Come on in the water is fine

August 9, 2005 11:18 AM

Why does one feel tired after simply floating and noodling around in a pool?

Admittedly Mr. Oflinkey and myself are not in the best shape, but last night we spent about an hour and a half wallowing in a friend's pool. Nothing strenuous, a lot of floating and treading, etc.
We weren't sore like workout-sore, but tired enough to say so. Why is this? We don't feel like we are doing any work at all goofing off in the pool

posted by oflinkey to sports, hobbies, & recreation (11 comments total)

Because you don't simply "just float around". You paddle around (if only just to steady yourself), using muscles you are not accustomed to using.
posted by Doohickie at 11:20 AM on August 9, 2005

A-ha Doohickie. That is what I said. See, we had a bit of a discussion on this. I am interested to see if anyone else has anything else to add.
posted by oflinkey at 11:23 AM on August 9, 2005

Too add to what Doohickie said, in addition the water adds resistance, futher taxing your muscles.
posted by geeky at 11:27 AM on August 9, 2005

In addition to the actual effort, if you're not a regular swimmer than swimming will tax your muscles in a way that's unique from, say, walking. In effect you're excersing muscles you otherwise hadn't been.
posted by dobbs at 11:34 AM on August 9, 2005

I signed up just to answer this question and I don't even have a very good answer. Go figure.

If it's an outdoor, unheated pool, you'll also burn up extra energy just keeping warm. Just being cold can tire you out. Treading is also tiring. To me it seems more tiring than swimming and I consider myself a decent swimmer.
posted by GuyZero at 11:42 AM on August 9, 2005

This is a pure guess but once the dead outer layer of skin is saturated your skin cells have to actively resist the osmotic pressures of the pool water. Over the course of an hour, I would imagine that this would use a noticeable amount of energy without you being aware of it.
posted by 517 at 11:47 AM on August 9, 2005

water adds resistance

A LOT of resistance.
posted by mkultra at 11:52 AM on August 9, 2005

Definitely using muscles you aren't used to. When people first start swimming for exercise--even if they are in good shape and can run whatever-odd miles--they have a lot of trouble keeping up with the old timers, simply because they aren't used to it.
posted by dame at 12:06 PM on August 9, 2005

Similarly, I've been wondering how many calories a day at the beach burns, between swimming for hours in cold Atlantic water and making my skin fight off the sun's damage.
posted by nicwolff at 2:14 PM on August 9, 2005

Also, particularly if the water is heated, you would be getting dehydrated while you're in the pool. That would make you feel tired too.
posted by egilmore at 4:30 PM on August 9, 2005

I second the effects of treading through highly resistant water, using muscles in unaccustomed ways, the effects of water temp, and the effects of sitting in the sun (and the sun hitting more of your uncovered skin) as causing your tired feeling. I know just sitting in the sun for a few hours at the beach can wear me out later in the day.

There is also something to be said for any relaxing situation making you feel much more lethargic afterwards. First thing I want to do after a great massage is sleep.
posted by qwip at 6:57 PM on August 9, 2005