Zumba and calories burned

Marianna93637

MFP suggests that Zumba burns 700 calories / hr. I went on a website where you enter your weight, height, gender, and the intensity of the class (can't even talk: high, can talk: moderate, etc) and it also came up with 700. I'm sure that's also just an overall estimate.

Should I manually override it and enter less?

Another thing I found interesting was that my first Zumba class this week (after a year and a half break) was so hard, my heart was beating like it was about to jump out, was very hard to breath, but I made it through. 2 days later, with the same instructor, same music, same moves, it was so much easier. I still sweat, it was still an awesome workout, but does this mean I burned less calories, or is it that my cardiovascular system got adapted pretty quickly, and it was easier, but still burned the same amount of calories?

Those of you who take Zumba, how do you enter the calories burnt? I'm sure it's at least 500 calories, it's a non-stop high intensity 60 minute workout, but I'd like to be as accurate as possible.

rosebette

I've been using the calories on my step counter/tracker rather than the MFP estimates, which are very high. I think if I had a tracker with an HRM, it would be more accurate, but don't have one yet.

brianpperkins

rosebette wrote: »

I've been using the calories on my step counter/tracker rather than the MFP estimates, which are very high. I think if I had a tracker with an HRM, it would be more accurate, but don't have one yet.

HRMs are not designed or programmed to accurately estimate caloric burn for Zumba or any other dance activity.

azwen

I have used the MFP estimate for calories burned (500 or so for a 50-minute class). I think, as with all the MFP calorie estimations, just use it; if you find you're not losing weight and you're sure you're measuring/logging food accurately, try not eating all the exercise calories.

vorgas

When you put your body into a stressful situation, your heart rate elevates. This has a number of bio-evolutionary benefits including allowing your brain to process more information (watching the instructor, actively triggering muscles in a coordinated rhythym, etc).

The first time you perform an exercise, your HR will artificially elevate to allow you function effectively.

Please remember that HRMs don't measure calories burned. For that you need a very complicated machine. All they do is measure your HR.

codycsweet

Last night my calorie burn per polar chest hrm was 579 and on my Fitbit charge hr 574. Today my calorie burn was 475 different instructor different intensity. Everything is just an estimate but close enough for me

bethira

Per my Fitbit, HRM and MFP, 60 minutes of Zumba usually gets me in the 700s if I'm taking a class 900s if I'm teaching (it's always higher intensity when I teach). So depending on your weight and fitness level 500 - 700 is not an unreasonable amount. Just keep an eye on your loss and adjust if your losses start to slow.

On a good Zumba night, I can get my heart rate to 160 and keep it there for 30+ minutes. That's high for me, but other than running (which I can't do because of a knee issue) I haven't found many other activities that hold my interest and give me that level of workout.

Marianna93637

Oh yeah teaching is way more involved than taking a class. There are times we're doing a move, we can barely keep up and then the instructor kicks it into even higher gear, just for herself. I wonder "are you even human? lol"

TiberiusClaudis

Trust me...500 calories are easy to burn during Zumba. My wife is an instructor and drags my backside to her classes. I have a polar heart monitor/calorie counter and it ranges anywhere from 600-900 for the 50 min class. Another guy in class also wears a similar type and he gets more or less the same amount. BTW...incredible transformation OP...nicely done!

brianpperkins

The trust in devices that are inaccurate for activities such as Zumba ... marketing trumping science.

Marianna93637

TiberiusClaudis wrote: »

Trust me...500 calories are easy to burn during Zumba. My wife is an instructor and drags my backside to her classes. I have a polar heart monitor/calorie counter and it ranges anywhere from 600-900 for the 50 min class. Another guy in class also wears a similar type and he gets more or less the same amount. BTW...incredible transformation OP...nicely done!

Thank you! I'm glad my face show the 9 lbs lost, because the scale hasn't moved in over 2 weeks. 32 lbs more to go

I'm glad to hear that Zumba does burn the amount MFP suggests. It does feel like a high calorie burn workout, but I didn't want to cheat myself just in case it's not true.

janicelo1971

I guess it depends on your weight and intensity...i burn about 350 in an hour(but yes HRM says 550 plus)..i don't eat any of them back anyway so i don't pay much attention to it any longer..

brightsideofpink

The only way to know for sure is to get enough data points to see the change in weight, assuming all other factors are kept accurate. If you're giving yourself those 700 calories and not losing weight as your deficit says you should, something is inaccurate. If you are, then its probably a good estimate.

I have done zumba for 6 months now, once per week. I record only the adjustment from my step counter (fitbit), and it gives me about 400-500 calories in an hour for my 200 lb frame. I've used this, eaten it back, and have managed to lose exactly as my deficit anticipates.

Marianna93637

Yesterday's Zumba class was different. The instructor stopped after every single song to fumble with her phone. She seemed like she's been doing this for a while, so I don't know why she didn't make a playlist like the rest of them do. Not sure if this is her style or was just unprepared, but I know I didn't burn as many calories as I could have.
Those 10-15 seconds every 4-5 minutes or so allowed my heart rate to lower somewhat, catch my breath (even drink water) which made it easier, but I was a little annoyed.

I still sweat a great deal, and overall I estimated 500 calories. I took another one the day before (I took her class 3 times), and I thought I was gonna die out there lol. Definitely 700 calories.