Dave Smith > wrote:
>Reg wrote:
>> Not so. It completely depends on what kind of "swimming" is being
>> performed. Swimming involves a relatively large number of
>> different muscles. It can burn up to 1200 calories per hour,
>
>the tracking program at our Y used to credit me for about 396 calories for
>swimming 1 mile (30 minutes) I got almost as much credit for walking the same
>amount of time.

If you're swimming at a competitive pace, maybe it's worth
1200 cal/hr. Average folks slapping the pool for a few
laps is closer to walking.

>Horseback riding was good for 906.

Only if they were crediting the horse!

>I used to find that I could lose about a pound per week by swimming, but I was
>doing 1000 meters 3 times a week and a mile twice a week. That was a lot of
>swimming, and it's really boring. As soon as the weather warmed up I started
>riding my bike more. I get close to 1000 calories per hour credited for
>cycling, and it is a lot less boring.

To get that 1000 calories, you have to go 20 mph for the
whole hour. I think the Y does some grade inflation to
make people feel better, because very few people I pass
on my bike are going anywhere near 20 mph.

--Blair