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2005/05/14, 12:26 PM
I read this article and found it very interesting..... :)
Enjoy!
The Worst Exercise For Weight Loss?
Swimming in cold water burns up plenty of calories, but it also makes you ravishingly hungry. That makes you eat more. And that makes you lose less weight.
Swimming IS good exercise for building physical fitness, especially if you're overweight. The buoyancy given by the water makes exercising easier if you have joint or balance problems. Now researchers from the University of Florida have found that water temperature is key if you're swimming to lose weight. Cold water jazzes up the appetite, so you'll probably consume more calories post-exercise than you would if you did an equal amount of jogging or cycling. That's why those who rely on aquatic exercise may not lose as much weight as people who workout on a treadmill or bike.
"It's possible that individuals who exercise in cooler water may have an exaggerated energy intake following exercise, which may be a reason why they don't lose as much weight," explained lead study author Lesley White, an assistant professor in the College of Health and Human Performance. "So it may not be the exercise itself that causes the problem because you can match the exercise energy expenditure; rather it's the increased eating after the exercise is over."
The study: White tracked the energy used by 11 UF students as they rode a stationary bicycle submerged in water for 45 minutes. The students exercised in cold water of 68 degrees Fahrenheit and warm water of 91.4 degrees Fahrenheit. The same students, ages 21 to 31, also spent 45 minutes resting. After each exercise session and the rest period, the students' blood pressure and heart rates were measured. They were also allowed free access to a standard assortment of food with known caloric values--but the students did not know the researchers were watching what they ate.
The results: The students used a similar amount of energy during the exercises, specifically 517 calories in the cold water and 505 in the warm water. They expended 123 calories while resting. The students ate foods with significantly more calories--44 percent higher--after exercising in cold water than they did after warm water exercise or rest. Specifically, the students consumed a mean 877 calories after exercise in cold water, 608 calories after exercise in warm water, and 618 after resting periods.
Why does cold water make us eat more? White suggests that the body temperature might influence post-exercise appetite. "This is a preliminary study, which suggests that environmental conditions during exercise may influence post-exercise appetite," White said. Still, individuals should consider the kinds of foods they eat after exercise.
The study findings were published in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism.
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:Hard work equals great results!:
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