Zumba calorie tracker, is it accurate?

MrsMMeyer
MrsMMeyer Posts: 19 Member
edited November 9 in Fitness and Exercise
I did Zumba for 1 hour on low intensity and it said I burned 920 calories. I am 5'6" and I weigh 235 lbs. It just doesn't seem like I could have burned that many calories. Does anyone know if the tracker is acurate?

Replies

  • LauraLouIsReady
    LauraLouIsReady Posts: 16
    I have read mulitple websites that compare it to Zumba done with a heart rate monitor and it's pretty close. I couldn't believe it either. I burned 1000 calories last night.
  • shaycat
    shaycat Posts: 980
    I usually change it to be less. I guess I burn about 350 for 45 mins. I dont like thinking I can eat that many more calories.
    That being said. I LOVE Zumba. I think it really does burn more calories then you feel like. Since it's so fun to do.
  • Puddykat1026
    Puddykat1026 Posts: 164 Member
    It sounds right. On medium intensity in 20 mins I do about 300 cals, in 40 mins, I do over 600 cals, so at 60 mins I can see burning that much. I'm 5' tall & 183 lbs. You have to look at your age & weight to determine your optimal heart rate to burn fat. It sounds like you've met that requirement :) I actually burn more on medium than I do on high.
  • teresastrowz46
    teresastrowz46 Posts: 41 Member
    the more you weigh the more you tend to burn. i used the calorie counter for the first few months when i started and was excited it was so high...but everytime i entered my new weight on MFP obviously the calories i burned at zumba went down too. so i'd always wondered how accurate it is as well. but i made friend at my zumba class and she has a heart rate monitor so now at the end of class i simply ask her...this only works because we're the same height and weight, just simply by chance! so now i have a more accurate way to tell. it is pretty close to the calculator though. sometimes i actually think it underestimates! but it's definitely gonna give you a good ball park figure! :)
  • schnugglebug
    schnugglebug Posts: 330 Member
    With my HRM I did like 900 - 950 in an hour I am 5'6 and 250 so it is possible... so we are about the same

    I just don't' eat all my calories back just in case plus I can't possible handle eating all my exercise cal;s back... I usually eat half...
  • LilMizDetermined
    LilMizDetermined Posts: 174 Member
    It is pretty accurate, it actually underestimates for me. I have a Polar FT4 and when I compare it to that it's under :)

    If you don't have one, I HIGHLY recommend a HRM!!!
  • egiglio
    egiglio Posts: 1
    My cousin and I take a 60 minute super-intense Zumba class and she wears a calorie counter and its about 460 calories for what I would describe as very cardio intensive. But then I read it depends on what you weigh, which makes sense.
  • mfjutras
    mfjutras Posts: 26 Member
    I think that's a large over estimate. I did 1 hour of Zumba last night at our gym with my Polar HRM and I only burned 650 calories. I'm 230lbs and it was a pretty awesome workout but I think 900 calories is quite high.
  • Meloonie
    Meloonie Posts: 144 Member
    I have compared to other sites too, and it alwasy seems pretty much the same. How many calories you burn depends on your height and weight.
  • tamleechart
    tamleechart Posts: 6
    I did Wii Zumba, high intensity this morning for 20 minutes and burned 250 calories. Do you have one of those watches or belts that monitors calories burned? If so, I'd wear it and compare ......
  • tnt1278
    tnt1278 Posts: 1
    It's going to depend on your body and on the level of intensity you're doing. Of course higher intesity, higher calorie burn. I purchased a BodyBugg and I typically burn about 500 calories in an hour class.

    I love Zumba so much I became an instructor about a year ago. I hope you're enjoying it!!!
  • hahandel
    hahandel Posts: 134 Member
    I wear a bodybugg and burn around 450 for an hour. I weight 169.
  • uncbluegirl
    uncbluegirl Posts: 16
    I just invested in an HRM (New Balance N4) the other day, and it's probably one of the best decisions I've made in a while - other than deciding to get in better health/shape! I'm well-endowed, and I read that some people find that the HRM is uncomfortable, but the only time I notice that I'm wearing it is when I bang the moniter/watch on something.

    In terms of calorie tracking, I'm 5'3" and 155 lbs, and for the most part the Zumba calorie trackers are mostly accurate. For me, it's never been more than 10 calories off... :)
  • TattoodTemptress
    TattoodTemptress Posts: 16
    yay well done on the zumba i love it too
    i think mfp is always on the high side for most exercises on here- you can also take a look at the below website which calculates it too?
    http://www.zumbacalories.com
  • rstinne1
    rstinne1 Posts: 35 Member
    I don't think it's right. It motivated me to by a heart rate monitor watch to wear when I workout. I don't feel any of the exercise calories I log are accurate and I'd really like the know the actual number. It's supposed to arrive in the mail today! :-)
  • frogmama
    frogmama Posts: 404 Member
    I know I am pretty old- 62- but in my zumba class, I keep up with the best of them. I also move a whole lot more than many of the ladies. I use my Polar 6. I am a consistent exerciser (gym 5-6 days a week), weigh 132 and am 5'2. When I work hard, I burn around 400- 435 calories for a 60 minute zumba AND a 30 minute zumba tone class. On days when I'm not giving my all, it is less. This is much less than the tracker on MFP. I feel that I am relatively fit.
  • TinkrBelz
    TinkrBelz Posts: 866 Member
    I teach Zumba and I only burn 450-500...but I do this 7 times/week. I have other girls in my class that burned 800-1300 calories. The heavier girls burn more calories. SO, I could see you easily burning over 900 in a class. But, the healthier you get, the lower those calories go!! BOO!! So, here I am working my tail of and burning 450 and another girl is burning 1000!!!

    Oh, and I have a HRM and so do some of the other girls in my class.
  • IndigoVA
    IndigoVA Posts: 164 Member
    That seems high to me for low intensity. I do a very high intensity Zumba class with a HRM, and I burn about 500-600 calories/hour. I'm 5'4 and 150 lbs. I burned about 50 cal/hr more when I was heavier (180s).
  • Jennicia
    Jennicia Posts: 409 Member
    Yes- it's pretty accurate. I will also put down that I burned less calories so I dont eat those calories. But it's butt kicking cardio!! I love it! I'm going to my zumba class tonight!
  • Bridget28152723
    Bridget28152723 Posts: 372 Member
    Its definately possible, I burn around 500 an hour, but its usually not high intensity, moderate maybe. Agree with the other girl go a little lower to be on the safe side- I love Zumba, its make me feel womanly!
  • j_desmet
    j_desmet Posts: 17 Member
    WHOA.... i've been doing Zumba for about 2 weeks and I always changed the calorie number that MFP showed cause I thought it was so HIGH! maybe not?!?! We do it for 45-50 min and it gives me like 692 but i usually change it to 500 as i thought it was too high. i don't use a HRM, i'm 5'10, 240 pounds. Can anyone tell me if they think I should leave at what MFP says???
    I DO love it and am finding that each day it seems MORE of a workout! seem to get sweatier by the day! ;)
  • j_desmet
    j_desmet Posts: 17 Member
    AND do i log it here as "aerobics, high impact" ????
  • Kgetshealthy
    Kgetshealthy Posts: 23
    AND do i log it here as "aerobics, high impact" ????

    you can, and adjust the cals to what you lost. I actually listed mine yesterday under "belly dancing" because i didnt notice the "aerobics" option.

    You can also create your own exercise and list it as Zumba, however when I did mine yesterday, it wouldn't save.
  • MrsMMeyer
    MrsMMeyer Posts: 19 Member
    Thanks everyone for your replies!!! I have decided to go with the website zumbacalories.com as it is a little lower than the game itself. The game said I burned 920 calories, but the website said I burned 734 in an hour of low intensity zumba. I will go with the lesser one so I don't eat those extra calories. Thanks again everyone. I love Zumba!!!
  • rstinne1
    rstinne1 Posts: 35 Member
    It might surprise you.....I've got a HRM because I wasn't trusting the calories on MFP. The Zumba wasn't far off. I'm 204 and for 55-60 minutes of Zumba I burn 710-730 calories a session.
  • TiaTKO
    TiaTKO Posts: 3
    How do you log in your Zumba exercise? Brand new here, and a little lost. :blushing:
  • nicolewalker245
    nicolewalker245 Posts: 5
    It was spot on for me --- On a medium intensity workout - Zumba Calc had me at 1011 and my Polar FT4 read 1022 during my last workout. It really does depend upon your fitness level - considering height and weight etc... As your fitness level improves you will burn less calories so a Heart rate monitor is really good idea...DOn't assume you will always have a high calorie burn.
  • nicolewalker245
    nicolewalker245 Posts: 5
    I added Zumba as a workout but noticed it didnt save on my ipod but came here to add and it stuck - I can go in and edit it as my fitness level improves. I never eat the extra calories alloted for workouts...so it's not an issue for me to under estimate.
  • painter1982
    painter1982 Posts: 5
    I notice in the exercise category it don't come up with anything for the Zumba. How many calories does it burn, like for 130 pounds person for 30 minutes. One of you guys should add that.
  • painter1982
    painter1982 Posts: 5
    caloriesburnedhq.com/zumba-calories-burned/ I found this site and it tells you the calories burned without making you sign up for anything
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