Calories Burned at pool

I would probably say that is really high. Seems like you would burn that much if you were actually swimming. Let me know when you find out. I was wondering the same thing.

Swimming is the most efficient way in burning calories- it burns cals fast. I'm not sure how fast and how much but I think that 600 cals for two hours of leisurely swimming is maybe right. But I'm not sure...

It doesn't sound that much to me. I mean, you were out there for 2 hours. Sitting still, doing nothing, you'd burn at least 50 calories per hour. You're being more active. I'd say, go with half... just to be safe.

I also just got back from the pool. At first I put my time in as swimming leisurely. But since I was doing more walking and playing than swimming I decided to change it to water aerobics. Then I logged my laps as swimming moderate effort. Not sure if that is correct or not, but seems pretty close.

I am glad you posted this because I was just looking for information about this.

I spend time playing in the pool with my toddler about 3-4 times a week and notice that afterwards I'm pretty tired and sometimes even my leg muscles hurt so I know I'm burning calories! I decided I should start adding it to my journal but the numbers for exercises on this site are always high. I chose the leisurely swimming option and was shocked that for 60 minutes it suggests I burned 589 calories! I spend 30 minutes on an elliptical at a pace of 3 to 3.5 mph and only burn 300-310 so 589 for an hour at the pool doesn't seem reasonable. I am pretty active the whole time, walking/bouncing around carrying my son, paddling around with a noodle while he's floating around in his little boat, lifting him in and out, etc. but I just can't believe it's so high. So to be on the conservative side I plan to just cut the calories they suggest in half. So for 60 minutes today I'm going to enter 294. I think that's reasonable.

Exercising in the water uses more energy than on land. 20 minutes of walking in water is equal to 40 minutes on land. Add running, weight training in water, core work and you can burn alot of calories. there is so much more resistance in the water than on land. Add weights, gloves etc and boy can you get a workout. Also do interval training. The water aerobics program at my gym burns a lot more calories than MFP gives. Then add Aqua Zumba to that. Its great exercise.

I did exactly 2 hours the other day with my two kids wearing hrm and burned 644 that was going under water and general play but that's about average obviously everyone s going to be different due to weight

Things like that are tricky to log - I usually try to compare it to something where I'm more confident about the calories.
So, I would think about - did it feel as though I was using about the same amount of energy as if I was walking slowly around the shops... or walking steadily around the park, or nearly as much as running?
At a guess I'd compare it to a slow/moderate walk and that's about 3 cals/minute for me. That would make it 360 cals for 2 hours.

I think it might also depend on your general activity level - as a mum with little ones you should probably be set to at least lightly active (I'm sure you aren't sedentary!) Did it feel as though you were burning more than you would on a regular day running around with them at home?

i love swimmin, treading/walking will burm calories and depending on how much you weigh.
I swim for 30-45 minutes and get to burn 700+ doing breaststroke and freestyle.

Heres where i do my calculations:
http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/calories_burned.asp?exercise=37

Swimming is the most efficient way in burning calories- it burns cals fast. I'm not sure how fast and how much but I think that 600 cals for two hours of leisurely swimming is maybe right. But I'm not sure...

Not if you can't swim.:laugh:

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I say half it just to be safe... but that's just my opinion. :]

So I've been at the pool with the kids for 2 hours just playing and stuff with them. When I went to log the exercise, I put in how long I was there and chose leisurely swimming but it said I burned 540 cals per hour! Just doesnt seem right. Seems like alot for just leisurely playing at the pool. Could this be right? I eat my exercise cals so I don't want to overeat. Thanks!

No, you shouldn't log it. Period.

Right, go with 250; I do likewise, and that works for me.
Then high calorie burn is for swimming laps but not all out fast paced.

I weigh 244lbs and I don't burn quite that much leisurely swimming, but I burn about 900 cals an hour actually swimming laps.

A person burns a good deal of calories in water simply to maintain body temperature. Most pools are in the mid 80s. For air that is comfy, but water pulls the heat right out of us and we burn a lot of fuel to compensate. That's why we get chilly if we don't keep moving. You could stand completely still in most pools and be burning far mor calories than you realize. Moderate moving around through the denser substance is work, but the cooling properties of water make it not "feel" like as much exercise.

I taught swim lessons as a teen. Not a lot of hard swimming. Demonstrations and supporting the kids. Didnt seem that much exertion. like playing with kids in water. But mostly in the water. For my two breaks and lunch I'd bring three turkey mayo cheese lettuce tomato sandwiches, a banana or two, and lots of milk almost every day. Plus breakfast and dinner and snacks. Had a hard time keeping weight on. Those were the days.

I would believe a high calorie estimate for being in water. If you stayed in the water the whole time that is.