how many calories do 'YOU' aim to burn for work outs?

schnarfo

I have a polar heart rate monitor and find it really motivating during workouts! Not only do I like the calories going up but I enjoy seeing if I can push my max heart rate.

If I do a step class or body pump I burn between 350-400 cals per class depending on the instructor and my effort level.

If I go to the gym and use machines it generally takes me about 40-45 mins to burn 400 calories on cardio machines. I then tend to burn another 100 or so doing 20 mintues of weights and resistance training.

I found mfp to be really underestimating the number of calories I was actually burning.

im 5'6 and 105 btw if this helps - high numbers are possible for a low weight if you push yourself! Im literally dripping with sweat after every workout

mocha76

I generally am at the gym for 45 mins and burn about 350 cals. I feel satisfied at 400 or more. It takes ALOT more for me to burn that much now, but it's worth the "high" I feel afterwords. I tend to break up my workouts during the week, and go longer on the weekends. I try to burn more than 450 at least once a week.

I'm 5'6" and 160 lbs, btw.

Wow!! You are such an inspiration!! Congratulations on your hard work and determination!! BTW, I am 5'6" also!

SquishyVicki

To be honest I've never really thought about what my target burn should be in a workout as I've always gone for a reason; such as working on legs to try and build stamina for a mountain biking session or even to take my exam revision cards with me just to get out of the house for a while....the aim has always to make myself feel better or to de-stress in some way so I guess I see all exercise as a bonus and try to control my weigh via my food intake.

Its been great to see everyone's responses though and it will make me think about setting myself targets to try and up my game!! So thanks mazomama for asking the question!!

MsQt

I burn about 400cals but It's about cals burned anymore. I workout to sculpted my body now and doing that burns cals!

djhavoc

My goal is 500/day, 7 days a week, or at least a total of 3500 in a week.
On strength training days, that means a LONG workout. usually 1.5 hours to 2 hours bc i have to add a cardio in after i lift. On straight cardio days, I'm kicking some calorie butt doing Insanity, so I CAN burn over 600 in an hour (but not usually).

MIne is similar to this, 500 is GOAL on my only cardio/tread day (about 1/2 hour) but when I strength train I end with 12-15 minute cardio/tread and aim for 300

kacarter1017

I don't think in terms of how many calories I'm burning, but how healthy I'm becoming. I try to set goals in my workouts to increase the exercise I'm doing. Sometimes this is just trying something new, sometimes it going faster, longer, on a more challenging path. Maybe I set the resistance a little higher on the elliptical, that kind of thing.

I have overall goals I want to achieve. I see you're wanting to run a 10K. If that was my goal, I would be working out to make that goal a reality. But I also want my workouts to be fun- if there isn't some redeeming quality about it, I'm not going to continue this forever- and that is my ultimate goal.

MyNameIsNotBob

I don't really aim for a certain number, I'm more about the activity / time spent.

When I go to the gym, I average about 400. Otherwise, it's more like 300 (yoga, walking, etc.) If I burnt more than that, I'd never be able to eat enough!

HopeytheHopester

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:devil:

jody664

I don't really walk into the gym with a set amount in mind. BUT........after my workout, when I check my HRM and it says I've burned around 500 cal, I feel really good about that.

RyanPerry2012

I aim between 600 and 800.

KLavallee322

I always try to aim for at least 500-600 calories burned. From what everyone says ellipticals can overestimate calorie burned by 20%. So if I know I want to burn 500 calories I just aim to burn 20% more so I feel confident that I actually burned 500 calories.

scott091501

I approach this a different way, both when I was a lifter and now as a triathlete. Construct or just follow a premade training plan. Execute that training plan. Trust the plan. Build your diet around it. No matter what your "burn" is for the day you can always manage your caloric intake to fit into whatever goals you have whether it be bulking or cutting.

wrevhn

i like the idea of about 500 per day/ but i dont always get my wish.

alex_dale

1500 per workout

stablesong

I try to burn at least ten calories per minute on the elliptical, but in my "zone" I usually average at least 12 or more. Typically I will try to burn at least 200 on lighter workout days (15-20 minutes of cardio plus strength) and 350-400+ on heavier days (35+ minutes of cardio, sometimes strength). Today I did like 27 minutes of the elliptical and burned 375 plus a ten minute walk on the treadmill to cool down, 50 cals. So my total is 425. If I burn a lot, I have trouble eating it back. Today I am having that problem.

I just try to get nice round numbers, multiples of fives, for calories. I don't care if I work out for 37 minutes and 19 seconds as long as my calories burned is a normal number.

almc170

I don't really measure my workouts in terms of calories. I eat the calories earned, but I'm more concerned with improving performance, whether it's lifting heavier weight, going deeper in a yoga pose, increasing intensity of a cardio workout, or just increasing the duration of an activity.

AlexPflug

I think anything above 20 minutes is at least a small workout. However, I try for 45 minutes to and hour on the exercise bike which burns 400-650 calories. That's what I shoot for.

lind3400

I burn 300 but thats because i dont want to try to eat back all those cals I burn off....so 300 is doable every workout session...but hey if I feel like going longer I definitely do!

ShalisaClam

I try and exercise the amount of calories I'm planning on having at breakfast. Weird? I think it kinda keeps a balance. It's not exact, but close most days. And I do eat back my exercise cals, most of them anyway.

MelissaL582

I aim for atleast 300 calories a workout.

amyy902

im the same i always try and set out a certain amount of calories, although i know i should be focused on time and intensity to imporve fitness etc. but im very light so i dont really burn as many as i would like. my HR monitor tells me i burn between 600 - 1100 in a 60 - 80 min sesh, but i mean im working out hard, i run uphill for 10k. i do my 10 k in like 40 mins or less with a medium gradient (between 4 - 8% varying during the run). so it makes sense i also do stair climbing. i mean im working out within 85% of my max heart rate for pretty much the whole sesion. im comfortable to do that because im a personal trainer and i know my body well and my limitations. but the calories are always on my mind!!!!

LovelyLibra79

I usually aim for 300-500 depending on the workout. This is per what the machine tells me...I really need to pick up a HRM soon!

darbobo

I'm in the military so we run every morning 5 days a week and I do P90x in the evening when I get home. I always wear an HRM, so I always burn 1000+ calories 6 days a week between them both.

MMarvelous

I burn on a short day about 125 calories if I walk a mile but on a longer day w/ cardio and strength I burn 700 calories.

Darkskinned88

i typically try to burn off my last meal especially if it was something i shouldn't have been eating

froeschli

I aim to burn enough to justify a 600cal dinner... typically 300+

970Mikaela1

I aim to burn my breakfast and half my lunch depending on what was for lunch. I hope for 500 in an hour of half jog and half walk. I like to have 1000 cals for dinner.LOL

diggly

For me, it's around 450 for 45 minutes per day on the elliptical according to my HRM. I only do it 5 days/week though.

I'm also 5'6" and around 130 lbs

akjmart2002

Usually between 500 and 1500 calories, depending on the workout. Most of the time its around 1000.

harriet_tubman

I use a bodymedia fit to monitor my calories burned, which has made me aim for a daily total calories burned goal instead of just during a work out. I aim for no less than 3660 per day (unless it's Friday and it's my cheat day) but I usually go over (and sometimes by A LOT).