Step Class or Swimming Laps?

Question

I already do 1.5 hours of running, 1.5 hours of hiking, and 2 hours of Pilate's. I want to add 2 more hours of aerobic activity a week. Which of the following exercises will help me get the most aerobic benefits:

Step Class (2 hours a week) or
Swimming laps (2 hours a week)

I want to be in better physical shape, but can't decide which exercise routine will help me the most. Advice?

Answer 1

You are already fairly active and either activity would complement what you are already doing. In a step class you can burn between 6 and 11 calories per minute. For 2 hours, that's between 720 and 1320 calories burned per week. with swimming, you can burn between 6 and 11 calories per minute. For 2 hours, that's between 720 ans 1320 calories burned per week.

Thus both activities can burn equal calories, depending on step height, pace, jumps, laps, style of swimming, etc...

Also, both types of exercise will increase your heart rate and make you sweat. You will feel that on land, while you won't while swimming (already surrounded by water). Ultimately, it depends on which activity do you prefer.

The two advantages of swimming over step is that swimming is non impact and swimming will work your arms harder than a step class (unless step class uses weights or alternates weights with step).

Step has the advantage that it's a weight bearing exercise. It will work your legs harder, but you already do exercises that work your legs. Also, many step classes do intervals, where they alternate intense step workouts with weight intervals. Intervals are great ways get your cardiovascular system into shape.

So my conclusion is that both are great exercises and both have equal potential to help you. Which one should you choose? Ultimately, it depends on which activity do you prefer.

Answer 2

Well everyone says swimming but I SWEAR by step aerobics. I lost 20 poudns jsut doing videos at home, and now I go to my gym's step class a few times a week in addition to running and love it. My legs are awesome and I get compliments on them all the time; it's great for toning. The good thing about a step class too is that many of them will also make it a full body workout by adding some weight training and ab work at the end. So I definitely recommend step. It's fun and goes by fast and is a GREAT workout.

Answer 3

Step classes are awesome. They burn a LOT of calroies (more than swimming). Plus, the great thing about them is that you can continually challenge yourself by adding steps and increasing the height of the step. It's also great motivation to have an aerobic instructor and other in the rooms. Actually, you have to constantly use yoru arms in step class, and may people choose to hold light weights as well which makes them tone their upper bodies atthe same time.

Swimming laps is also good for you, but you don't burn as much. You could always do 1 hour of step class and 1 hour of swimming a week to vary your routine up.

Answer 4

Personally I've never taken a step class before, but swimming laps on a regular basis is definitely rewarding... It keeps you in shape and is low impact enough not to cause injury... Plus it works out the whole body all at once similar to running..=]

Answer 5

swimming would add resistance besides being aerobic and better for your joints. pushing against the water is an easy way to work out.

Answer 6

you do a lot more that works your lower so I would go with Swimming laps to works the upper half.