Running and swim training workouts are 2 very effective ways to maintain fitness and promote weight loss. These workouts keep your muscles working constantly, and they can give you a well-toned figure. If you are trying to lose weight, you may want to find out whether running or swimming workouts can help you burn more calories.
There are a number of factors that can affect the effectiveness of running workouts and swim training workouts in regards to burning calories. You have to take these factors into consideration if you want to make an accurate comparison.
First, the pace at which you are running can affect the amount of calories burned. If you are running at a faster pace, you will be burning more calories. Similarly, if you are swimming with a more aggressive stroke, such as butterfly, you will be using your muscles more rigorously, and this will increase the amount of calories burned.
Wind and Water ResistanceOrdinarily, water resistance is stronger than wind resistance, but when you are swimming in a pool, the resistance is consistent. If you are running outdoors, you will be exposed to unpredictable wind conditions. Strong headwinds or tailwinds have significant effect on your running performance, and you will burn more calories if you are running against a strong wind.
TerrainWhen you are doing swim training workouts, you do not have to deal with varying terrains. However, running outdoors requires you to overcome different types of terrain, which can range from level concrete walkways to steep and bumpy trails. You will burn more calories if you do your running workouts at a place that has a more diverse terrain.
Comparing Running Workouts and Swim Training WorkoutsTo ensure that the comparison of running workouts and swim training workouts is accurate, you have to look at the amount of calories burned while you are running on level ground, preferably in an indoor sports facility. Also, the levels of exertion for both types of workouts have to be the same.
If you weigh about 130 lb, you will burn 472 calories in a 1-hour running session that covers 5 miles. However, if you weigh 155 lb or 190 lb, the amount of calories burned will be 563 and 690 respectively. Swimming at a leisurely pace for 1 hour will help you burn 354 calories if your weight is 130 lb. If you weigh 155 lb, you will lose 422 calories, and if you are 190 lb, you will burn 518 calories.
If you are 130 lb, running for 1 hour at a speed of 10 miles per hour will make you lose 944 calories. The same exercise will burn 1126 calories if you weigh 155 lb, and it will burn 1380 calories if you are 190 lb. If you have a weight of 130 lb and you swim freestyle for 1 hour at a fast pace, you will lose 590 calories. However, if you weigh 155 lb, the amount of calories burned will be 704. If you are 190 lb, you will burn 863 calories.
As you can see from the figures above, running is more effective in burning calories than swimming.
