Exercising in water -calories

curvygirly911
curvygirly911 Posts: 105 Member
edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
Hi everyone,

So I don't know how to swim but for the last week I have been working out in the pool. I had some questions regarding how to calculate the calories for this.

1. 60 minute "aqua fit class moderate intensity"- However, I would not say that it's 60 minutes non stop intense, but I do try to push myself and keep hopping about or moving to keep active the whole time. Now according to MFP, one hour is 381 calories for a 200 lb person. However that seems a bit high in my opinion, any thoughts?


2. Yesterday I spent 1.5 hours in the pool. I did jumping jacks, water jogging, kicks, punches, squats and side squats and bicep curls and tricep kickbacks. At most I took 30 seconds of rest here and there but that was me still hopping around to keep my heart rate up. I'm not sure how to calculate that as I was not primarily water walking or jogging or doing aerobics but a mix. Also I don't think that I should time it as 90 minutes because that may assume that I did that activity non stop for 90 minutes when it was a break here and there.

3. My goals are to lose weight ( 50+), tone up and also get more flexible and help my fibromyalgia. Will it make a difference if I do the above exercises in #2 in the regular pool or therapy pool? I am 30 years old, female if that information is necessary to help you answer.

4. I usually do zumba, kickboxing, treadmill and weight training. However I'm looking for something new and I am really out of shape now and those exercises make me feel winded/bored very fast and the pool is a lot of fun for me and its gentler. Is it still a good workout or no?

5. I have a fitbit flex and I hear you can use it in the water, but i'm hesitant. Does anyone know of any good calorie counters that are good for the water?

Thank you so much in advance. I am unsure if this is the best exercise to achieve my goals but my argument is that it's made me get off my butt 5 days in a row this week to workout when I was drained only because I loved it and that's better than no exercise right?! I'm sorry if this is a long post but I'm really stumped.

Replies

  • TrutraG
    TrutraG Posts: 22 Member
    I really enjoy aquafit as well. Not really sure of the answers for 1-4 but I am sure someone more experienced will come along to answer.
    I use a polar a360 which is waterproof. I only take it off to charge and use it in the pool, shower, washing dishes etc and had no problems with it.
  • allyphoe
    allyphoe Posts: 618 Member
    My spreadsheet says that if I log my learn-to-swim activities and other watery stuff as water aerobics (4.47 calories per minute at ~150 pounds), and use all my in-water time even if I have rest periods, that comes out about right. I split my time between the cold pool and the warm pool, so can't tell how much of a difference that makes, but a cold pool theoretically burns more calories.

  • curvygirly911
    curvygirly911 Posts: 105 Member
    Thanks for your replies!!
    @allyphoe- how many calories would you say it burns in total? for what time and lbs?

    Thanks in advance
  • TheCupcakeCounter
    TheCupcakeCounter Posts: 606 Member
    I used to teach water aerobics (I specialized in the kick your butt classes that shocked my new participants since they were expected old lady moves) and you burn a ton of calories in the water. For insight the shallower you go, the more impact it will have and most people feel like their heart rate goes a lot higher. The deeper you are the more resistance the water puts on you and the more your muscles have to work to move you through the water. If you are trying to lose weight to aerobic-type activities as shallow as you can to ramp up your heart rate. Go deeper to stress the muscles more.
    As for the burns they probably aren't that far off but to be conservative shave a few minutes off as most classes have a ramp up and cool down period. So use 45 minutes instead of the full hour or pick the least intense category possible.
    The squats and lunges aren't going to be all that beneficial in the pool as anything other than getting you used to the movement. Water jog/run intervals are great calorie burners though. Jog a lap of the pool and then sprint - and I mean SPRINT- as far as you can. Jog another lap or 2 and do it again. Try to beat your last time/distance.
  • TheCupcakeCounter
    TheCupcakeCounter Posts: 606 Member
    Oh yeah and cold water for any type of cardio activity - you can do some stretching in the therapy pool but you will move faster and recover better in the colder water
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