High School Varsity Volleyball. Burn Calories?

Question

I am a freshman in high school and I made the varsity team for volleyball. =]. We practice 6 days a week for 2 1/2 to 3 hours a day. We do a lot of conditioning during our practice too. I was just wondering if I will lose belly fat, or just lose weight in general. I am also trying to stop drinking soda and less fatty and sugary foods.

Answer 1

I think you will greater and faster results from your decision to change your diet away from so-called junk foods.  Calorie burn:   I used to play tennis on a regular basis.  I would think volleyball, itself, would offer little in the way of a calorie burn.  Reason:   the sweat, to be blunt, produced by volleyball or tennis is not a good indicator of exercise value because the movement is broken by stops and starts.  So close to tennis in that respect.  Lets work on the food intake 75 percent and let your exercise take care of itself.  At your age, you have a high metabolic rate going for you.  You will meet your goal weight before November, if I have the whole picture. Good luck.  p.s.  Ever considered cross country?  

Answer 2

I just stopped drinking soda and switched to water and non sweetened tea and I have lost weight from that alone.  It is about 150 calories for a soda.  Drink 6 a day and you have nearly 1000 useless calories.  Even if you did not switch your diet and stopped drinking sodas, you will lose weight with your increased exercise.  But do not get discouraged.  Do not weigh yourself every day.  There are many factors in your weight.  You may lose some fat and gain some muscle.  And muscle weighs more than fat.  

Answer 3

You'll lose fat in general, but certain muscles like your legs will get stronger.  So you may not lose weight since muscle weighs more.

I'd personally worry about surviving 18 hours of practice a week, not if I was going to lose weight.