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Does Zumba really burn 600 calories per hour?

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Replies

  • Junebuggyzy
    Junebuggyzy Posts: 345 Member
    If you're heavy then maybe. If you're lighter, maybe not.

    If you work hard, maybe. If you half-*kitten* it, maybe not.


    Hahah half-kitten. I think I quarter-kitten. I'd say I burn maybe 400 calories. My instructor's monitor says she burns 700 usually.
  • firef1y72
    firef1y72 Posts: 1,579 Member
    If you're heavy then maybe. If you're lighter, maybe not.

    If you work hard, maybe. If you half-*kitten* it, maybe not.

    I'm heavier (182lb), work my *kitten* off (HR 130-150 Av 138) and burn around 10 Cals a minute, so 450 in a 45 minute class.
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    firef1y72 wrote: »
    If you're heavy then maybe. If you're lighter, maybe not.

    If you work hard, maybe. If you half-*kitten* it, maybe not.

    I'm heavier (182lb), work my *kitten* off (HR 130-150 Av 138) and burn around 10 Cals a minute, so 450 in a 45 minute class.

    10 cal/min at your weight is about 7 METs intensity. And that would be continuous-no warm up, no breaks, no pauses, etc. I am not at expert at zumba, but from what I have seen, I don't think the intensity is quite at that level of sustained effort. I suspect your net calories are more around 7 per minute tops for the whole class.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    Necro thread

    Bumped by the OP though. So that's fun! Although I don't know why you are flagged as spam!?!

    My fitbit says 200 calories :(

    I tend to trust my FitBit for most calorie burns. It seems to be pretty accurate so far. A little on the low side, but I would rather an underestimate than an overestimate, particularly while losing weight.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    I find it hard to believe we really burn 600 calories in an hour of Zumba. I do Zumba twice a week. If I had to guess, I would say it's more like 300. Anyone else feel that way?

    You're correct, not a chance.

    This thread is a pretty good indicator. HRMs are wholly inappropriate for this kind of activity, do most people claiming high burns are misusing the available tools.
  • JoRocka
    JoRocka Posts: 17,525 Member
    Odd are extremely low that'll you'll burn that much.

    Extremely. Low.
  • Junebuggyzy
    Junebuggyzy Posts: 345 Member
    edited November 2016
    nutmegoreo wrote: »
    Necro thread

    Bumped by the OP though. So that's fun! Although I don't know why you are flagged as spam!?!

    My fitbit says 200 calories :(

    I tend to trust my FitBit for most calorie burns. It seems to be pretty accurate so far. A little on the low side, but I would rather an underestimate than an overestimate, particularly while losing weight.

    I'm flagged as spam? Hahahah. Anyways, I'll assume I burn 200 to 250 calories for Zumba. I'll just go with what my FitBit says then. I am thinking you all are right. 600 is pretty unrealistic.
This discussion has been closed.