Calories burned while walking - more if carrying something?

benniesmother
benniesmother Posts: 269 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I walk my dog, Bentley, every single day, and I use Runtastic to track my calories burned. However, since it has become winter, my dog has turned into a huge baby and refuses to walk when he gets too cold. I often carry him for 15 - 20 minutes straight, and he weighs about 30 lb. I'm assuming I am burning more calories when I am carrying my thirty pound fuzzy baby than if I am just walking him... Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can account for these calories? As of right now, I just leave it as whatever Runtastic tracks for me, and basically ignore these "extra calories". Is it even worth trying to figure out?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, and thanks to anyone who can help me out!

Replies

  • Holly_Roman_Empire
    Holly_Roman_Empire Posts: 4,440 Member
    You probably are burning more calories carrying him, but since it's only for 15-20 minutes and it's walking, the added calories are probably negligible. I would just keep tracking it as you are. Now, if it you were running 3 miles with a heavy backpack on, I would probably wear a heart rate monitor and track it that way instead of using Runtastic.
  • benniesmother
    benniesmother Posts: 269 Member
    thank you! I figured it really wasn't even worthwhile counting it... but no harm in asking :)
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,416 Member
    There are entries in the database for walking or hiking carrying a load, but I agree that the numbers are negligible. Try not to get obsessed with exact numbers.

    You will make 200-500 calorie errors a day in food logging - so don't get too hung up on exact exercise numbers. They aren't possible to calculate exactly anyway.
  • JessMahoney1
    JessMahoney1 Posts: 86 Member
    Hiya,

    yes you do burn a bit more. There is an option on the exercise tab called ' Walking, carrying infant' :)
  • dandelyon
    dandelyon Posts: 620 Member
    If I were to carry 30 pounds for 20 minutes, it would be an extra 20 cal.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Walking 3.0 mph, carrying 30lb will add about 40 cal per hour.
  • YouHadMyCuriosity
    YouHadMyCuriosity Posts: 218 Member
    I agree that it's probably negligible in calories as far as adding it in. Now, if I was to try to carry my 65lb snuggle-hating labradoodle, I could probably lose a few pounds immediately through all the skin he would scratch off me haha!

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