Water Aerobics Calories Burned?
Is it really possible that an hour of ligh****er aerobics will burn over 400 calories? I had gastric bypass surgery 9 months ago and keep up with what I eat and my exercise on The Daily Plate and really love the water aerobics program that I am participating in but not sure if it is an accurate number of calories burned. My weight is a little under 225 pounds, if that is a factor. Thanks for any feedback - Janice
(deactivated member)
on 6/23/09 10:43 pm
on 6/23/09 10:43 pm
Janice, i hope we get some feed back on water aerobics. I saw my primary doctor and he said he did not think water aerobics was that good for losing weight. He said he thought the cold water made our bodies hold on to the fat. Our pool is kept at about 83 degrees. I do not know what to think of the doc's comment. He told me that walking and weight lifting was better for me.
what do you think?
Ruby
rny 3/11/2005
262/125/145
hi/lo/today
what do you think?
Ruby
rny 3/11/2005
262/125/145
hi/lo/today
Your doctor is over-interpreting some random study that was probably misrepresented in the mainstream press anyway. 
For some reason, people in the medical profession really under-estimate wha****er aerobics can do for you. Maybe because you don't sweat doing it? Or because it looks "girly"?
Bu****er aerobics is a perfectly fine form of cardio, better than some. The water temp in most pools isn't that cold (as you note) and the study about holding onto fat when you swim in cold water didn't show enough of a different to worry about it.
IMO it's better to do something you love than something you hate just because on paper it burns an extra 50 calories.
It's also going to burn more calories than walking and be less tough on your joints.
Lifting weights is good too, though. You need both strength training and cardio. They have different purposes that complement each other.
Could the OP have burned 400 calories doing it for an hour? At 225, I think that's possible, but it depends on where the number comes from.
If it's from a chart somewhere or an online calculator, that's an average amount and you may be burning more or less than average when you do that exercise.
If it's from your HRM, then it's probably accurate to within 10% depending on whether your HRM is particularly accurate and/or if you've got it set up correctly.
I tend to burn about 300 calories in an hour doing something generally aerobic but not weight bearing and I'm around 115 right now. So I burn more running, less walking, but that amount for swimming and biking. To give an idea of some of the ranges.
For some reason, people in the medical profession really under-estimate wha****er aerobics can do for you. Maybe because you don't sweat doing it? Or because it looks "girly"?Bu****er aerobics is a perfectly fine form of cardio, better than some. The water temp in most pools isn't that cold (as you note) and the study about holding onto fat when you swim in cold water didn't show enough of a different to worry about it.
IMO it's better to do something you love than something you hate just because on paper it burns an extra 50 calories.
It's also going to burn more calories than walking and be less tough on your joints.
Lifting weights is good too, though. You need both strength training and cardio. They have different purposes that complement each other.
Could the OP have burned 400 calories doing it for an hour? At 225, I think that's possible, but it depends on where the number comes from.
If it's from a chart somewhere or an online calculator, that's an average amount and you may be burning more or less than average when you do that exercise.
If it's from your HRM, then it's probably accurate to within 10% depending on whether your HRM is particularly accurate and/or if you've got it set up correctly.
I tend to burn about 300 calories in an hour doing something generally aerobic but not weight bearing and I'm around 115 right now. So I burn more running, less walking, but that amount for swimming and biking. To give an idea of some of the ranges.
HW - 225 SW - 191 GW - 132 CW - 122
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Water aerobics should burn up about 405 calories at the weight of 225#. Here is the link to the Calories Burned Calculator.
I disagree with the assertion by a PCP tha****er aerobics is not good for losing weight. I have seen people of both genders weighing at least 300# and 400# taking water aerobics classes at the clubs I go to.
Hope this helps!
Vicki 
DS (lap) with Dr. Clifford Deveney. Cholecystectomy (lap) with Dr. Clifford Deveney 19 months post-op.
Has not weighed myself since 1/2010. Letting my clothes gauge my progress instead.
Thank you all for your responses and your knowledge. My information concerning the calories burned is from sites online that factored in weight so it is good to see that others have similar expectations. I really love the water aerobics (our pool at the recreation center is usually 86 degrees) and feel free to do things that I would never be able to do on dry land. We use the noodles and foam 'dumb bells' for resistance and do a lot of walking, jumping and jogging. I can honestly say I feel much better afterwards and do not dread going to the session like I do other activities. Please let me know if you have any further advice or input. Janice
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