There have been questions about how many calories an hour of leisurely swimming burns. Swimming is one of the best physical activities that demand you to have the skill first to participate. Swimming for leisure and a belt requires different intensities and speeds; as such, the number of calories burnt differs. Let’s check out how many calories an hour of leisurely swimming burns.
How Many Calories Does An Hour Of Leisurely Swimming Burn
If swimming leisurely, you may burn only 272 calories per hour. In contrast, swimming for a full belt might burn 680 calories per hour. This is quite a difference. However, you can still increase your speed and intensity to burn more calories in the pool.
Factors That Affect the Number of Calories You Burn When Swimming
Here are factors that affect the number of calories you burn when swimming. You can manipulate these factors to burn more or fewer calories.
1. Speed and effort
The more speed and effort you put into your swimming determines the number of calories you will burn. For example, in leisurely swimming, you put less effort and speed, so you burn only 272 calories per hour. But swimming for competition demands your best efforts and speed; that’s why you can burn up to 680 calories per hour.
2. Duration and distance
This factor implies that the more time you spend swimming, the more calories you burn, and the further you swim, the more calories you burn, and vice versa.
3. Skill
Skill plays a role in determining how many calories you will burn. If you are skilled, you will quickly move your body in the water; the faster you move, the more calories you burn.
4. Your weight
The heavier you weigh, the more energy and effort you need to move your burn, and as such, you tend to burn more calories efficiently.
If you swim to lose weight, you will lose more weight at the beginning of your journey than when you get close to your goal.
For instance, a person weighing 150 pounds will burn 272 calories after swimming 1500 yards, but a person weighing 120 pounds will burn only 218 calories by swimming the exact distance.
How to Measure the Number of Calories You Burn When Swimming
There are a lot of gadgets you can use to measure the number of calories you burn when swimming, such as waterproof swimming fitness watches and trackers. Also, you can get waterproof smart watches to calculate the calories you burn.
This help to give you an overview of your swimming profile, such as your speed, distance covered, and your heart rate, measured via your pulse.
Examples of the best swimming trackers and smartwatches include:
- Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro
- Garmin Swim
- Form Smart Swim Goggles
- Fitbit Charge 4
- Apple Watch Series
- Coros Pace
- Amazfit GTS
- Xiaomi Mi Band 6
- Polar Ignite 2
- Fitbit Versa 3
- Moov Now
- Fitbit Versa 2
- Garmin vívoactive 3
- Fitbit Ionic.
Conclusion
Swimming remains a great way to lose weight, especially compared to other activities such as jogging or brisk walking. If you want to lose weight, I will suggest you become consistent with swimming.
Also, the beauty of swimming is that you can get a smartphone or a tracker to record the numbers of calories you burn each session. This will help you to plan better toward your goal.
