Does the kind of exercise count, or is it just calories burn

Samantha020691

Some people go to the gym, get on the elliptical, and burn about 800 calories a day. I also know people that run for 30 minutes and burn about 350 to 400 calories. Me personally, I can burn 800 calories on the elliptical in an hour, and not lose any weight. However, as soon as start running, while just burning 300 calories a day, I lose so much more weight. So my question is, is it only a deficit of calories, or is more strenuous activity, burning less cals going to make one lose the most weight??

Midnightsun04

BUmP! great question!

kmorris246

I also want to know, especially since I'm working on the C25K program!

directorj

I think the elliptical doesn't give accurate calories. For me at least, I try to burn as much calories as I can no matter what exercise but make sure its accurate. So the calories that I burn I can either choose to eat more or just eat normally below my maintenance level to lose weight. However if you're working out too hard and eating too little calories then you will not lose weight because your body will go into starvation mode

CMmrsfloyd

The calories that your burn through exercise are only part of the equation. You also have to look at your overall calorie deficit. PLUS some people find that when they exercise more strenuously than usual, they hold onto water weight - something to do with muscles trying to recover. But the water weight will eventually go away. Sometimes it's just harder to see immediate scale results from unusually intense workouts b/c of recovery. Or something like that. LOL. This seems to have been true for me when I start a more intense routine, my weight will stall or even go up for several days, but a few days later it will normally level back out and go down lower than where I started. Just takes a little time for your body to adjust.

Also, like pp said, if you are getting your calorie numbers from the machine the could possibly be WAY off. The machines are not generally very accurate. If your getting your numbers from a HRM, that's a different story - that is the most accurate way to estimate calorie burn and would make it easier for you to accurately compare calorie burn for various exercises.

azzacca

The machine isn't going to be as accurate as using a heart rate monitor. You might also want to have your heart rate zones tested (usually through something like Lifetime Fitness' cardio point). That way you're working out in the ideal fat burning zones and not just burning sugar.

I thought I was doing this, but took their test and found out I was above my anaerobic threshhold, burning sugar/carbs and not fat. Things started changing once I started working out in the right zones.

My weight loss has stalled, but I'm still losing % body fat at least.

december8teen

1) High intensity workouts burn more fats. That's why we do HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) for optimal fat burning. For example, you'll run at a low intensity for 45 seconds and then sprint with all you might for 15 seconds. You'll just need about 30 minutes for this workout. By doing this, you may not burn as much calories as compared to a constant cardio workout for an hour, BUT it's after the exercise that your body will continue burning the fats.

You can research more on this topic if you're interested.

2) Secondly, by burning 800 calories is a pretty substantial amount. Are you eating back your calories, or at least half of it? Undereating may cause you not to lose weight as well.

Sd0510

The calories that your burn through exercise are only part of the equation. You also have to look at your overall calorie deficit. PLUS some people find that when they exercise more strenuously than usual, they hold onto water weight - something to do with muscles trying to recover. But the water weight will eventually go away. Sometimes it's just harder to see immediate scale results from unusually intense workouts b/c of recovery. Or something like that. LOL. This seems to have been true for me when I start a more intense routine, my weight will stall or even go up for several days, but a few days later it will normally level back out and go down lower than where I started. Just takes a little time for your body to adjust.

I worked for 20 minutes on the elliptical yesterday, and it's the first workout I have done in like a month, and I gained weight this morning. I was worried, and I'm really glad you posted this. Thanks! Lol.

Megan2Project

Do you use an HRM to get your cals burned or do you rely on MFP or the machine itself.

HRMs are way more accurate when estimating calorie burns.

Psychomasokism

Sometimes if your body is too used to doing a certain type of workout it becomes accustomed and you don't get the same calorie burn, regardless of what the machine says. Best way to beat it is to change things up once in a while to keep your body guessing. I've heard the whole HIIT thing works too. ANd eating enough calories as well