Swimming question

earlnabby
earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
edited November 8 in Fitness and Exercise
Does anybody have an idea how to estimate calories burned when swimming by kicking only? I have been doing laps with the kickboard and flutter kicking but can't find any estimates as to how much I might be burning. Eventually I will be doing freestyle laps but can't do the arms at the moment.

Replies

  • jrose1982
    jrose1982 Posts: 366 Member
    I'm not sure it makes a big difference. Using only legs means that your legs are working harder to move the same mass. It's got more to do with how far you swim. If using only legs causes you to slow down, then estimate a slower speed for the duration and it should be roughly accounted for.

    I also found this calculator: http://caloriesburnedhq.com/calories-burned-swimming
    With it, you can estimate calories burned based on the distance you swim instead of the duration.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    edited November 2014
    jrose1982 wrote: »
    I'm not sure it makes a big difference. Using only legs means that your legs are working harder to move the same mass. It's got more to do with how far you swim. If using only legs causes you to slow down, then estimate a slower speed for the duration and it should be roughly accounted for.

    I also found this calculator: http://caloriesburnedhq.com/calories-burned-swimming
    With it, you can estimate calories burned based on the distance you swim instead of the duration.

    Thanks. I played around with it and the calories burned seemed to be close for all strokes except the butterfly, which burned more (like 3 times as many). The calories they listed also were very close to the MFP entry for "swimming, leisurely" so I think I will use that and only eat back half, just like I only eat back half of my water aerobics calories earned.

    Any other cardio I do I don't enter and just go by the extra calories my fitbit gives me for extra steps. It doesn't register the kicking so it shows me taking maybe 10 steps during the time I did the laps.

  • jrose1982
    jrose1982 Posts: 366 Member
    Sounds like a good plan.
  • Wronkletoad
    Wronkletoad Posts: 368 Member
    good call. and have fun! yay!
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    Wronkletoad wrote: »
    good call. and have fun! yay!

    Thanks. I am so thankful I have a great fitness center 5 minutes from my home. I have always been a water baby and lived at the beach all summer long growing up. I also have arthritis in my right foot so I have to be careful with mid to high impact exercises. All of these factors together add up to spending lots of time in the pool. The lap pool is a salt water one and kept a little cooler. The therapy pool is kept a little warmer and that is where I do my water aerobics 3 x a week. I also will sometimes finish with stretches in the whirlpool/hot tub.

    Water, water, everywhere and you have a happy earlnabby!

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  • Wronkletoad
    Wronkletoad Posts: 368 Member
    nice! that sounds perfect! and 5 min away is totally awesome!

    yay!
  • afortunatedragon
    afortunatedragon Posts: 329 Member
    If you get an HRM you get the most acurate reading and most of them are water resistant. I swim with mine.
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