Calories burned

shanolap

I was wondering if anyone could give me a quick explaination of this:

When I was 177 to 157 pounds, I could easily burn 100 calories per 10 minutes. I wear a heart rate monitor with a calories burned sensor and do many different types of cardio (running, elliptical, step, circuit etc). It was basically a given that I would burn 100 calories per 10 minutes.

I also do strength training 2 times a week and yoga when I can fit it in, but now that I am 153-148 pounds I burn approx 70 calories per 10 minutes.

I understand that the heavier you are the easier it is to burn calories, but on the flip side since I have increased muscle mass I should be burning more calories too. I have increased my intensity to burn more calories and have noticed little difference.

Any explainations out there?

sjcply

good question!

~bump~

cobygrey

This is easy.

You are becoming more fit therefore those exercises at 10 mins becomes easier for your body to perform and so burning fewer calories. So keep check on the heart rate monitor and be sure to keep your heart rate up i.e.= increase the intensity for those 10 minutes.

Muscles are a factor for calories burned when you are resting. When you are exercising you are still burning calories but also muscle at a ratio of about 75/25.

mworld

its not quite that simple. If you really want to know, check out this discussion here - short, but to the point.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/97228-fit-vs-unfit-calories-burned-doing-identical-exercise

edit: to answer your first basic question, you only burn less due to weighing less...you don't burn less as the exercise gets easier though - although your HRM will be wrong as you get better at the exercise unless you calibrate it.