Can't seem to burn a lot of calories while exercising

ThePinkPenguin

So a couple of weeks ago, I started on TurboFire. I was really excited about it because I heard it gets great results and it seemed like such a powerful, intense program. I fumble a little on some of the moves, but am getting better at getting them down, and I LOVE Chalene and how much energy she has! I definitely try to push myself as hard as I can, even though my moves aren't always perfect.

However, when I did the Fire 40 today, I "only" burned about 360 calories. A friend of mine on here is doing TF as well, and she can burn 700+ calories while doing it! I'm not sure if it's an overestimate or something, but it makes me wonder why I can't burn as much. I definitely think I work hard...I push as hard as I can and have sweat coming off, so it's not like I just stand there and half *kitten* the moves. I truly try to get my knees up as high as I can, punch as hard as possible, etc. I don't really feel comfortable with all the jumps, though, so maybe that's why? I don't entirely stay with the modifier girl, but I don't jump and leap all over the place like some of the other people in the DVD either.

I see my feed with other people burning 700 or 800 calories in their exercise, and I consider around 400 to be a good day. Honestly, the only time my HRM said I burned 700 calories is when I did a Zumbathon last month that went two hours! I thought I was pretty kickass for that, but when I see my friends burning 700, 800 or even 1,000 calories...I'm like geez I'd have to exercise forever to get there! LOL! Perhaps they are overestimating, but I guess I question my intensity a lot.

For the record: I am 5'3", 203 pounds. I was close to 201 but gained a few pounds last week that I am now trying to get rid of. That's what I get for falling off the wagon....haha. But I did lose two pounds of the four I gained this week! Yay!

danielleburwell97060

Are the friends on your page using a HRM as well? That'd be the only way to really compare.

wrecktechno

I'm always really iffy about the calories that people state they've burned.... unless they've used a HRM. 660 calories doing yoga? mm, I don't think so.

If I do a 5kms run (up hills at about a 6min per km speed) which takes 30minutes, I burn about 300-350calories. (5'3, 65kgs).

Don't compare yourself to other people. Just keep working as hard as you possibly can.

Ready2Rock206

I see my feed with other people burning 700 or 800 calories in their exercise, and I consider around 400 to be a good day. Honestly, the only time my HRM said I burned 700 calories is when I did a Zumbathon last month that went two hours! I thought I was pretty kickass for that, but when I see my friends burning 700, 800 or even 1,000 calories...I'm like geez I'd have to exercise forever to get there! LOL! Perhaps they are overestimating, but I guess I question my intensity a lot.

Hell I'm happy to get 200! I swear I have the lowest burns on here! I don't even bother w/my HRM anymore - not worth my time. I always wonder about the people who are burning a billion calories a minute!

FitnessBeverlyHills

the jumping makes a huge difference believe it or not. This is why exercises such as burpees and plyometrics are so popular, because that extra movement is what really gets the heart rate up. Right now you are just starting and getting used to these new exercises as well as your bodies endurance so I think its normal that if you are doing less work you will burn less calories.

Try adding in a little more jumps and see if it helps. Don't be discouraged though, it takes practice to get there. Good job with the Zumba!

Unknown

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ash190489

1: Please don't compare yourself to others. Everyone is different and calorie burns depends on the individual in terms of their fitness level, their stats (body fat % etc) and energy expenditure - how hard your working (how high your heart rate is).

2. Different activities require different amounts of energy, i.e. yoga may be 60mins and only 150 calories burned whereas a moderate intensity level for say Zumba/dance for 60 mins may be 250 - 350 calories and high intensity activity for instance Body Attack or Body Combat may be 400-550 calories (these are my approx stats when I do these activities). However the woman next to me may burn heaps more say 700 calories in the same class and the other girl next to me burned 350 calories... The first woman has more body fat and therefore her body uses more energy to keep up to do the same moves whereas the other woman is super fit and even though she's working very hard also, her body doesn't have to work as hard to keep up and her heart rate isn't probably as high.

3. Different activities usually have different levels within them for instance a move in body attack has 3 levels: tuck jump (level 3), star jump (level 2) and a low squat (level 1. - easiest) so if you're not following the exact moves at high intensity like including all the jumps etc your not going to burn as much either whereas those other people getting double may be keeping up and doing all the peak high intensity moves.

Keep going and every time you do it, try and do a little bit more, one more push up, one more jump, etc. you can't compare yourself and compete against anyone see except yourself! You can do it!!

viajera99

HRMs just aren't that reliable as calorie estimators anyway. If someone is less fit than you, her heart will be beating faster at the same intensity of movement, so the HRM will think she burned more calories than you. Not necessarily the case.

Zumba activity is estimated at 6.5 to 7.3 METs (https://sites.google.com/site/compendiumofphysicalactivities/Activity-Categories/new-activity-updates) so someone at your weight of 203 lbs or 92 Kg can burn between 600-675 cal/hr, for constant intense activity, but in the real world, it's probably less, since people rest.