already burning 1000 calories per hour

davidwhite1987
davidwhite1987 Posts: 10
in Chit-Chat
So I’ve been motivating my friend to start hitting the gym and start exercising.. She finally got convinced,, she is 22 years old around 126 pounds..  She is vegetarian for most part and never been to the gym before,, she didn’t even know what an elliptical machine was… she used to live a normal lifestyle ..Her daily exercise used to be walking to the buss top and walking to classes in her university campus!... after only 2 days at the gym,, she now can burn 1000 calories on the elliptical machine in just an hour! She sets it at almost the highest resistance.. and when she is done,, she is not even feeling exhausted.. she sometimes even continues working out on other machines.. she has been doing this every day for almost 2 weeks now (ever since she started hitting the gym).. is this normal?! Or most importantly, is this healthy?! I am kinda concerned for her 

Replies

  • Railr0aderTony
    Railr0aderTony Posts: 6,803 Member
    So I’ve been motivating my friend to start hitting the gym and start exercising.. She finally got convinced,, she is 22 years old around 126 pounds..  She is vegetarian for most part and never been to the gym before,, she didn’t even know what an elliptical machine was… she used to live a normal lifestyle ..Her daily exercise used to be walking to the buss top and walking to classes in her university campus!... after only 2 days at the gym,, she now can burn 1000 calories on the elliptical machine in just an hour! She sets it at almost the highest resistance.. and when she is done,, she is not even feeling exhausted.. she sometimes even continues working out on other machines.. she has been doing this every day for almost 2 weeks now (ever since she started hitting the gym).. is this normal?! Or most importantly, is this healthy?! I am kinda concerned for her 

    how is she calculating her burn? does she have a HRM or going with what the machine says? at 126 pounds I think it is almost impossible to burn 1000 calories in an hour. But I could be wrong.
  • jaggerhawks
    jaggerhawks Posts: 187 Member
    That's near impossible. I'm well over 200 pounds at 6'2 and I don't even burn that much (according to my heart rate monitor). It could be possible with an extreme workout, but definitely not with an elliptical. Your dear friend is most likely overestimating her calorie burn by a long shot.
  • NHUK
    NHUK Posts: 37 Member
    Soooo many factors to take into account, but on a personal level - I used to use an elliptical trainer, and I too could burn 1000 cals in an hour on it, without going cardio and I too had it set to max resistance.

    First thing I would say is that no way did I believe the calories the machine was reporting, otherwise I would have been more tired at the end, and lost a lot more weight. As with any exercise which is that focused, you get good at it and your body adapts to it. I remember going for a short run with a friend when I was in the middle of my elliptical training, thinking it would be a doddle - 'I must be so fit', I thought, that I'll easily do a 5 mile run.

    Well, that run nearly killed me! the best bet in my view is to vary your training (unless you are training for a specific running event, or cycling for example). That way you work all muscle groups and increase the impact on your body

    As I have no medical background I cannot comment on whether it is healthy or not, but as all exercise vids and gyms say - "Always consult with your physician before embarking on a new diet or exercise regime".....
  • StArBeLLa87
    StArBeLLa87 Posts: 1,582 Member
    I'm 158 5"6 and burn 828 calories in 70 mins on High resistance!
  • SwitzEngine
    SwitzEngine Posts: 3,418 Member
    That's near impossible. I'm well over 200 pounds at 6'2 and I don't even burn that much (according to my heart rate monitor). It could be possible with an extreme workout, but definitely not with an elliptical. Your dear friend is most likely overestimating her calorie burn by a long shot.

    Correct. 200 pounds 6'0 here and I burn about 7-800 in a good workout
  • davidwhite1987
    davidwhite1987 Posts: 10
    The calories are being calculated by the machine.. after she enters her age and weight.. the maachine brand is HI.POWER
    That also does sound impossible to me.. even at high resistance. . But still. . She could be going at it fast with a high rpm..
  • Tinyfigure
    Tinyfigure Posts: 575 Member
    That's bullshi*, excuse my French.

    No way a 126lb woman can burn 1000 calories in an hour. In two hours, yes, but not in one. I'm around that and if I work insanely hard and am dripping in sweat I might burn 500..
  • davidwhite1987
    davidwhite1987 Posts: 10
    Even if the machines are not accurate... still is it normal for a person who never worked out... to start scoring 1000 calories per our at the machine. ..i mean thats really astonishing .. ibe never expect something like that ! She is 22 y o btw.. a
  • Th3stral
    Th3stral Posts: 93 Member
    I don't think it's astonishing at all based on the above calculations of 500 calories in an hour for her weight. Just because she hasn't worked out before doesn't mean she's unfit. If she goes out frequently dancing, waitresses etc or has an active lifestyle together with her age and the fact shes not over weight then she is going to be able to do more faster than someone who is older, heavier and more sedentary.
  • Faery_Dust
    Faery_Dust Posts: 246 Member
    Yeah I would highly doubt the accuracy of the machine calorie burn. If she got a HRM it may be more accurate.

    But to answer your question, yes it would be healthy.... as long as she is eating enough to sustain that kind of workout.
  • Maidofmer
    Maidofmer Posts: 908 Member
    im 265 and can do 1000 or more in 65 min on the elliptical. sometimes I do other machines or I go for another hour, just depends on how I feel. I go on the interval setting, resistance 13, cross ramp 6. For me, I try to burn a min of 15 cals /min. I see it as a challenge and try to go higher. I also challenge the MFP setting. It says for me, 65 min on the elliptical is 918 cals burned. I say challenge accepted. I also do aerobics at home sometimes and walk around for an hour or two, the park, a store, etc. Don't think you should get worked up over it.

    ETA

    Here are some pics I took. was pretty damn proud of myself
    2_zps4863119b.jpg

    1_zps35e10fbc.jpg

    3_zps9e497d93.jpg

    Also, I am not going to do a formula any time soon. I suck at math, and as stressful as trying to lose weight is, I am going to use what's available to me. I'm happy with it.
  • scottaworley
    scottaworley Posts: 871 Member
    I have tried SO hard to get over 10 calories/minute, but I have not been able to by very much even when I take my heart rate to an almost dangerous level.
  • davidwhite1987
    davidwhite1987 Posts: 10
    So now I got a pic of her workout summary..  . This is how a 22 y o woman.. 126 pounds.. 5ft 7in... who just started working out .. burns 1000 calories in an hour on the elliptical

      axkxo6.jpg

      xb00pc.jpg
  • LMick1986
    LMick1986 Posts: 431
    Even if the machines are not accurate... still is it normal for a person who never worked out... to start scoring 1000 calories per our at the machine. ..i mean thats really astonishing .. ibe never expect something like that ! She is 22 y o btw.. a

    No it's not normal....because the numbers aren't accurate. I wouldn't be concerned about this, but if she's wanting an accurate number, advise her to get a HRM.
  • davidwhite1987
    davidwhite1987 Posts: 10
    Still.. even if the numbers are not accurate..its still an extraordinary achievement to score these values in just an our for a 126 lb woman.. who has just started working out for the first time ever
  • LMick1986
    LMick1986 Posts: 431
    Still.. even if the numbers are not accurate..its still an extraordinary achievement to score these values in just an our for a 126 lb woman.. who has just started working out for the first time ever

    Yes it would be an "extraordinary achievement"........but it's not.

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