Do you burn more calories in hot weather?

yaddayaddayadda

Today I walked in 92 degree heat. I know what you are thinking, but it was the only time I could exercise. Typically, I walk during the early morning before it gets so hot. As I was trudging along, I wondered if since calories are a measure of heat, and it was really hot out, would one burn more calories working out during the heat of the day as compared to working out in the morning when it is relatively cool. :glasses:

Jenny56dreams

Good question...I'd like to know that as well :huh:

erickirb

If you do it is very minimal, if any measurable difference.

hanaibo

I'd like to know as well! (Is this when I'm supposed to 'bump'?)...I have heard that it's good to avoid being too comfortable in terms of temperature (ex. air conditioner/heater always on in the house) to maintain a healthy metabolism. I don't know how much that helps, but I'm sure your body would use up some calories trying to regulate your temp..

GJ7072

That is a VERY good question!

k8edge

Yes! Last week... after my run. The HRM said that I burned about 200 extra calories than I do normally. I think the reason behind this is because my heart rate was much higher than normal. I do not think this would necessarily relate to walking or doing normal light activity in the heat.

STAY HYDRATED!

bunchesonothing

Not necessarily. Most sites I see, say no.

DrBorkBork

Actually I think you burn more in cold weather, cuz your body is already working overtime to stay warm

DrBorkBork

Actually I think you burn more in cold weather, cuz your body is already working overtime to stay warm

KelliH729

Today I walked in 92 degree heat. I know what you are thinking, but it was the only time I could exercise. Typically, I walk during the early morning before it gets so hot. As I was trudging along, I wondered if since calories are a measure of heat, and it was really hot out, would one burn more calories working out during the heat of the day as compared to working out in the morning when it is relatively cool. :glasses:

I would say yes because your heartrate is higher. That said, when it is really hot out and you are exercising your body temperature is also rising and THAT is what is dangerous. You could have a heat stroke even if you are hydrating yourself. I am on a military base and they have different "flags" indicative by the heat and when it is black flag you are not supposed to be outside hardly at all because the risk of heat stroke is extreme due to the heat.

rainbowbuggy

Good question - bump

avidly

Nope, I don't believe so. If I remember correctly, working out in heat will help you lose water weight faster through sweating - which can have its own benefits. But as for actual calorie count, it'll be the same. Make sure you drink plenty of water if you go out like that again. Heat exhaustion can sneak up on you. I feel your pain, I'm in Texas and I feel like I can only exercise outside at 5 a.m. or 8 p.m.

http://firstaid.webmd.com/heat-exhaustion

farabovepearls

bump

melizerd

If you have a HRM you'll see that you definitely do because you're body is upping your heart rate to keep that blood circulating to keep that HOT HOT blood out of your brain and away from your heart. The opposite is true in cold weather, you burn more calories because your heart is trying to pump hot blood to those vital areas.

RILEYRED

YES, BECAUSE YOUR HEART IS PUMPING FASTER, YOU'RE BODY IS WORKING HARDER, RED

27strange

You are going to sweat it out more in HOT weather and therefore need to take extra care to stay hydrated! Yes, you do burn more calories but I wouldn't think its considerably more. Drink lots of extra water! The number one benefit I have found from working out in summer heat is ya get your tan on! haha LOL.

RissaDean

DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A DOCTOR!!!

However, I did find these articles with a quick google search:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1815702/do_you_burn_more_calories_exercising.html?cat=50

http://www.shape.com/health/your-health/common-conditions/does-more-sweat-mean-you-burn-more-calories-surprising-sweat-my

I especially liked this line from the second article:
T/F?: You burn more calories during a hot weather workout.
True. Your heart needs to work harder to both keep your muscles well oxygenated during cardio and to send extra blood to the surface of your skin to keep your body temperature safe. Unfortunately, the calorie numbers are pretty low, so don't think you've earned an ice cream sundae! Think more like one bite of chocolate.


Enjoy!

flea2449

I looked it up on the internet and it said that you do burn more calories doing a walk or run outside. I don't remember how much though. Don't worry about the heat though. I do it 5 days a week here in Texas and it was in the upper 90's today. As long as you drink a lot of water before and after. I drink a whole liter before.

erickirb

Yes! Last week... after my run. The HRM said that I burned about 200 extra calories than I do normally.

That was probably due to your heart rate being higher, but you probably didn't really burn that much more the difference is usually 0-5%. You had a higher burn as the calculation in the HRM uses HR as an input, but that does not necessary correlate into burning more calories for real, even though your HRM thinks you did.

mynameisnutz

Actually I think you burn more in cold weather, cuz your body is already working overtime to stay warm

Yep.

withchaco

I'm not sure if your heart rate getting higher due to the temperature contributes to more calorie burn. The rise in HR due to hot weather may be unrelated to calorie expenditure, in which case you can't even rely on a HRM to give you an accurate calorie burn count.

EDIT: basically what erickirb said.

bunchesonothing

What we have to remember here is that heart rate monitors are not the end all, be all of calorie burn.

I could watch a scary movie, wear an HRM and it would appear I had quite a workout.

Or be stressed at work, sitting at my chair... HRRMMMM... I wonder why obesity is so high if we're all stressed at work, and burning more.

Beyond that, after awhile of training in same or similar conditions almost all of us acclimate to heat conditions, so you couldn't count on a higher burn, even if it were true, for too long of a time.

hrigsby

From what I have read, in extreme weather it can change your metabolism to burn more calories. Such as if you were in extreme cold weather the shivering burns a high rate of calories because it raises your heart rate. However, when you are working out your body warms therefore you aren't shivering as much. Extreme hot increases your burn but not by much. They used the example of sitting on your couch vs sitting in a hot tub and it was a difference of 11 calories.

Hope that helps.

yaddayaddayadda

Thanks for your responses!!

To be honest with you, I would rather be comfortable and give up the extra calories anyway!!:laugh:

Azdak

DISCLAIMER: I AM NOT A DOCTOR!!!

However, I did find these articles with a quick google search:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1815702/do_you_burn_more_calories_exercising.html?cat=50

http://www.shape.com/health/your-health/common-conditions/does-more-sweat-mean-you-burn-more-calories-surprising-sweat-my

I especially liked this line from the second article:
T/F?: You burn more calories during a hot weather workout.
True. Your heart needs to work harder to both keep your muscles well oxygenated during cardio and to send extra blood to the surface of your skin to keep your body temperature safe. Unfortunately, the calorie numbers are pretty low, so don't think you've earned an ice cream sundae! Think more like one bite of chocolate.


Enjoy!

The so-called "doctor" in the first story you cited is a total idiot. I have read that article and others before that she has written and it is some of the most ignorant nonsense I have ever seen on the web--and that's saying something.

You do not burn more calories in the heat. Heart rate increases due to thermal stress, but VO2 does not. It's the same reason why exercises like bikram yoga do not burn that many calories. HRMs are completely unreliable under these conditions. If anything, the effect of the heat will cause you to burn FEWER calories because most people will not be able to work out as hard or as long in the heat.

MinnieInMaine

I sort of tested this theory yesterday. My heart rate was definitely higher in the heat (and it was about 85, not nearly as bad as your 92!) but I got overheated after almost an hour and had to slow way down so in the end, my calorie count was about the same.

Either way, be very careful when you go out in the heat - hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! And if you start to feel your heart really racing or if you get a bit dizzy, stop and find a cool place to rest. I ended up having to call hubby tocome rescue me because I couldn't stand it any longer and was out of water.

jenthestrawberry

Calories are a measure of heat, but if it's hot outside the sun is keeping your body warm instead of your body having to produce the heat itself. Also, when your body gets hot, it sends fatigue signals much sooner telling you to stop-working to prevent heat-stroke. Thus, you actually burn less calories (do to not having to produce your own body heat, and doing less exercise). Now, if you can work out in an air-conditioned room where you have to do MORE work to keep your body temperature up, you may see an increase in calories burned per minute.

melzteach

Actually I think you burn more in cold weather, cuz your body is already working overtime to stay warm

I totally agree. We did not have central heat this past winter. I exercise in the morning and started out exercising in long johns, seat pants, at least two shirts, two pairs of socks, a bathrobe, a hat, and gloves! I'd shed layers as I got warm.

However doesn't your body need to work hard to keep itself cool in extreme heat? I've read about Bikram yoga classes, where the class is conducted in a hot or humid environment.

BeeOlive

what's a bump?

bentobee

I think you do burn more in hot weather. My husband wears a HRM when he mows the lawn and on the days he is mowing in the afternoon (rather than morning or evening) he burns about TWICE the calories.

yaddayaddayadda

what's a bump?

A bump is when you want to read or respond to a post at a later time. If you bump it, it shows up under My Topics and its easier to find:-)