Increasing my weekly yardage seems to have increased my hunger. How can I determine the calories really expended during swims of various lengths or intensities?
And when the office hits the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet, how many laps equate to that second or third serving? (Not giving up the food can justify extra time in the pool!)
Parents
Former Member
For the most part, open water swimmers tend to ply their trade (competition and training) in much colder water than pool swimmers. Over long periods this tends to increase the amount of fat they carry and how it is distributed.
At any given speed the other 3 strokes require more energy predominantly because the positions the swimmer moves through are, on average, less streamlined than the positions a freestyler moves through. On the other hand, the other 3 strokes are, generally, swum at slower paces than freestyle.
Plus, if the skills the swimmer has for the other strokes are not as well developed as the skills for freestyle, that too would increase the energy consumption.
If the only consideration is to burn as many calories as possible, swim all 4 strokes - but swim them really badly. :)
For the most part, open water swimmers tend to ply their trade (competition and training) in much colder water than pool swimmers. Over long periods this tends to increase the amount of fat they carry and how it is distributed.
At any given speed the other 3 strokes require more energy predominantly because the positions the swimmer moves through are, on average, less streamlined than the positions a freestyler moves through. On the other hand, the other 3 strokes are, generally, swum at slower paces than freestyle.
Plus, if the skills the swimmer has for the other strokes are not as well developed as the skills for freestyle, that too would increase the energy consumption.
If the only consideration is to burn as many calories as possible, swim all 4 strokes - but swim them really badly. :)
