Fitness

With a little math(if it is right), I've figured out that 70 laps around my pool is equal to one mile.

I've been doing the 70 laps plus sometimes a few extra. About day 3, I just did half, 35 laps, because I was extremely tired(late night, early morning).

I am wondering if that would be the same as walking 1 mile on dry ground or how I would log this or what to count it as to determine calories burnt.

I don't always, stand straight up, some times I do. Sometimes I squat with my legs bent at the knees kinda like I am sitting and walk that way, not sure if it makes a difference or not. Sometimes I walk backwards instead of forwards. LOL I get bored and have to change it up some.

It definitley burns more calories than walking on dry land, I don't know how much more, but it's probably a lot more.

The water provides a lot more resistance than air (water being something like 800 times denser than air)

Original Post by floggingsully:

The water provides a lot more resistance than air (water being something like 800 times denser than air)

 At first I thought this too.

However, once you get started walking, it creates a "current" in the direction you are traveling around the pool. The current pushes you as you are walking, so figured that might offset some of the resistance, if that makes sense.

I thought about maybe walking from side to side across the middle of the pool, that way there is no current formed.

I am ok with under estimating the amount of calories burning, but don't want to overestimate calories burned.

I thought I'd log it as walking, if it burns more, then that is just extra. I just didn't want to log it as walking if it didn't burn at least that amount of calories.

Thanks for your reply.

Even with a current, there is still a balance issue. 

Sort of riding a bicycle as to riding a stationary bike.  It takes more energy to balance a real bike.  It takes balance to walk in the water.

Have you tried water aerobics, high resistance in it.

I went out today to do my daily 1 mile in the pool. This time I decided to walk across the center of the pool. 120 laps = 1 mile. It was definetely harder than walking around the perimeter of the pool. Each time you turn to go back across you have the water pushing against you from just walking the other way. I don't hurt, but I can tell it took more to do it that way instead of around the perimeter. I think I'll do it this way from now on.

I walk slowly, about 1mph. But this is going from no exercise to walking in the pool. It'll take a bit of time but I'll increase speed and distance. About half the time I have my 3 yr old holding on to me while walking.

 

spoiled_candy- - I was thinking about water aerobics. I would like to add something else besides just walking.

I have been doing other things, not sure what they'd qualify as. I'd do squats,just without a weights on me, while in the pool. And then I'd let myself float in the water with my legs straight out in front of me, my torso upright, and move my legs like you do when you are doing jumping jacks(if that makes any sense, spread them as far as I could and then bring them together). I'd do each of those things like 50 times each.

sounds like a great way to exercise, with all the resistance but no impact. I can't think of anything other than a heart rate monitor to figure out how much you are burning--if you are at water that is waste-deep, you could wear one, I guess--not sure!

good luck. Let us know what you learn!

That really does sound like a great way to exercise. I would really like to do this myself. Thanks for posting it.   Good luck!

Your welcome.

I really like it. I can be with my kids and play with them while I am doing my exercises. I am really self conscious and find that holding me back from going to the gym, that and they have no childcare. My knee has been acting up, but it doesn't bother me as much when I am in the water. Also, I can not stand to be sweaty. It makes me crazy and I get hot really easy. I sleep with a fan and window half open in the winter. The pool helps greatly with that.

I am going to hate to see winter coming on.

The pool is 48" deep and I am only 64" high, and most of that is from the hips up, so the pool is like chest high. So, I am not sure if I'd be able to find a heart rate monitor or something of the likes that would be waterproof. I've been looking.

 

Jogging in a gym pool is my main activity.  On the activites search here Water Jogging is listed and shows a whopping amount of calories burned per hour.  I think its toward 700 - I don't trust that I use up all that amount but still, sounds good.  I have joint issues etc. so exercising in the pool is the way to go for me- still have to not jump too much etc. or my back gets very very unhappy. I get bored, too- I jog forward then backwards, sideways, whatever, lift my legs higher and kick forward, move my arms and sometimes stand still and do back stretches- pull my knee to my stomach and squeeze for a few seconds.  Stretching is the best thing you can do for your self.  Good luck and have fun!