Question for Joggers/Runners

darlilama
darlilama Posts: 794 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
I have just recently began to include periods of jogging into my walks with my dogs. I walk/jog a 2 mile circuit in the neighborhood. I typically walk it in 30 minutes (a 15 min mile or 4mph). Incorporating jogging, I'm completing it in around 20 minutes.

What I'm finding is that I'm burning fewer calories (per my HRM) for the same distance when I include jogging. The jogging is definitely increasing my heart rate and I feel as if I'm expending significantly more effort. I would have assumed that I'd burn at least the same amount of calories.

Is the difference in time to completion of the 2 miles really what is causing the decrease in calories, even though I am expending more effort? Or, am I spending too much time in an anaerobic state, perhaps?

Appreciate any input you have!

Replies

  • willismack2
    willismack2 Posts: 84
    I can't think of any reason why your calories are lower for the running. My HR monitor calculates the running calories significantly more even for a less amount of time. Just for comparison, I plugged in 30 minutes @4.0 walking and 20 minutes @6.0 into an online calculator. It also shows more calories for the running.

    Another thought: When you are jogging/running, do you slow down considerably (less than 4.0) during the running intervals so that maybe your Average HR for the entire session is actually lower than when just walking?
  • Trinity1982
    Trinity1982 Posts: 54
    is there a 'longer' way you can go? might help lift up those cals...
  • meerkat70
    meerkat70 Posts: 4,605 Member
    This is puzzling. I certainly burn the same or more, per distance, running.
  • pamelafelts
    pamelafelts Posts: 7 Member
    I am trainging for a 5k and I actually recently faced something similar. I did the same route two days in a row, ran more the second time and burned like 50 calories less the second time. It has only happened once. I'm sure there is some scientific reason that has to do with my heart rate but I'm just accepting it and moving on. I'm proud that I worked hard. So, I'm not sure but I think it is OK and more than likely won't happen a lot.
  • Beastette
    Beastette Posts: 1,497 Member
    Maybe you aren't getting a good reading from your HRM. Is it still making contact with your skin? Mine refuses to pick up a readout when my wrist gets too far from my chest, i.e. walking with my hands on the top part of the treadmill.
  • sheepiegail
    sheepiegail Posts: 56 Member
    I think it has to do with your becoming better conditioned and therefore your heart rate is not increasing thus the lower calorie. I have added interval into my training. I will increase my speed for short bursts to boost my HR. You might want to consider this.
  • Cortnizzle
    Cortnizzle Posts: 26
    Having your heart rate up but not too fast will burn more fat than having your heart rate really high. Your calorie burn should go up when you are moving faster, but you are not necessarily burning body fat. That's why if you look at the treadmill the fat burn hr is way lower than the cardio hr. There is a reason for it, its just hard for me to explain because someone mentioned this to me once, but I didn't do a whole lot of research on it so you can take it for what its worth lol.
  • darlilama
    darlilama Posts: 794 Member
    Maybe you aren't getting a good reading from your HRM. Is it still making contact with your skin? Mine refuses to pick up a readout when my wrist gets too far from my chest, i.e. walking with my hands on the top part of the treadmill.

    I don't think this is an issue, but I will pay more attention. When my HRM loses the signal, it beeps quite audibly. I'm not listening to music or what not, so I think I would hear it.
  • darlilama
    darlilama Posts: 794 Member
    I can't think of any reason why your calories are lower for the running. My HR monitor calculates the running calories significantly more even for a less amount of time. Just for comparison, I plugged in 30 minutes @4.0 walking and 20 minutes @6.0 into an online calculator. It also shows more calories for the running.

    Another thought: When you are jogging/running, do you slow down considerably (less than 4.0) during the running intervals so that maybe your Average HR for the entire session is actually lower than when just walking?

    I've heard there are phone apps that will gauge distance, speed, etc. for you (using GPS). I plan on finding one to use. Since I'm completing the same distance in less time than walking, I'm sure that I'm not slowing down during the jogging intervals. Thanks for your thoughts!
  • darlilama
    darlilama Posts: 794 Member
    Having your heart rate up but not too fast will burn more fat than having your heart rate really high. Your calorie burn should go up when you are moving faster, but you are not necessarily burning body fat. That's why if you look at the treadmill the fat burn hr is way lower than the cardio hr. There is a reason for it, its just hard for me to explain because someone mentioned this to me once, but I didn't do a whole lot of research on it so you can take it for what its worth lol.

    Yes, I was wondering about this possible effect., thus my comment on being in an anaerobic state (very high heart rate). I should probably do more research on this… maybe on a runners site. Thanks for the info… at least someone else was thinking the same possibility!
  • Adrenaline_Queen
    Adrenaline_Queen Posts: 626 Member
    I think it has to do with your becoming better conditioned and therefore your heart rate is not increasing thus the lower calorie. I have added interval into my training. I will increase my speed for short bursts to boost my HR. You might want to consider this.

    Bump............

    Going to come back to this one, thanks for putting this xxxxxxxxxxx

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