Top Calorie burner exercises

Azdak

Calories burned during exercise depends more on HOW you do the exercise than WHAT you do. Calorie burn is based on intensity --i.e. Oxygen uptake(VO2) (and weight, but we are comparing exercises for the same person). The higher the workload the higher the VO2 and the more calories burned. If VO2 is the same, then the rate of calories burned MUST also be the same, regardless of the activity.

Depending on the person, they might have the physical ability to perform some movements better than others so that they can achieve a certain VO2 level easier, but that is a different issue. That activity won't be the same for everyone.

In general, it is easier to reach higher intensities with exercises that involve more muscles and have more dynamic movements. Think running and cross country skiing compared to stationary cycling. However, with training, one can usually reach equivalency, or close to it.

High Intensity Interval training will burn calories at a high rate during the work interval, a lesser amount during the recovery interval and a few more during the "afterburn". However, since the length of the workouts are so much shorter, I don't think they can really be seen as super "calorie burners". The biggest advantage for HIIT is more time efficiency--i.e. You can get a decent total burn in a relatively short time.

As others have said, you will achieve FAR better results (and ultimately a much bigger calorie burn) doing something you enjoy than if you just pick an exercise based on claims of a big calorie burn.

jennybearlv

I burn the most road cycling. It seems to be something I enjoy doing for hours at a time with some intensity.

Zumba is a good burn too. The motivating environment is the only thing that could make me want to do high impact aerobics for an hour straight. I don't go that hard running by myself no matter how good the music is.

Don't do yoga for the burn though. I wore my HRM to class once out of curiosity and I'm pretty sure I burn more sleeping.

Lillymoo01

drakeshattuck wrote: »

I love hiking. The fact is, it takes energy to lift a pound to the top of the mountain. Therefore, the more pounds you weigh, the more calories it will take to get there. You burn pretty much the same if you run, or go slow and take rests. Fast is power and you get done faster. Take your time, enjoy it and rest when you need to. However, give yourself plenty of time. I have a favorite trail that is 2 miles long and the vertical gain is around .25 miles. You will burn thousands of calories, not hundreds each hike. Get a good pair of hiking boots, a good camel back water back pack and pack some food in case you hit the wall.

Remember, diet trumps so if you are thinking you will exercise really hard instead of eating reasonably, you won't lose much weight. I'd make sure your diet is providing at least 1 pound per week of weight loss and you can get the other pound exercising.

No way will you burn thousands with a 2 mile hike. I walk 12kms most days (around 8 miles I think) and that is only around 500 calories.

chyna7777

You guys are awesome! Thank u so much for your advice. We all have different knowledge we can share with eachother and thats so amazing. My all time favourite burner is boxing and kickboxing. Its great for stress and i feel.like a need to hit something sometimes in this.hectic world! Thank u all from sydney aus

powered85

Running or really brisk walking.

Love insanity too but using a heart rate monitor with insanity i think it's tough to get accurate calorie burn. Think i burn more than the hrm says as it's mixed cardio and strength involved.

NorthCascades

Azdak wrote: »

In general, it is easier to reach higher intensities with exercises that involve more muscles and have more dynamic movements. Think running and cross country skiing compared to stationary cycling.

As others have said, you will achieve FAR better results (and ultimately a much bigger calorie burn) doing something you enjoy than if you just pick an exercise based on claims of a big calorie burn.

I burned around 1,800 calories cross country skiing today. It took more than 3 hours, which was pure bliss. Rain at home, falling snow on the mountain. Fun coming down the hills. Fall into a rhythm going up the hills. Plus, I was getting to know some new gear today. As you said, it's easier to burn a lot on skis because it's a full body workout, and because I enjoy it.

https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1580142284

Machka9

I like cycling and walking ... but climbing stairs in my office building burns the most calories.

LazyButHealthy

Lillymoo01 wrote: »

drakeshattuck wrote: »

I love hiking. The fact is, it takes energy to lift a pound to the top of the mountain. Therefore, the more pounds you weigh, the more calories it will take to get there. You burn pretty much the same if you run, or go slow and take rests. Fast is power and you get done faster. Take your time, enjoy it and rest when you need to. However, give yourself plenty of time. I have a favorite trail that is 2 miles long and the vertical gain is around .25 miles. You will burn thousands of calories, not hundreds each hike. Get a good pair of hiking boots, a good camel back water back pack and pack some food in case you hit the wall.

Remember, diet trumps so if you are thinking you will exercise really hard instead of eating reasonably, you won't lose much weight. I'd make sure your diet is providing at least 1 pound per week of weight loss and you can get the other pound exercising.

No way will you burn thousands with a 2 mile hike. I walk 12kms most days (around 8 miles I think) and that is only around 500 calories.

Yes 'thousands' seems a stretch for 2 mile walk, even at that elevation.

I covered over 16km/10 miles today between gym session (interval running followed by 10% incline walk) and local walks in the space of 4 hours and burnt maximum 1,000.

jcpolk1856

Sure. In my experience racquetball, swimming, and any combo of running/bike/elliptical works best

AnnPT77

Loving the thing is the big deal - if you love it, you'll want to do more of it. If you do more of it, you'll burn more calories. If you really love it, you'll want to do other active things to improve how well you do the thing you love. It's a virtuous cycle!

Beyond that, things that use more of the body are better burners, IMO. I really like my spin classes a lot, and have been going regularly twice a week for about a decade (literally - even while obese). But my real love, my real sport, is rowing, ideally on-water, but machines if I must.

It's much easier for me to max my heart rate in rowing intervals than anything I do, and I don't think I've ever been able to get to max HR with spin.

Why? Using more of the body - legs, glutes, back, arms in rowing - beats using less of it - mostly lower body, in spin. I can get to lower anaerobic threshold HR levels in spin, if I work really, really hard. I can max my HR - to a tested max - on the rowing machine, pretty readily.

Higher intensity = more calories per minute. Yes, higher intensity means you can continue for fewer minutes, at any given fitness level. But duration improves, with improving endurance.

I'm not trying to tell you that rowing is magic. It isn't. But things that use more of the body can lead to better calorie burn than things that use less of the body, if calorie burn is your goal. (P.S. Fun should be your goal. Just my opinion. ).

FatPorkyChop

Boxing - and it's a bit more fun than other classes at the gym

cessi0909

Mine are hiking with a pretty good elevation gain and the step class at my gym kicks my calorie butt haha And I like the class way more than I thought I would ever like a step class

tarothelp

HIIT. High intensity interval training works wonders. I do mine on the treadmill. Also look up tabata intervals or tabata protocol. This will give you some insight. You experience a residual burn for hours after your cardio work out and his is how it essentially burns more cals in less time than straight cardio. It works wonders for me

delisha527

1hr Zumba burns tons of calories for me you can do it at home or join a class
I also am starting to hit the trails again jogging

trigden1991

To burn the most calories possible; you would need to do some form of High Intensity exercise for long periods of time. However in reality this is not practical or sustainable so focus on a sensible calorie deficit and increase your TDEE with low intensity activities like walking.

tiny_clanger

sijomial wrote: »

The London Ditchling Devil is my highest calorie burner - a 205km cycle ride.
It's fun and the countryside (and food along the way) is great.

http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/16-888/

Oh my word, that looks awesome!! I aspire to ride Ditchling - I'm hoping once my marathon is over and I can ease back on the running to take advantage of the general fitness gains and maybe train for a beginner sportive.

In answer to the OP, I agree with everyone who says whatever works for you. I burn around 600-900 kcal a day commuting to work (either cycling or running) It is the max calorie burn with the minimum inconvenience - I'm going to work anyway, might as well get some benefit from the journey! Edited to add, it would take me around the same time getting the bus as running, and cycling is half the time of any other travelling option, so I win all ways.