Stability Ball at Work - Calories Burned?

NZhellkat

Found this thread today as I was looking for the calorie burn achieved while sitting on an exercise ball. Some of the posts made me laugh. Oh how the times have changed.

I wanted to know as a have been using one for over a month now. I have never logged it but was curious. It's nice to know that I am burning extra calories that will offset those times I am off with my food.

This was an interesting read. Knew must of it too. www.gearfire.net/10-reasons-to-use-an-exercise-ball-as-your-chair/

sweatscience.com/how-many-calories-does-sitting-on-an-exercise-bal... This was good too.

Edited to add another website.

fretta

I looked this up on the Livestrong website. I'm not sure how accurate this is but it showed to compare the stability ball workout (not just sitting on it all day) to Calisthenics (vigorous). I hope this is helpful.

rhondaschmitz

Calories Burned
How many calories you actually burn while sitting on the ball depends on what you're doing. According to Harvard Health Publications, desk work burns about 106 calories per hour if you weigh 135 lbs., and about 156 calories per hour if you weigh 185 lbs. Apply the 6-percent increase for sitting on an exercise ball and you can expect to burn about 112 to 165 calories per hour during office work on the ball.

Other Benefits
The exercise ball's instability forces your core muscles to work constantly at keeping you stable. This might account for the extra calorie burn and offers you a chance to develop some abdominal tone with no extra effort



Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/310665-calories-burned-sitting-on-an-exercise-ball/#ixzz1teBgSk8s

CassHallett

I found this answer:


Calories Burned
How many calories you actually burn while sitting on the ball depends on what you're doing. According to Harvard Health Publications, desk work burns about 106 calories per hour if you weigh 135 pounds, and about 156 calories per hour if you weigh 185 pounds. Apply the 6-percent increase for sitting on an exercise ball and you can expect to burn about 112 to 165 calories per hour during office work on the ball.

BreeFurze

According to this article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/health/21really.html?_r=0

"According to a 2008 study, performing clerical work at a desk while sitting on an exercise ball burns about four more calories an hour than the same activity in a chair, or roughly 30 extra calories in a typical workday."

The article also talks about the postural benefits may not be as great as originally thought.

I am sitting on my exercise ball as we speak. I'm not a huge fan, but I am a fidgeter and this squeaky thing is going to drive me bonkers!

MrsBailey149

I wouldn't feel it necessary to include that in your "calories burned". It can't be much of anything. I understand that it helps your core, but it's not like your pedaling a bike or anything. Focus on it building core muscle instead of it burning calories..if it does, great...bonus! Logging too many "calories burned" with things like sitting on a ball and light cleaning could lead to eating more than you should in an attempt to eat back the exercise calories. Recording exercise should be saved for intentional workouts like running, biking, walking, workout videos...etc.. in MY opinion.

With that said....I think I might get one this weekend You can get one of those balls for about 7 bucks at Walmart. It will work until I get one of those cool ball chairs for like 100.

JoRocka

Several sites quote 350 calories for a typical work day. Not sure if that is on top of what you would have burned sitting in a chair for the same time. If that is the case you could burn off 3lbs a month from it. I'm agree about it being good for strengthening your core which is the main reason for using it as a chair in my mind. Not to mention you can bounce on it! :bigsmile:

not sure I buy into that one

350 = calories burned running ~ 3 miles

no way sitting on a ball burns that much- I have one.

I'd never count calories counted for sitting.

Julieann_MB

I love my ball, I am 5'6' and have to use a 72cm ball to be tall enough to reach my desk. I count roughly 80 calories a day for an 8 hour day.

DavPul

Let me make sure I have this correct. This is a zombie thread where people are trying to log calories......for sitting down all day?

queenliz99

bajajab wrote: »

I love my ball, I am 5'6' and have to use a 72cm ball to be tall enough to reach my desk. I count roughly 80 calories a day for an 8 hour day.

so living and breathing