Circuit training: trying to estimate calories burned

legallyblonde916

Hi everyone!

So, I've been taking a small-group (5-ish people) personal training "class" that is basically circuit training. One round is about 5 different exercises, each completed twice, in about 12-ish minutes. A class is three rounds (45 minutes), and there's about a 2-3 minute break between rounds, where we're instructed on the next round's exercises. Exercises include using TRX equipment, kettle bell swings, shaking a big long heavy rope, pulling a sled/punching bag held back by someone else... you get the idea.

I realize strength training and cardio are treated differently on MFP, but I assure you, this is just as much a cardio workout as it is a strength training one. I sweat as much as I did on my hardest WODs in CrossFit.

Any idea what the (conservative) calorie burn is like for something like this? I'm just trying to figure out my calories in/out for the day. Assume I'm 145 lbs.

cazattack2

I do circuit training as well. I do 20 min HIIT cardio before I do, which gives me an "in-range" heart rate to start my circuit training. I usually burn 200-250 Cals durning the 20 min cardio, and in the 30 min of circuit training will burn another 300-400. I use a hrm so if my rest period is too long and hr drops below 122, I jump in place on kick my knees up until it goes back. The hrm is pretty accurate.

I would say as long as you warm up and your heart rate is up you'll burn about 10 Cals/min.

Btw I'm 5'10, 180lbs, 29yrs old.

cazattack2

Also! Circuit training is listed as an exercise on mfp in cardio!