Can Swimming Really Be As Intense As Working Out At The Gym?

     I've recently started swimming as an addition to basketball and running for exercise, and have started reading up on it.  Turns out that the injury rate in swimming is about 5%--compared to well over 33% in other sports, especially those that involve a lot of running and jumping.  Obviously, the horizontal position relieves a lot of weight on the joints while still putting the same muscles to work.  Swimming is supposed to burn as much  as if not more calories than other sports of the same muscle effort.  After just 2 laps on the Olympic-sized pool, it seems to have burned a lot of energy, judging by how I'm panting afterward. 
     However, I also recently read that swimming can tone your muscles the same way that lifting weights can.  Take note: Tone, not build in size like those Goliaths on Muscle Magazine.  A sports doctor was quoted as saying that the body doesn't know whether it's an expensive piece of nautilus machine at the end of your arm or just water; all it knows is that the muscles are being strained, and therefore it responds in the same way: by ripping old muscle to build new one.  It was never my intention to look like a club bouncer; a lean toned physique is good enough for me.  Looking at Michael Phelps' sculpted torso would make me want to believe that doctor's claim, but then I can't be in the water 7 days a week like Phelps does.
     So my questions are:  Are there any folks in here who swim regularly for fitness?  How has the sport affected your physique over the years?   What is the best time of the day to swim?  Does anyone know exactly how many calories are burned in, say, a 50m lap of freestyle?  What about other styles?  Also, what is the best pacing during training to tone muscles?  Thanks for any help guys!!

Swimming is a great cardio-vascular exercise and helps burn calories. I wouldn't souly rely on it to get you looking like Phelps though. Diet is more than half the battle to looking good. It is above weight training and cardio-vascular exercise

I lost 50# in three months playing BB twice a day and swimming twice a day. Swimming is all-around good exercise. GL.

Wow.  You make it sound like BB and swimming are your day jobs.  Lemme guess: either you're a day trader or a sports coach? 

I seriously don't think I can't tread water for at least an hour, I want to say two, but I don't want to hear "no way" from people that don't know.

I'd so much rather run 6 miles than swim 10 laps freestyle in an Olympic pool. I just can't coordinate breathing freestyle. Breaststroke, no problem. It'd just take an hour. lol

I meant to say, I seriously do think I CAN easily tread water for at least an hour, I want to say two if life or death,

dennishopson:  well, the coordinated breathing and exertion of muscles to move forward in water is very good cardiovascular exercise.

But I guess nothing beats sex at burning calories + enjoyment factor

one of the best forms of exercise there is, so much easier on the joints as well....just imagine comparing the knees of a man who had jogged for 25 yrs to those of a man who was a swimmer for 25yrs...plus, hot babes tend to congregate at pools  

IMO, Swimming > running.   Easier on your joints and everything.  Plus its a tougher workout than running because of the resistance your fighting in the water, you also don't sweat which is a plus.  Swimming is great for getting tone and dropping fat, but your not going to get any bigger

Don't know if its out already, but someone needs to invent a water-proof mp3 player or something.  Swimming can get boring if you don't have anything to listen to or do while your swimming laps

I thought I saw a lady in our pool swimming with something that looked like a waterproof/bluetooth/mp3 player thing.  That would make it a lot more fun.

Here are a couple of those waterproof MP3 players.  If anyone has used one, what do you think of it?  The wired article seems to suggest that some of them are crappy and are not worth the money.  Anyone have any experience with any of these?

https://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2008/10/latest-waterpro/

https://www.speedousa.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3106714

Borat. I'm neither. I work all summer on an Island in Ohio, then have the winters off for play time. GL in whatever workout you do.

yea it is a helluva workout but people dont do it like they should...its interesting why more people dont use the pool for cardio training, i guess they feel using a treadmill is better and perhaps the tv/music they can watch or listen to is better...plus not as much hot tail in the indoor pool compared to the cardio room...and many overweight people dont want to get into a bathing suit...just guesses...that and spinning classes are good alternatives though from your basic running

i have read that swimming is probably the best thing one could do for ones general health...

Swimming isnt as good a calorie burner as running. Running is weight bearing swimming is not.

Swimming is a better all over workout and you have less risk of injury.

Its whatever suits u best.

U weigh 300lbs running probably not the best option

I use the "swimp3"...very good except it only holds about 30 songs.

I agree with what you have to say,here...

It's great exercise...... Unlike running, it can also work upper body.  Can actually get an upper body pump if you want.  It will work your back.

And where else can you exercise and socialize with chicks in bikinis at the same time?

almost everything is well written except for this.....

thats false.. you dont necessarily notice it, however you do sweat..

doing weight training movements in a pool vs the resistance of the water is great as well

Not much of a swimmer, but not hard to figure out the benefits - you're using your entire body as opposed to just arms, or legs, etc...

yeah swimming is being used for rehab on muscles for players who want to start getting their muscles back in shape without putting alot stress on their joints and stuff

Swimming exercises every muscle, great stuff