Ice Hockey

Now according to CC I burn 500+ calories an hour playing hockey. Now I just wonder if anyone can help me with this. It's an anarobic activity not an arobic. So, what exactly does that mean? Am I not going to burn as much fat because it isn't arobic? I'm kinda confused! Please help....and how do i know how many calories I do burn if the exercise is so different depending on the team I play with and against?

 

no athletes on this site???

i would guess that hockey is considered anaerobic because of the short shifts.  if you're playing amateur/rec hockey, there's a good chance you're on the ice long enough and playing hard enough to make it aerobic.

 On the contrary, hockey's going to burn through fat like anything.

Anaerobic interval training is the second best fat burning exercise there is, second only to lifting heavy weights.  Also, and this is the fun part - when you do anaerobic interval training you get lactic acid formation; you feel the burn from it when you're playing hockey, right? Well, that lactate production stimulates your glands into releasing extra growth hormone - which stimulates fat loss and muscle formation.

 So not only will you be burning extra fat on account of doing anaerobic intervals, you're also getting extra growth hormones which will help you strip off even more fat and grow muscles appropriate for your sport.

 Add in some heavy weight training as your coach directs you to, and you've got an extremely efficient fitness regime.

Thanks so much for the replies! Very helpful!! I'm extremely tired this morning but if I'm burning a ton of fat, i can live with that! :)

Here's a study that backs up what Melkor was saying:

Soccer Burns More Fat Than Jogging

It's about soccer, but hockey is very similar to soccer. 

This is exciting to read... I love playing hockey... but didn't realise the total benefits I could get from it.

It's an intense work out, and my heart rate def stays up even when you're on the bench...

maybe I should start playing twice a week and cut out a run.. mwuahaahah

now i want to go play hockey!

I have a semi-related question, If I start my day at 6am and then don't play hockey until 11pm, should I be eating more than normal because I'm definitely burning more than the normal day just by staying up later. What do you think?

djkitten- what kind of team do you play for? Have you been playing for a long time?

 

 

Maybe if you raised your basic activity level (the calculator on here) that would help include the fact that you have a much longer day?

I'm on a women's team, mostly made up of co-workers. This is our 2nd season, although I also played during the summer last year.
How about you?

mens league! We really stink but it's still a lot of fun! I used to play competatively but that has now been too expensive and too much time!!!  I miss college!!!

It's funny I have been wondering why I blew up after I stopped playing Hockey.  I was just the netminder but I played or practiced up to 10 hours a week but when I quit I didn't quit eating like I was playing.  Maybe I need to get back to help maintain the 50 pounds of jubbly that I lost.

I have a hockey game tonight!!! Can't wait! I plan to eat a high protien snack before i leave for the game. I found that tuna and cottage cheese is pretty good and high in protein to help sustain my energy level. I can't wait to play tonight, even if it is super late!!!

I'm curious about the calorie calculations used for ice hockey.

I play for 60 minutes with 5 on the bench before work. Does that count for 1 hour of hockey, or 30 minutes of hockey, assuming I only skate for 30 minutes?

Good question, my games are 90 minutes and I count it as 60 minutes do to the bench! I don't know though anyone have a better answer?

I think it depends on how long are you on the bench? We're constantly short so we might only be off for 60-90 seconds and I know my heart rate is still up during that time...
I shave a bit of time off, so a 60 min game I might put 50... but I'm not totally sure of the answer

Yeah i know, I don't exactly know either! I have a game tonight so I'll see what I think after tonight!!! I can't wait, I'm so itchin for the ice!!!

I play so regularly, my heart rate only spikes during my shifts. Not that this is a bad thing, just tougher to shed weight.

Great sport tho. Too bad you folks have to deal with East Coast hockey :) In MN I can skate 3+ a week year round.

I wish I could play that often! There is a major shortage of ice rinks around Vancouver, BC. they're booked from morning to night and it gets more expensive every year to do. I actually signed up for a skating/shooting class just to get on the ice another time per week.

Hmm.. maybe that's why our team doesn't get any better.... no practice time! :) 

 

Hey now, you are in Canada? I will shut up about living in Minnesota now.

Its all about the outdoor rinks. Chat up the local park district, and you may be able to rent the outdoor ice at a nominal fee. I can rent the local outdoor ice for $20 an hour, and my team loves the chance to get old school. 4X4 with 1 or 2 subs, get 2 netminders and play for 2 hours.

Thats a perfect friday night, and you can have a guilt free pint after!

Regardless, good luck with your game, and if we ever can figure out how to accurately calculate calories burned during ice hockey, put that 411 here! 

I'm so freakin jealous! I'm in New York, Long Island to be exact, and the ice is super expensive here!! I have to play at 11pm and thats only once a week!! I hate it!! I get so tired waiting for the game! I grew up in Alaska so the ice was super cheap and I was always playing! Then I went to college where we had 2 hour practices 6 days a week and games! I went straight to this, nothing!! It is so frustrating!!!