Do you burn calories sitting in a pool?

Author: Jamaal Cormier  |  Last update: Thursday, May 29, 2025

You can burn calories just sitting in a spa pool, but not many. There are several factors involved. There is the energy expenditure, but it is ultimately not enough. Movement and exercise burn calories faster and more effectively, so are better options if you are looking for serious calorie burning.

Does staying in the pool burn calories?

Swimming is an amazing calorie burner: Depending on things like gender, body type, and weight, hitting the pool for an hour can burn almost 1,000 calories!

How many calories do you burn in a pool?

Average Amount of Calories Burned During Swimming

If you swim at a moderate speed, you'll burn around 520 calories each hour. Someone who can swim the butterfly stroke for an hour burns over 800 calories.

Does swimming in a pool count as exercise?

"Recreational swimming will burn about the same calories as brisk walking," says Dr. I-Min Lee, a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who studies the role of physical activity in disease prevention. One key advantage to swimming is that water makes you buoyant, which take the stress off your joints.

Does sitting in a cold pool burn calories?

The body has to work harder to maintain its core temperature in cold water, which forces it to burn more calories. Additionally, exposure to cold can increase brown fat activity, which may protect against obesity. Unlike regular fat, brown fat is metabolically active and burns calories to generate heat.

How to Burn 850 Calories in 30 Minutes

Does swimming reduce belly fat?

What are the best ways to lose belly fat? Head down the pool to burn calories and target your tummy with specific strokes and exercises. Breaststroke, butterfly and backstroke all engage your core, length after length, while movements like water crunches give your abs a run for their money.

Does leisurely swimming burn calories?

Someone who is only swimming leisurely may only burn 272 calories per hour. Whereas, someone going full belt could burn 680 calories per hour. That's quite a difference. And the easiest way to increase your effort in the swimming pool is to try to swim as fast as you can.

Can I lose weight walking in a pool?

Exercising in water to lose weight can be extremely effective for obese and overweight patients. Statistics show that a person generally burns two more calories per minute in the water than on land.

How many laps in a pool is a good workout?

However, the number of laps you should swim depends on your fitness level and swimming ability. Beginners may start with swimming just one or two laps and gradually increase over time. Intermediate swimmers may aim to swim 10 to 20 laps per session, while advanced swimmers may swim up to 50 laps or more per session.

How to burn 500 calories in the pool?

Simple swimming. Most people are surprised at how effective swimming leisurely laps in the pool is for burning fat and toning muscles. A relaxed swim burns approximately 500 calories an hour. If you're just starting out, plan to swim a few laps, take a break, and then swim more.

How many laps in a pool is a mile?

If you're swimming in an Olympic pool (50 meters long), a true mile is equal to 32.2 laps. If you're swimming in a short-course pool (25 meters long) a metric mile is equal to 64.4 laps. If you're swimming in a 25-yard pool, a metric mile is 70.4 laps.

Does kicking your legs in the pool burn calories?

Use a kickboard to kick across the pool or hold onto the side and kick in place. Kicking with a kickboard or in streamline will elevate your heart rate and lift caloric burn!

What burns the most calories in the pool?

If you want a change from swimming laps, simple exercises like aqua running and jogging (which are harder in the pool due to the greater resistance water provides) offer a great way to burn calories. In fact, a moderate jog in the water can burn around 550 calories an hour and it works all your leg muscles too.

What happens if you go to the pool everyday?

The Benefits of Swimming Daily

Regular swimming can enhance cardiovascular health, increase endurance and muscle flexibility, reduce stress and anxiety, and improve sleep quality, among other things.

Is 30 minutes of swimming a day enough?

Is swimming for 30 minutes enough for a good workout? Whether swimming for 30 minutes is a good workout depends on your goals in the pool. 30-minutes is enough time to get your heart rate up, perform resistance training in the pool, and even learn how to pace your swimming properly.

Does going to the pool count as exercise?

Swimming is one of the most effective ways to burn calories. A gentle swim can burn over 200 calories in just half an hour, more than double that of walking. And a faster swim would see that chocolate bar gone quicker than if you went running or cycling. Lowers the risk of diseases.

Does swimming slim your legs?

Does swimming help lose thigh fat? Again yes, swimming can also help you burn some of that pesky thigh fat.

Does swimming tone up belly fat?

You also can't control where you lose fat first. Still, swimming consistently can help you lose weight. This leads to fat loss overall, including belly fat, eventually. Certain swim strokes may also work the abdominal muscles and help you develop a stronger core.

How many calories are in 30 minutes of swimming?

The average calorie burn is around 200 calories for 30 minutes. Tip: select your swimming stroke preference and find out how many calories you're crunching here.

What does a female swimmer's body look like?

Female swimmers typically have a v-shaped body with broad shoulders that enhance streamlined movement in the water. They often exhibit low body fat percentages and increased lean muscle mass for optimal buoyancy and speed. Many female swimmers are taller, providing a longer reach and improved stroke efficiency.

How much weight can I lose in 1 month by swimming?

Intense swimming workouts can burn roughly 800 calories per hour. If you're swimming intensely 4 times a week, you can expect to lose around 2-4 pounds a month [4].

What exercise burns the most belly fat?

Aerobic exercise includes any activity that raises your heart rate such as walking, dancing, running or swimming. This can also include doing housework, gardening and playing with your children. Other types of exercise such as strength training, Pilates and yoga can also help you lose belly fat.

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