Losing weight is a goal many people have in order to feel healthier. Many people look for ways to lose weight in their everyday life, from doing exercises at home to making exercise fun. As a recreational activity, can billiards help you on your weight-loss journey?
Shooting pool can help you:
- Burn calories
- Work your muscles
- Increase your flexibility
There are strategies you can implement to increase the amount of exercise you get from the activity.
Keep reading to learn more about the health benefits of pool, and how you can make some small changes to push these benefits even further.
Can You Lose Weight Playing Billiards Or Pool?
Billiards is fun, and what’s better than having fun while working out?
If you played pool for a half-hour five times a week, you could lose about half a pound every month. You may not lose weight very quickly with this activity, but those ounces here and there do add up over time.
Shooting pool for an hour rather than a half-hour will have greater benefits.
How Much Much Weight Can You Lose Playing Billiards?
Billiards is exercise, and exercise can help you lose weight. But how much?
The amount of weight you can actually lose while playing billiards depends on your:
- BMI
- Metabolism
- The amount of time you spend playing
According to bmicalc.co, the rewards will be much smaller than more targeted weight-loss exercise, such as running.
How Many Calories Can You Burn Playing Billiards?
Now that you know you can lose weight playing billiards, you may be wondering how many calories you can burn.
Here are some examples:
- A person weighing 150 pounds (lb) can burn up to 85 calories
- A person weighing 120lb can burn around 70 calories
- A person weighing 200lb can burn 115 calories
Is Weight Loss Different With Billiards vs. Pool?
Billiards and pool are two different games.
The biggest differences between the two games include:
| Billiards | Both | Pool |
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However, there are similar benefits when it comes to health and weight loss. You can play either game and still burn some calories.
What Are the Other Health Benefits of Billiards?
Billiards and pool offer other health benefits as well. Since the game involves a lot of walking around the table to find the best angles, some players end up walking a mile just by playing.
Improves Flexibility
Pool also improves flexibility, since the game often requires players to stretch and lean in order to line up the perfect shot. Shooting pool involves balance, strength, and endurance. You won’t break into a sweat by playing, but you’ll still be strengthening these skills.
Works Your Muscles
Because pool requires this flexibility as well as standing for long periods of time, the game works muscles in your arms, back, and legs. It’s almost a full-body workout and can help you tone your muscles.
Improves Hand-eye Coordination
The act of lining up a shot improves hand-eye coordination and focus. Pool is a game of strategy and precision, so this means your brain gets a workout, too. You might not notice it, but you’re using physics and mathematics while you play.
Potentially Slow Aging
The University of Copenhagen conducted a study that indicated that playing pool can even slow aging in men. By engaging your muscles, standing and walking, and using your brain when you calculate that winning shot, you’re maintaining healthy habits that keep you young.
It’s unclear whether the same benefits are present in women, as the study was only conducted with male participants, but it’s likely that they do.
What Other Strategies Can You Use to Lose Weight?
You can incorporate strategies to lose more weight while enjoying the game.
Do Laps Around the Pool Table
Since pool involves a lot of standing and walking, try walking even more, especially when the other player is taking their turn. You can take laps around the table while they play, and burn more calories.
Lift Your Pool Cue
Pool cues have a solid weight to them to help with the gameplay. You can do simple exercises with your pool cue while waiting for your turn.
This can be as simple as carrying the cue the whole game so it never rests on anything, or even doing lifts and other arm exercises typically done with dumbbells.
Cut Back On Beer
It’s also important to consider what else you’re doing while you play. Pool is a common recreational activity offered in bars and pubs, and many people drink beer while they play.
Consider cutting back on the beer, which is a drink known to lead to weight gain. You can limit yourself to one drink, or switch between beer and water if you do not want to abstain completely.
Conclusion
Shooting pool is a fun recreational activity. Engaging in pool or billiards can be a relaxing way to unwind, yet it helps you stay fit and active.
It’s a good option for people who care about their health, but don’t always have the time or energy to do more intense exercise. Happy playing!