more calories because of thermodynamics. We expend calories trying to warm the body up to base temperature. Shivering is one of the best ways to burn calories!

The shivering thing is true- but I'm not sure if exercise in cold temperature burns more calories. Wouldn't the body have to work less hard by way of sweating in order to actually cool the body down? No need to shiver because the exercise warms up the body on its own. So- in my admittedly unresearched opinion- I believe it would burn less calories. But probably not a significant amount less since the main calorie consumption is from the muscles and not the sweat glands.

I believe it's true because you're submerged in water. A person doesn't typically sweat when swimming regardless of water temp so they would burn more calories because their body has to work harder to regulate the body temperature if the water is colder. But don't swim in water that is FREEZING. You could get hypothermia!

Being cold, exercising in cooler temps, swimming in cool water actually burns more calories because of thermodynamics. We expend calories trying to warm the body up to base temperature. Shivering is one of the best ways to burn calories!

The shivering thing is true- but I'm not sure if exercise in cold temperature burns more calories. Wouldn't the body have to work less hard by way of sweating in order to actually cool the body down? No need to shiver because the exercise warms up the body on its own. So- in my admittedly unresearched opinion- I believe it would burn less calories. But probably not a significant amount less since the main calorie consumption is from the muscles and not the sweat glands.

The exercising in cooler temps I'm actually not sure of. I just know that cold=burn.

Being cold, exercising in cooler temps, swimming in cool water actually burns more calories because of thermodynamics. We expend calories trying to warm the body up to base temperature. Shivering is one of the best ways to burn calories!

The shivering thing is true- but I'm not sure if exercise in cold temperature burns more calories. Wouldn't the body have to work less hard by way of sweating in order to actually cool the body down? No need to shiver because the exercise warms up the body on its own. So- in my admittedly unresearched opinion- I believe it would burn less calories. But probably not a significant amount less since the main calorie consumption is from the muscles and not the sweat glands.

I believe it's true because you're submerged in water. A person doesn't typically sweat when swimming regardless of water temp so they would burn more calories because their body has to work harder to regulate the body temperature if the water is colder. But don't swim in water that is FREEZING. You could get hypothermia!

I can say that the water is not freezing, as in - the ice is gone. The water is still going to be really cold, not "come in - the water is great!" I checked some charts about hypothermia, and I will not know the water temp. until I get there. Unfortunately the lake is 3 hours away. I can expect the water to be AT LEAST 4 degree's c. If not, I will not be able to do the swim due to the high chance of hypo.

I was asking because I would think since the body is in cold water, it would not be able to warm up - thus not having as high of a calorie burn. Thought I would check, and ended up with a bunch of sarcastic responses (which hey - this is MFP.) I am very grateful for the decent and informative responses, the rest - luckily I am able to hit ignore on the users from here on out!

Thanks again for your response, whatever that may be!

I wasn't being sarcastic...I'm genuinely concerned that you haven't trained for this. Most people who train for this kind of stuff are beyond worrying about calories burned and whatnot. This seems like a significant undertaking if you are undertrained/untrained.

I can say that the water is not freezing, as in - the ice is gone. The water is still going to be really cold, not "come in - the water is great!" I checked some charts about hypothermia, and I will not know the water temp. until I get there. Unfortunately the lake is 3 hours away. I can expect the water to be AT LEAST 4 degree's c. If not, I will not be able to do the swim due to the high chance of hypo.

I was asking because I would think since the body is in cold water, it would not be able to warm up - thus not having as high of a calorie burn. Thought I would check, and ended up with a bunch of sarcastic responses (which hey - this is MFP.) I am very grateful for the decent and informative responses, the rest - luckily I am able to hit ignore on the users from here on out!

Thanks again for your response, whatever that may be!

You expect the water to be around 4 degrees Celsius? I hope you are planning on wearing a wet suit?

How do you swim in a solid?

Belly flop around the top. Fish can't go blub, but it can try.

Being cold, exercising in cooler temps, swimming in cool water actually burns more calories because of thermodynamics. We expend calories trying to warm the body up to base temperature. Shivering is one of the best ways to burn calories!

The shivering thing is true- but I'm not sure if exercise in cold temperature burns more calories. Wouldn't the body have to work less hard by way of sweating in order to actually cool the body down? No need to shiver because the exercise warms up the body on its own. So- in my admittedly unresearched opinion- I believe it would burn less calories. But probably not a significant amount less since the main calorie consumption is from the muscles and not the sweat glands.

I believe it's true because you're submerged in water. A person doesn't typically sweat when swimming regardless of water temp so they would burn more calories because their body has to work harder to regulate the body temperature if the water is colder. But don't swim in water that is FREEZING. You could get hypothermia!

I can say that the water is not freezing, as in - the ice is gone. The water is still going to be really cold, not "come in - the water is great!" I checked some charts about hypothermia, and I will not know the water temp. until I get there. Unfortunately the lake is 3 hours away. I can expect the water to be AT LEAST 4 degree's c. If not, I will not be able to do the swim due to the high chance of hypo.

I was asking because I would think since the body is in cold water, it would not be able to warm up - thus not having as high of a calorie burn. Thought I would check, and ended up with a bunch of sarcastic responses (which hey - this is MFP.) I am very grateful for the decent and informative responses, the rest - luckily I am able to hit ignore on the users from here on out!

Thanks again for your response, whatever that may be!

The calorie burn from exercise is mainly from movement. And the body will shiver to try to maintain a constant temperature, increasing the calorie burn slightly.

Your muscles "warming up" has little to do with that.

Oh thank you! I kind of thought that perhaps sweating and body heat contribute to the amount of calories burnt.

Erm, I'm still not sure whether some of this is tongue in cheek or not. Assuming it is serious, first off, even 50 degree F water can suck the heat out of you relatively quickly, 4 degree C water is very dangerous, just being in it you would burn calories trying to maintain temperature...before you fail and become hypothermic. Muscles do not burn less calories if they are that much cooler, in fact possibly they burn slightly more doing the same work, since a cooler muscle is going to be less efficient, but it depends of course on how cool they get and change dependent on the temperature of the muscle. Yes sweating does burn calories but its negligible compared to moving under your own muscle power, and overall the body attempting to maintain temperature is going to cause an increased rather than reduced burn. The problem is as you cool, the body will start to shut down circulation to those muscles in an attempt to keep your brain and internal organs alive, causing them to become less and even less efficient, but later also less available energy to use to move until you cant really move your arms enough...

. I am hungry as hell after my training swims.

I was having bad munchie problems after swimming, too, which was making it more of a struggle to stay on plan.

Then I read something helpful - apparently the cooling triggers a hunger response in most people. The recommendation was a hot shower or soak in the hot tub after swimming to take the edge of the post-swim munchies.

Works like a charm for me.