[quote]Billy Joe wrote:
Sepulnation wrote:
I’ve been swimming for over 15 years now. The cold water forces your body to burn more calories so that it can stay warm.
Never heard this before. Any studies? It just doesn’t seem like there could be THAT much of a difference in total calories burned
on a side note
I was told that a professor at my college swam the English Channel hookeed up to a VO2 machine.Only ended up burning something like 3,500 calories. Is it really that good at fatloss??
Let your calories decide your weight, not what exercises burn the most fat!
[/quote]
It’s not enough to make a practical difference.
I personally think it’s bullshit. Most water you swim in is not cold enough to really impact your metabolism and, if it were, hypothermia would be a greater concern.
Besides, you have to look at what percentage of your time during the week is spent in the “cold water” vs how much time you are NOT in water.
If you are in water for about an hour a day, 7 days a week, that’s still LESS THAN 5% of your time per week spent in water. Your metabolism is working at around room temperature for the other 95% (i.e. in a “normal” setting, not trying to raise body temp to combat cold water).
Here’s a theory of mine:
Your body reacts to cold temperatures by increasing one’s metabolism to generate heat via increased thyroid levels. Following that idea, cold water will burn more calories than warm water.
Other physiological mechanisms could be at work that could work in the other direction and offset/overpower the above theory. I don’t know of any, but if anyone else does…
its definately a great cardio workout and swimming is very good for your joints so you cant really go wrong, if youre really concerned about your body fat just watch your diet and swimming certainly wouldnt hurt in helping lose bodyfat
[quote]engerland66 wrote:
Here’s a theory of mine:
Your body reacts to cold temperatures by increasing one’s metabolism to generate heat via increased thyroid levels. Following that idea, cold water will burn more calories than warm water.
Other physiological mechanisms could be at work that could work in the other direction and offset/overpower the above theory. I don’t know of any, but if anyone else does…[/quote]
You are splitting pubes.
[quote]PonceDeLeon wrote:
engerland66 wrote:
Here’s a theory of mine:
Your body reacts to cold temperatures by increasing one’s metabolism to generate heat via increased thyroid levels. Following that idea, cold water will burn more calories than warm water.
Other physiological mechanisms could be at work that could work in the other direction and offset/overpower the above theory. I don’t know of any, but if anyone else does…
You are splitting pubes.[/quote]
That’s real possible. The OP wanted an explanation, though, and I gave him one. Would I care about said theory in my goals and day to day life? No.