Swimming is one of the best workouts for burning calories, boosting your metabolism and toning your muscles without stressing your joints. On average, swimming can burn almost 700 calories in an hour, but each stroke burns a different number of calories. Because water is dense, each motion works as a mini resistance workout for your body. This builds muscle, which also burns calories. Every 1 lb. of muscle burns between 30 and 50 extra calories a day, according to Gaiam Life.
Freestyle
Swimming laps using the front crawl is the most common swimming exercise. With vigorous effort, this will burn 590 calories per hour for a 130 lb. person, 704 for a 155 lb. person and 863 for a 190 lb. person, according to NutriStrategy. At a moderate effort, the front crawl will burn 472 calories per hour for a 130 lb. person, 690 for a 155 lb. person and 863 for a 190 lb. person.
Backstroke
The backstroke requires slightly less effort because you hold up a lot of your weight by simply floating on your back. But, it still burns 472 calories per hour for a 130 lb. person, 563 for a 155 lb. person and 690 for a 190 lb. person.
Breaststroke
Many find the breaststroke challenging because it requires submerging under water and then resurfacing repeatedly. It also works your leg muscles because of the circular kick. This stroke burns 590 calories per hour for a 130 lb. person, 704 for a 150 lb. person and 863 calories for a 190 lb. person.
Butterfly
The butterfly stroke burns the most calories and many consider it the most difficult stroke. A 130 lb. person will burn 649 calories per hour, a 155 lb. person will burn 774 calories per hour and a 190 lb. person will burn 949 calories per hour.
Side Stroke
The side stroke is usually done at a leisurely pace, rarely competitively. It burns 472 calories per hour for a 130 lb. person, 563 for a 155 lb. person and 690 for a 190 lb. person.
Treading Water
Even though treading water is a stationary activity, it still burns calories. Treading with vigorous effort will burn 590 calories per hour for a 130 lb. person, 704 calories for a 155 lb. person and 863 calories for a 190 lb. person.
Synchronized Swimming
Synchronized swimming involves moving with a team of other swimmers and requires coordination. This burns 472 calories per hour for a 130 lb. person, 563 calories per hour for a 155 lb. person and 690 calories per hour for a 190 lb. person, notes NutriStrategy.
Leisure Swimming
While you may not realize you are working out when you swim for leisure, you are still burning calories. A 130 lb. person burns 354 calories per hour, a 155 lb. person burns 422 calories per hour and a 190 lb. person burns 518 calories per hour.
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