fitter person burns less calories?

autumnsquirrel

...What's your take on this? I have found that I am no longer burning those high numbers in spin class that I was burning 2 months ago when I started taking the class; for example; I burn alot less lately, so I am working even harder. I still don't burn close to what I used to; 100 to 150 calories less. I wear a HRM to keep track of this. What is a good calorie burn goal for each day? Thanks for your feedback:)

sandobr1

Yes, in very general terms a person who is fitter or closer to healthy body weight will burn less calories for the same workout. Also as your body/muscles get used to a routine they don't need to work as hard to get through it. I have found the same thing, which is why I switch it up every couple of months. When I started Zumba (for example) I used to burn around 600 calories for an hour, now it is more like 300-450, I too also wear a HRM so have a closer estimate. I am certainly no expert guessing others may offer more info on this topic.

GetSoda

Your heart rate is lower, because you're in better shape. That doesn't mean you are burning less calories.
It just means your heart rate is lower.

So you heart rate monitor, which is only accurate for reading heart rate, guesses that your calories burned are lower.

Maybe they are lower. In that case, work harder. ^.^

bumblebums

OP, it depends on what you mean by "fitter". Do you mean someone who weighs less, has less body fat, or is better adapted to the exercise in question?

Pmagnanifit

If you lose weight you burn less calories. If you are more fit you burn less calories. If you are more trained ie your body is more used to a particular exercise you burn less calories.

3dogsrunning

Exactly. Fitter people burn less calories. It's a fact. Which is why the fitter you become, the more intensity you need to achieve results.

No, they actually don't. If Chrissie Wellington (world champiom triathlete) and I, assuming we weigh the same, go for a bike ride at the same distance, speed, etc., we burn the same amount of calories. It may feel easier to her, she would be able to go longer or faster if she wanted, but for the same workload we burn the same calories.

Calories burned depends on weight and intensity.

There are a couple of reasons why people with HRMs notice their calories burned going down. 1 is that they have lost weight. The less you weigh, the fewer calories you burn at the same intensity. The second is as noted above, your Resting hr goes down. If you can, you should readjust your HRM settings.

Keep in mind that HRMs calorie estimates are still just estimates. They tend to me less accurate for fitter individuals.


http://www.myfitnesspal.com/blog/Azdak/view/new-hrm-how-to-make-the-calorie-estimate-more-accurate-183102

toutmonpossible

Yes, a fitter person burns fewer calories. A smaller person tends to burn fewer calories A woman tends to burn fewer calories as well.

BTW, I don't use the HRM to estimate calorie burn. it's best used to monitor one's heart rate and recovery.

eating4me

I'm going through the same exact thing right now. It actually is a good thing

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/650353-becoming-more-fit-but-burning-less-cals