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    Jogging vs. squats - ??

    Posts: 64 Member
    edited November 2024 in Fitness and Exercise
    Can anyone verify that the following is more or less correct? (This is what MFP is telling me):

    Cals burned in 20min of jogging = approx 180
    Cals burned in 1min of squats = approx 90

    It sounds way out of proportion to me. Like I could do 2 minutes of squats and it would burn the same number of calories (more or less) as a 20-minute run? :neutral_face:

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    Replies

    • Posts: 3,646 Member
      edited January 2015
      There is no way to answer this question without knowing your stats. You also need to take into account how vigorously you are doing these exercises.

      If you are interested in an accurate burned cal count, you'll need to invest in a heart rate monitor (HRM).

      It is worth saying that MFP and most other auto-estimations of burns are almost ALWAYS grossly overestimated.
    • Posts: 64 Member
      edited January 2015
      26yo, 65kg, 167cm. Doing squats as recommended by NZ Army.
    • Posts: 13,049 Member
      Doesn't sound accurate at all.
    • Posts: 3,646 Member
      vha2 wrote: »
      26yo, 65kg, 167cm. Doing squats as recommended by NZ Army.

      So use that info to put into an HRM. We still can't give you an accurate number.

    • Posts: 3,346 Member
      1 minute of squats would not burn 90 calories. I dont think there is any exercise that could burn that much.
    • Posts: 13,049 Member
      vha2 wrote: »
      26yo, 65kg, 167cm. Doing squats as recommended by NZ Army.
      NZ Army is correct. Great exercise.

      Personally I don't count any of my strength training as calorie burning. I know it does burn calories but I just think of it as adding to my BMR. Just adjust your base calorie goal if you're losing weight too quickly. If not then you're getting stronger so yay!
    • Posts: 61,406 Member
      Try 9 calories per minute of squats.
    • Posts: 64 Member
      mustgetmuscles1 wrote: »
      1 minute of squats would not burn 90 calories. I dont think there is any exercise that could burn that much.

      OK that's exactly the response I was looking for - thanks for being helpful!
    • Posts: 131 Member
      90 calories for only 1 minute of squats? I wish!
      As an estimation ONLY, the jogging cals sound more probable.
    • Posts: 64 Member
      _Waffle_ wrote: »
      show previous quotes
      NZ Army is correct. Great exercise.

      Personally I don't count any of my strength training as calorie burning. I know it does burn calories but I just think of it as adding to my BMR. Just adjust your base calorie goal if you're losing weight too quickly. If not then you're getting stronger so yay!

      Yeah I have contemplated doing that as well - just logging cardio. Maybe that's a good solution. But also if MFP's estimate of cals burned for squats is that inaccurate, maybe it should be removed?
    • Posts: 64 Member
      DavPul wrote: »
      Try 9 calories per minute of squats.

      Aaah ok maybe it's missing a decimal point!
    • Posts: 64 Member
      lindzgayle wrote: »
      90 calories for only 1 minute of squats? I wish!
      As an estimation ONLY, the jogging cals sound more probable.

      I thought so too. Thanks :)
    • Posts: 1,320 Member
      vha2 wrote: »
      show previous quotes

      Yeah I have contemplated doing that as well - just logging cardio. Maybe that's a good solution. But also if MFP's estimate of cals burned for squats is that inaccurate, maybe it should be removed?

      Where do you see this? I looked it up and came up with 0 cals, because it's in the strength database. If you want to log it as cardio, I would do it as "Calisthenics-light" which gives me 4 cals/minute.
    • Posts: 64 Member
      obscuremusicreference wrote: »
      show previous quotes

      Where do you see this? I looked it up and came up with 0 cals, because it's in the strength database. If you want to log it as cardio, I would do it as "Calisthenics-light" which gives me 4 cals/minute.

      Click Exercise, search Squats, it comes up with Squats (20 = 30 sec). Then you put in your weight and minutes. 65kg & 1 minute calculates it as 89 cal.
    • Posts: 4,140 Member
      Still, one minute of air squats is no easy task if you’re keeping a good pace. Give it try. With greater intensity, you’re definitely going to burn more calories per minute (maybe not that much, but definitely more).

      Plus, squats will do more good for you than jogging (i.e., increase in testosterone, strength building, better mobility).
    • Posts: 9,377 Member
      DavPul wrote: »
      Try 9 calories per minute of squats.

      That sounds more logical.
    • Posts: 4,301 Member
      vha2 wrote: »
      show previous quotes

      Yeah I have contemplated doing that as well - just logging cardio. Maybe that's a good solution. But also if MFP's estimate of cals burned for squats is that inaccurate, maybe it should be removed?
      Removed? How about ignored. If you want someone to go in to the database and find all the problems and inaccuracies you'd be paying for the site. Enjoy what is free and how to work around the obvious poor entries.
    This discussion has been closed.

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