Calories Burned Playing The Pipes?

[JSadler]

Originally Posted by ratherbpiping

Sorry but,I don't think you have a convincing argument.

Its still a loss...so that's a plus on playing.

[Bill Adam]

According to a calorie burn chart on one health site I burn 105 calories just standing for 1 hour. Playing guitar for an hour burns 281 calories. This is based on weighing 195 pounds.

Sorry, the only musical instrument they list is guitar.

[Kirby Allen]

Originally Posted by Bill Adam

According to a calorie burn chart on one health site I burn 105 calories just standing for 1 hour. Playing guitar for an hour burns 281 calories. This is based on weighing 195 pounds.

Sorry, the only musical instrument they list is guitar.

Dang, 281 playing guitar, and guitar's not all that physical! ~250 for pipes doesn't seem unrealistic.

[jd3214]

Most of my peers (including me) are only now thinking about this stuff as we age. I spent most of my piping life figuring out how to ruin my body not make it healthy. Most of those folks I know who are up there in years are probably there because of their piping. Nearly all the pipers I know who died of natural causes made it past 80. I am now 67 and when I had my first by-pass in 2001 I thought my piping career was over until I spoke with an old friend (who was quite overweight) and still P/M of a very competitive band who told me he had just completed his third open heart surgery and still spent his afternoons in the hot sun getting the band ready on the contest field. In those days only sissy's ran; one might kick the (fooot) ball around a bit but ... run??? Nay laddie.

The pipers exercises are: drinking ... Scotch/beer, carousing (after band practice or at the contest, nights sleeping at rest areas in the car on the way home from band practice or sleeping on the grass at Maxville; "inhaling" during the 60's; 2 pack a day tobacco habit for 40 years; chasing wild women until marrying one; then, getting home from practice or the contest in time for work on Monday. Some things to watch out for healthwise are: A friend who was a Pathologist theorized that pipers get Cancer deeper than others because of the years of developing strong breathing techniques. Focal Dystonia (look it up you folks who perspire...it could be in your future).

The benefits are: a definite high when playing in unison and blowing tone; a certain kind of meditation like state when playing at home in your garage. Brain stimulation. A HUGE neck size if you started when you were ten or younger; padded muscles in your shoulder on the bass drone side; finger strength that allows you to do push-ups on the tip of your fingers. Women thinking your cute (when properly dressed) even when you are really as ugly as sin. A lot of friends who drink! A VERY few friends who do not.

[longwind]

I don't know about burning calories but it's a piper's life for me. I had quite a few Scotches and great draft beers while piping. Got to love Haggis! Bridies, mince pies, Scotts eggs, fish n' chips and all the rest are not diet friendly.