Jillian Michaels' Formula for Calories Burned

Janeyrob1

What a brilliant topic. I have just bought the 30 day shred and had no idea how to calculate my calories burned. A HRM is also out of my budget at the moment to im going to use the methods suggested in this topic to work out my calories.

Im also going to work out my calories using this method and compare them to what mfp says I burn in 30 mins on the treadmill.

Let you all know my findings later or tomorrow.

Again thanks for posting this topic. Very imformative

lessofme43

HRM is a Heart Rate Monitor...good on you for asking, I've been on MFP (MyFitnessPal) for almost 3 months now and can't figure out half of the abbrev. that come across these blogs either

ST99000722

I don't have a HRM so use MFP's figures of 20 mins of circuit training (I don't count the warm up or cool down).


There is also a formula that I found in an old thread :-

30 day shred calorie burn - 3.267 calories burnt per pound every hour. Multiply by weight to get how many calories per hour you would burn and divide by 3 to get each 20 minute work out.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/768863-30ds-heres-how-to-calculate-calories-burned

clairyfairy247

170/25 = 6.8
6.8*50 = 340
340/60 = 5.66667 calories per minute.

According to that formula, I would burn 170 calories in 30 minutes.
According to my HRM, I burn 178 calories in 30 minutes.

So not too bad!

According to MFP, "Circuit Training" for 30 minutes burns 308 calories ¬_¬

Woah!

I think if you don't have a HRM, the formula works just as well! MFP is a gross overestimation!

clairyfairy247

I would also like to point out that if you're taking your weight in pounds, dividing by 25, multiplying by 50, dividing by 60 and multiplying by 30, you end up with your weight in pounds again.

So therefore, the formula states that whatever your weight in pounds is, that's how many calories you burn in half an hour....

Correct me if I'm wrong!

debraran1

I don't think mine Polar, ft4 had me over 200 , 150 the first time,and I'm in the 160's, 5'6. I think the level one was higher than 2, but she did more weights in level 2. I'll do it again but I would be suspect if 20 minutes was much higher. I ran 2 miles and was not much over that and (the average per mile is 100 in calories) and I don't work out harder than that, just differently.

I think it's a great workout either way, if I'm too low or not, I lost weight and got firmer. I don't eat back my calories at this point so it's not that important to me yet.

2kidsandatrip

I think the numbers sound about accurate between the math and mfp. I am 256 and both mfp and doing the math says right about the same thing. Will be interesting to see how that compares when I get a HRM in a couple weeks, Will let you know!

2qut4umommy

I have to think of ripped in 30 and 30 day shred as not just cardio. 2/3 of the video is strength. Yes there is a cardio element to it but she is really wanting to build lean muscle. The more lean muscle you have the more you body has to rev up your metabolic rate to fuel those muscles. That way you are burning calories all day.

hidbee

I agree with the poster who said they do the "circuit training general" MFP has logged. It's usually fairly accurate for me, and I am not a down to the calorie counter so I am happy with that. But, this was a great thread, thanks for posting!

xmariaxaliciax

I'm not sure if I worked this out right:-

My weight 145lbs divided by 25 = 5.8 (I rounded it up to 6)
6 x 50 = 300
300/60 = 5 calories burned per minute

27 * 5 = 135 calories burned

My HRM consistently said I burned around 170-180 calories for level 1 of 30DS
I'm on day 3 level 2 now and my HRM says I burn around 180-195. I'm not particularly fit so could be why I burn more than the formula.

MFP for circuit training estimates I would burn 238 in 27 mins,

joshdann

HRMs are not an accurate way to measure calories burned. It's better than a blind formula, but not by a lot. When Polar or TomTom or someone comes out with one that measures body temp at rest and during activity... we might be getting close.

fatladygoingslim

+1
I will read it later.

WalkingAlong

I would also like to point out that if you're taking your weight in pounds, dividing by 25, multiplying by 50, dividing by 60 and multiplying by 30, you end up with your weight in pounds again.

So therefore, the formula states that whatever your weight in pounds is, that's how many calories you burn in half an hour....

Correct me if I'm wrong!

You are not wrong.

aajensen2

I'm doing the 40 minute Julian Michaels problem zones video and I know that I burn WAY over 200-400 calories in that amount of time because I am very out of breath and very tired. Its circuit training just like the 30 minute shred so at 5 foot tall and 130 pounds and very in shape I'm guessing anyone that is bigger and less in shape than me is burning up to at least 600-700 calories, I add 600 to my day each day I do this.

RedRita32

Bump

ZombieBubbles

Bump

LilPuertarican

bump

allisonr1984

I know this is an older thread, but I noticed some other people have recently bumped so I thought I would post my experience. My formula would be as follows:

129lbs so 130/25=5.2 so 5*50=250/60 minutes=4.167 calories per minute
A typical Jillian workout is 35 minutes including warm up and cool down 35 minutes*4.167 calories=145.83 calories burned.

However, I have a HRM (Polar) and I have seen the following amounts from it:
Ripped in 30 Level 1 175 calories 35 minutes
30 Day Shred Level 2 224/222/178/170/185 calories 26 minutes
Yoga Meltdown Level 1 85 calories 35 minutes
Killer Buns and Thighs Level 1 298 calories 43 minutes

Obviously it varies every time, but I think the HRM is more accurate then My Fitness Pals calculations and I think Jillian's formula is a little low. I also notice my heart rate is higher in the morning than in the evening so the calorie burn depends on the time of day I do my workout. I normally burn more calories when running but the fat burn % is higher with Jillian's workouts then with running. Hope this is helpful

kwin1973

I have a Polar HRM and that formula is very close to what I burn (depending on intensity).

cabh2

Bump.

HelpfulMathGuy

Quick note: you can save yourself a minute or two of calculating by taking out the 25 and 50 from the equation. Just multiply your bodyweight by 2 and divide that number by 60. You'll get the same result.

Old Way Example: (I weight 175)

175/25 = 7, 7 x 50 = 350, 350/60 = 5.83 calories/minute

New Way Example:

175 x 2 = 350, 350/60 = 5.83 calories/minute

deannasueknutson

Very cool! Thanks posting! I don't have HRM either. It's nice to have a base of what to track for excerise. Even though it could perhaps be on the low side. I rather say I'm burning less than actual than reporting more than actual.

rissamarie406

Quick note: you can save yourself a minute or two of calculating by taking out the 25 and 50 from the equation. Just multiply your bodyweight by 2 and divide that number by 60. You'll get the same result.

Old Way Example: (I weight 175)

175/25 = 7, 7 x 50 = 350, 350/60 = 5.83 calories/minute

New Way Example:

175 x 2 = 350, 350/60 = 5.83 calories/minute

Lol, thanks for simplifying it

jennday1

I just did Yoga Meltdown with my BodyMedia for the first time and for 35 minutes at level one it gave me a burn of 120. That seemed low to me but looking around and that is pretty much what everyone else is getting. This seems like an inefficient use of my time. I can go run 3 miles in 30 minutes and burn more then twice that. I guess something is better then nothing.

Katterin227

Quick note: you can save yourself a minute or two of calculating by taking out the 25 and 50 from the equation. Just multiply your bodyweight by 2 and divide that number by 60. You'll get the same result.

Old Way Example: (I weight 175)

175/25 = 7, 7 x 50 = 350, 350/60 = 5.83 calories/minute

New Way Example:

175 x 2 = 350, 350/60 = 5.83 calories/minute

Even easier way: Divide weight by 30.
175/30 = 5.83 calories/minute.

AlliSteff

I don't usually do this, but I was out late Friday and missed my spin class Saturday morning...and did Level 1 instead. I weight 142 and burned 180 calories (mind you, I do the program with 8-10 lb weights)

linzbarker

I am on Day 10 of Level 1 and in the 27 minute workout, I usually burn 250-300 calories weighing 150lbs at 5'4". I do the highest intensity for every move and don't stop at all.

Katterin227

I was trying out a new HRM yesterday, my second day doing level 1. According to the formula, I should burn 200 calories. Per the HRM, I burned 155. It's probably not surprising that I burned a little less since I can't keep up with all of the cardio work and end up modifying it so that I'm still moving, but less vigorously. (Day 2 was much better than day 1, though!)

I was also wearing my fitbit as always, but I wanted the HRM for the 30DS since it's not really step-based. The two were surprisingly close, so I may not bother with the HRM as I'm a larger-busted lady and the chest strap is not terribly comfortable.

tonyafitnesspal

This formula is Absolutely what i was looking for. Thx!

makemac

Interesting. The formula indicates I burn only 150 cals in a 30 minute class... But I breathe harder and sweat more than if I do other standard aerobics classes (step or high-lo). Supposedly, 30 min. Of these other typical classes burn about 225 cals (for weight of 150). I think the formula is off.