With the ocean and lake water in New York State still chilly, you might want to consider a new study on exercising in cold water before you jump in a lake.
The study, conducted by researchers in Florida and reported in the International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism, found that swimming in cold water could increase your food intake after exercise.
Study volunteers exercised on a stationary bicycle submerged in either cold (68º F) or warm (91.4º F) water for 45 minutes, burning an average of 505 calories in the cold water and 517 calories in the warm water. Afterward, the volunteers who exercised in cold water consumed 44 percent more calories than those who exercised in warm water and 41 percent more than a control group that did not exercise.
The researchers note that water temperature should be considered when designing water- exercise programs for weight loss.