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Aquatic exercise is a great fat burner! Calories
burned during any exercise relates to oxygen consumption, not to heart rate,
as is commonly misunderstood. Oxygen consumption during land and water
exercise is comparable. Also percent of fat calories utilized during aquatics
is higher than percent of fat calories utilized during land exercise: 77.2%
(water) vs. 42.5% (land). The multidirectional resistance of water makes it
harder to move in every direction, and it takes energy to do this work. This
means that more calories are burned.
Common myths about aquatic exercise and fat burning
are:
 Myth: The lower heart rate in the water means that
you're not working as hard, and, therefore, you're not burning as many
calories.
Fact: The cooling effect of the
water results in less work for the heart, and this keeps the heart rate
lower.
Myth: Aquatic exercise results in the
retention of body fat.
Fact: Swimming in the
cold water of the English Channel might result in retention of some fat for
insulation, but exercising in an 88-90 degree swimming pool does not.
Myth: Since aquatic exercise is low impact, you can't
work hard enough to burn fat.
Fact: With
the multidirectional resistance of water, you can work harder than on land
and, perhaps, burn even MORE fat! |
