Chewing gum - Exercise calories/muscle hypertrophy?

Jacwhite22
Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Ok, So let me preface this by saying I don't normally chew gum........three days ago I picked up a pack of gum and have been chewing it the last two days (5-6 sticks a day) and today when I woke up I realized I have serious DOMS in my jaw. This led me to several questions I need help with.........


Should I chew less gum? I don't want my jaw getting big and bulky and I am worried that it is going to. I am currently eating at a deficit if that matters.

How should I estimate the exercise calories for this? Obviously if my jaw hurts this bad it's gotta be burning calories and I probably need to eat them back.....How do I estimate how many? Should I wear my HRM while I chew it to get an estimate?
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Replies

  • MFPfriend
    MFPfriend Posts: 1,121 Member
    Just break up.
  • xampx
    xampx Posts: 323 Member
    :laugh: YES! You should absolutely wear your HRM whilst chewing gum.

    Then you should log it under vigorous cleaning and housework :)

    Thanks for the giggle
  • sweetsarahj
    sweetsarahj Posts: 701 Member
    This is sort of like how I count the calories burned whilst shelling pistachios.....
  • FireEngineRedHead
    FireEngineRedHead Posts: 281 Member
    troll-face.png
  • darkguardian419
    darkguardian419 Posts: 1,302 Member
    I think as long as you do the appropriate jaw stretches, and maybe some inner-mouth deep tissue massage you should be ok, If you need assistance, I'm sure there is a certain beachbody Coachr that would be more than happy to show you how to properly stretch/use your mouth.

    Edited to fix typos, though I'm sure there are still a few...
  • Laurayinz
    Laurayinz Posts: 930 Member
    Dude, do you even blow bubbles?
  • Brownsbacker4evr
    Brownsbacker4evr Posts: 365 Member
    I just burned 975 calories doing 45 minutes of Gum (chewing, vigorous effort)
  • KatLifter
    KatLifter Posts: 1,314 Member
    Don't forget to log the hard work of unwrapping all of those sticks of gum.
  • spade117
    spade117 Posts: 2,466 Member
    How should I estimate the exercise calories for this? Obviously if my jaw hurts this bad it's gotta be burning calories and I probably need to eat them back.....How do I estimate how many?

    You don't have to eat the calories back if you swallow the gum.
  • hausofnichele
    hausofnichele Posts: 531 Member
    You have to get the HRM strap snugly around your tongue. You may need the help of another person to get it properly adjusted.

    Also, you may need a new HRM strap for each gum-chewing exercise performed. It's worth it though. Trust me.
  • MizTerry
    MizTerry Posts: 3,763 Member
    Perhaps you should clear it with your doctor first. "Ask your doctor if this is right for you."
  • synthomarsh
    synthomarsh Posts: 189 Member
    yea but you have to wear your HRM around your jaw to get an accurate reading
  • K_Serz
    K_Serz Posts: 1,299 Member
    How many sticks of gum are you chewing? Sounds like low resistance and high reps. If anything your jaw area might get smaller much like a marathon runners physic.

    Maybe if you chewed the whole pack at a time and did slow reps and then rested your jaw to do a more anaerobic workout.

    Have you thought about incorporating HIIT into your gum chewing? Got to be careful though and have a thorough warmup. Dont want to wind up with a bum TMJ.
  • CristinaL1983
    CristinaL1983 Posts: 1,119 Member
    Resistance training. Clearly, the gum is acting as the resistance. I think you would log it the same as if you were using a resistance band.

    Do be careful, if you are only chewing one piece of gum at a time, you shouldn't get too bulky but if you chew too many pieces of gum at a time, you will definitely end up with bulky jaws!!
  • hausofnichele
    hausofnichele Posts: 531 Member
    Maybe if you chewed the whole pack at a time and did slow reps and then rested your jaw to do a more anaerobic workout.

    Like this?

    jimcarrey.gif
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    guys....these are serious questions. Let's keep this on topic.

    #1 - Wearing the HRM around the tongue/face doesn't even make sense.....Its a HEART rate monitor....It should always be around your chest....


    #2 - No ideas on Hypertrophy yet? I do not want to have to look at surgical options and it appears that if it becomes an issue that botox is only a temporary solution.

    http://www.realself.com/question/botox-permanently-correct-jaw-asymmetry-due-masseter-hypertrophy
  • hausofnichele
    hausofnichele Posts: 531 Member
    You can feel your heartbeat on your tongue.

    So strap up!
  • JossFit
    JossFit Posts: 588 Member
    Perhaps you should clear it with your doctor first. "Ask your doctor if this is right for you."

    Unless your doctor is a registered gum-chewing specialist I would just ignore this. Most doctors only get very basic gum chewing education and don't really know what they're talking about.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    How many sticks of gum are you chewing? Sounds like low resistance and high reps. If anything your jaw area might get smaller much like a marathon runners physic.

    Maybe if you chewed the whole pack at a time and did slow reps and then rested your jaw to do a more anaerobic workout.

    Have you thought about incorporating HIIT into your gum chewing? Got to be careful though and have a thorough warmup. Dont want to wind up with a bum TMJ.

    Just one stick at a time.....That's a great point....I hadn't thought of that. Maybe I just have to build up my muscular endurance.
  • BeeElMarvin
    BeeElMarvin Posts: 2,086 Member
    Dude, do you even blow bubbles?

    Bubbles-trailer-park-boys-eyes.gif
  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    :bigsmile:
  • CallMeCupcakeDammit
    CallMeCupcakeDammit Posts: 9,377 Member
    I had this same problem! I hadn't chewed gum in ages, then I bought a pack a couple of weeks ago and had one piece. Next day I couldn't figure out why my jaw hurt so bad, especially since I've been single for a while. Then I realized it was the gum! I'm not interested in my jaws bulking up. If you increase the number of pieces you chew at a time, that's like progressive training, so you don't want to do that. Stick to low weights (1 piece) and high reps and you'll be ok. 11 calories an hour is what I've read for calorie burn.
  • Jacwhite22
    Jacwhite22 Posts: 7,010 Member
    One more question......My jaw is really sore today but I kind of want some more gum.....Can I chew it today or should I wait until I am no longer sore?
  • dandandee
    dandandee Posts: 301 Member
    I think as long as you do the appropriate jaw stretches, and maybe some inner-mouth deep tissue massage you should be ok, If you need assistance, I'm sure there is a certain beachbody Coachr that would be more than happy to show you how to properly stretch/use your mouth.


    Agree to the stretches. You don't want to get no locked jaw.
  • MyChocolateDiet
    MyChocolateDiet Posts: 22,281 Member
    guys....these are serious questions. Let's keep this on topic.

    #1 - Wearing the HRM around the tongue/face doesn't even make sense.....Its a HEART rate monitor....It should always be around your chest....


    #2 - No ideas on Hypertrophy yet? I do not want to have to look at surgical options and it appears that if it becomes an issue that botox is only a temporary solution.

    http://www.realself.com/question/botox-permanently-correct-jaw-asymmetry-due-masseter-hypertrophy

    oh so it's serious? then --Temporalis Hypertrophy. happens to me. for real. no joke. scary the first time, then i realized I just need to stop chewing on nuts so hard. for so long . husband is relieved. to say the least. :wink:
  • ctinawilson
    ctinawilson Posts: 127 Member
    One more question......My jaw is really sore today but I kind of want some more gum.....Can I chew it today or should I wait until I am no longer sore?

    You'll need a rest day every other day. No jaw usage. If you hum and create a vibration that will have the effect of a Power Plate.
  • CallMeCupcakeDammit
    CallMeCupcakeDammit Posts: 9,377 Member
    One more question......My jaw is really sore today but I kind of want some more gum.....Can I chew it today or should I wait until I am no longer sore?

    You'll need a rest day every other day. No jaw usage. If you hum and create a vibration that will have the effect of a Power Plate.

    Yes, rest day for sure!
  • KenosFeoh
    KenosFeoh Posts: 1,837 Member
    Reminds me - I never accounted for the calories that I burn grinding my teeth at night (bite guard in place).
  • KatLifter
    KatLifter Posts: 1,314 Member
    Next day I couldn't figure out why my jaw hurt so bad, especially since I've been single for a while.

    Win. :laugh:
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    guys....these are serious questions. Let's keep this on topic.

    #1 - Wearing the HRM around the tongue/face doesn't even make sense.....Its a HEART rate monitor....It should always be around your chest....


    #2 - No ideas on Hypertrophy yet? I do not want to have to look at surgical options and it appears that if it becomes an issue that botox is only a temporary solution.

    http://www.realself.com/question/botox-permanently-correct-jaw-asymmetry-due-masseter-hypertrophy

    Dont worry I was thinking about this yesterday. Would the act of chewing on gum be enough to build the muscles in your jaw and would said muscles help fight gravity around the face and decrease the double chin. I was contemplating it too.

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