Swimming Laps Vs. Walking
Aerobic exercise makes your heart beat faster while burning calories. A good goal is two hours and 30 minutes of moderate exercise per week. Many activities qualify as aerobic including swimming laps and walking. Every aerobic exercise has its advantages and disadvantages. Swimming laps, which is not recreational swimming, and walking both offer rewards with some liabilities.
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Ease of Entry
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Walking is an easy activity to begin. You can walk virtually anywhere. Dress in comfortable clothes and shoes and you start walking. Swimming laps requires transportation to a pool and a swimsuit designed for swimming laps. It also requires access to a suitable pool that is convenient and provides space for lap swimming. It also requires the ability to swim, which is a learned skill that most, but not all, people learn when they are young.
Cost
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Walking is one of the least expensive aerobic activities. There is no fee to use the street, sidewalk or any public area. Most clothing worn during walks can be worn at other times. A good pair of shoes is the biggest expense, and those shoes are not restricted to aerobic walking.
A major expense for swimming laps is pool access. If you are fortunate, there is a public indoor pool that is available without cost. If no public pool is close to your home, you will have to join a health club or other private organization. The monthly fees vary, and you will have to add costs for transportation, swimsuits and goggles.
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Calories
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One pound equals 3,500 calories. To lose 1 pound you must either restrict your intake of calories by that amount over a period of time or increase your exercise. Swimming laps for one hour burns 511 calories for a 160-pound person, 637 calories if you weigh 200 pounds and 763 calories for a 240-pound person.
The number of calories burned during an hour of walking depends upon speed, according to the Mayo Clinic. Walking 2 mph burns 183 calories for the 160-pound person, 228 calories for people weighing 200 pounds and 273 calories if you weigh 240 pounds. The numbers increase to 277, 346 and 414 calories if you increase your speed to 3.5 mph. The comparison is not close; swimming laps burns many more calories.
Impact
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Walking is low impact but some people with hip, knee and foot problems require exercises that place little or no strain on their joints. Swimming laps solves the problem. There is no impact on the joints, and someone with knee or hip problems typically can swim.
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References
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