Swimming vs Running on a treadmill

[thefren]

Soon a friend will help me train to become a lifeguard. Do you guys think that swimming will be good enough for cardio? Or should I still run?

 

[BrandonXJ]

for me, swimming would be more of a cardio workout than running..

 

[he-man]

swimming is great cardio and better on the knees since its such low impact.

 

[Synpax]

No. Your HR does not get high enough.

If you are going to be a lifeguard, you should do laps, etc., but they are not a good cardio workout.

 

[beachdog]

swimming does not burn fat, I know it seems like it should, but it doesn't. I did a presentation on this topic and it is not a fat burning workout!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Bulldog_10]

Why wouldn't swimming be a good cardio workout? If we're talking strictly for heart health, I would have to say that swimming would probably be far superior to running. The fact that your horizontal while you swim means you will have an increased venous return...not to mention the fact that you're using more muscle, which means more of a muscle pump...increasing venous return even further.

Anyone got any reasons why running would be better?

 

[aerowana]

The reason why most people think swimming is a hard cardio is because they don't know how to swim. Once you swim often, it becomes so easy, like a glide. Even if I try to crawl faster, it doesn't tax me as much. I think its got to do with legs during running, while you don't use legs as much in swimming. And since squats (legs) are compound movements, it taxes the body more?

 

[Synpax]

Why wouldn't swimming be a good cardio workout? If we're talking strictly for heart health, I would have to say that swimming would probably be far superior to running. The fact that your horizontal while you swim means you will have an increased venous return...not to mention the fact that you're using more muscle, which means more of a muscle pump...increasing venous return even further.

Anyone got any reasons why running would be better?

It is all about one thing - heart rate. Resistance in the water prevents your body from moving faster and your heart from beating as fast as it would if you ran.

That simple.

It is a fat burning workout, though, but not as good as running is. However, if you *can't* run, you can burn fat from swimming. The ratio of fat burned is higher with swimming, but the number of calories is a small fraction of that of running.

 

[Bulldog_10]

It is all about one thing - heart rate. Resistance in the water prevents your body from moving faster and your heart from beating as fast as it would if you ran.

That simple.

It is a fat burning workout, though, but not as good as running is. However, if you *can't* run, you can burn fat from swimming. The ratio of fat burned is higher with swimming, but the number of calories is a small fraction of that of running.

I'm speaking more in terms of "cardio," as in a workout for the heart. The heart rate isn't as important as the other things that happen during cardio (increased venous return is the biggie).

 

[BOOEY]

I don't like swimming as only form of cardio simply b/c I feel that it would be harmful to someone who lifts weights religiously. Does anyone run the day after doing legs? Prolly not, b/c you need that day to heal up. Swimming utilizes all your muscles especially shoulders, back, and chest. When will you recover?