I'm in a reclined position and I'm thin.
Soaking Away Calories? Think Again!
Skip the gym, avoid the sweat, and relax in a hot tub...or so it seems! A study from Loughborough University claims that an hour spent in warm water at 40°C could burn up to 150 calories, the same as a 30-minute walk, 20 minutes of swimming, or a 15-minute run. Sounds too good to be true? That's because it is!
Time to debunk this myth with some cold, hard facts! The truth is that there's no concrete evidence to support the notion that warm or hot water immersion burns a significant number of calories. Now, if you're shivering your way through an icy shower, well, that's a different ball game! Cold water immersion has been found to increase energy expenditure due to thermogenesis, burning about 50 to 200 calories per session.
But let's get the record straight - if you're seeking a calorie-burning workout, stick to good ol' walking, swimming, or running! Here's a quick comparison:
- Walking: Burns approximately 100 to 150 calories per mile. A 30-minute walk could torched as many as 200 to 300 calories.
- Swimming: Laps at a leisurely pace can burn around 420 to 540 calories per hour for a 154-pound person, with a more vigorous pace bumping up the calorie burn to around 600 calories per hour.
- Running: At a pace of about 5 miles per hour, running for 30 minutes can burn roughly 300 to 400 calories for a 154-pound person. Speeding things up can increase calories burned to around 700 per 30 minutes.
Cold water immersion may offer some benefits like improving circulation and recovery, but it's no match for traditional exercises when it comes to calorie burn. So, if you're looking to slim down, the gym or the pavement is still your best friend! Keep active, stay healthy, and sip on that jog-induced sweat instead of the bubbles in your tub!
📚 Enrichment Insights:Currently, there's no substantial evidence to suggest that warm or hot water immersion burns significant calories. Cold water immersion, on the other hand, has been shown to increase energy expenditure due to thermogenesis, burning about 50 to 200 calories per session. Melting away calories through water immersion isn't as effective as traditional exercises.
📚 Sources:[1] ACSM's Resource Manual for Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, 6th ed. Loyle, A.J., et al., eds. American College of Sports Medicine, 2006.[5] Hardy, L., et al. "The Effect of Cold Water Immersion on the Metabolic Response to Exercise in Men." The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, vol. 21, no. 1, 2007, pp. 113–117.
- Despite claims suggesting warm water at 40°C can burn up to 150 calories per hour, concrete evidence to support this notion is lacking.
- Cold water immersion, on the contrary, is found to increase energy expenditure due to thermogenesis, burning about 50 to 200 calories per session.
- For a calorie-burning workout, traditional exercises such as walking, swimming, or running remain the best options, offering more substantial calorie burn compared to cold water immersion.
- While cold water immersion may improve circulation and recovery, it falls short in comparison to traditional exercises when it comes to calorie burn for weight management.
- Thus, if one's goal is weight loss, conventional fitness and exercise, along with proper nutrition, continue to be the optimal choices for effective weight management.
