Calorie-burners: Swimming vs. Running

Swimming Burns more Calories than Running

Most people think that running is a crucial part of an exercise plan that's designed to help someone lose weight. While it's true that running can burn a lot of calories, it may not be the best way to rapidly lose weight. Believe it or not, swimming almost always burns more calories than running does. It should be noted that this depends on how fast you run versus how fast you swim and it also varies by the stroke that you use when swimming. However, as a general rule, you are going to burn more calories when you're swimming than when you're running. And if you're anything like me, you think swimming is a whole lot more fun!

Personally, I don't like to run. I've never gotten the ‘runner's high'. I've never felt pleased with myself after pushing my body to run. And I've never really stuck with any running-based exercise regime for long because it's not something that's at all enjoyable to me. Swimming, on the other hand, is something that I can enjoy. It's relaxing. It's that "summer sport" that can be enjoyed leisurely but it can also be done throughout the rest of the year in a gym or fitness center. Because I prefer swimming to running, I was pleased to find out that quality swimming actually burns more calories than running does.

Of course, there are some drawbacks to using swimming instead of running as your main form of weight loss exercise. The main thing is that it's easier to find a place to run than it is to find a place to swim. Unless you're really averse to running in various climates, you can step outside anywhere and start to run. Running can be done on vacation and around the neighborhood. In contrast, swimming requires that you have a pool. Most people can find a pool at their vacation hotel or at their neighborhood gym but it's certainly not as simple as finding a place to run.

People who don't necessarily prefer one to the other frequently find that a fitness program that combines both running and swimming is a great combination. Swimming may burn more calories but running also gets your heart rate going and will help you to lose weight. The benefit to a fitness routine that includes both types of exercise is that you will work out different muscles while losing weight. This will give you a more balanced muscle level throughout your body than would a fitness regime that included only swimming or only running. An exercise program that combines two days of running with two days of swimming is one that will give you a total body workout, toning all of your muscles while helping you to lose weight.

Anyone who is interested in learning how many calories they burn during running versus those that they burn during swimming should check out an online calorie burning calculator such as the one available here. Keep in mind that varied swimming strokes will alter the amount of calories that you burn, with back stroke swimming being the best way to burn calories quickly.