Zumba

I huff and puff and do Zumba toning in a class. I usually burn between 350-500, depending on the day. BTW: 30/173/5'4"

Before I got my HRM I logged it as dance/aerobic and it underestimated what I was burning. I'm 5'4, 148 lbs and I burn between 550-650 calories for 50 minutes in class Zumba.

Zumba is more of a high intensity workout, you will burn anywhere from 500-800 calories per hour on average. I guess I should provide a reference for you here, too. I burn about 750 in an hour and I'm 26, 5'10", 243.8 pounds (yuck!)

A HRM really is the best way to go, the reason I say so: yesterday in Zumba I burned 785 calories, today in Zumba I burned 571. I thought todays class was WAY harder, but I think since I worked out for two hours yesterday I just felt like I was pushing myself really hard today since I was already worn out from the day before. That is a HUGE difference. If you did cardio 5 times a week, and had the difference I had then that could really make a huge difference. For example, 5 days cardio @ 785 calories = 3925, 5 days @ 571 calories = 2855. That is a difference of 1,070 calories. What's funny is that I really thought I would have a great burn today, even better then yesterday, because the instructor I had is known for having harder routines and workouts. It's all about what you put in, and if you are like me, it's hard to really judge that unless you have a HRM telling you how hard you are working.

Like the others was saying it's hard to go by what MFP has for Zumba. I use to go by that until I invested in a HRM and boy was it way off. And like JulieTX86 says it really all depends, each time I do Zumba it's always something different. The best thing is to invest in a HRM I have the Polar F7, and love it. I went to Zumba class tonight and burned 768 calories but when I went last Thursday, I only burned 550 calories (about that). Hang in there though, even though you don't have a HRM now just know that you are burning the calories. Until you get a HRM just use MFP don't try and guest the calorie burn, cause like I said your burning the calories regardless if you have the HRM or not.
Good luck on your journey and always motivate yourself and stay encouraged.

I guess unless you get a HRM I would always use 500 calories burned. I have never burned below that in a 60 minute class. That would be a good starting point. That way you can still have some calories back to eat for the day, and you are probably burning over that each class, so just count those as bonus weight loss calories.

Also, I have a Polar FT7. I got mine for $75 on amazon.

I agree with you... I've never burned less than 500 in an hour class.

I'm in the same boat. I don't have a HRM yet and am licensed to teach Zumba toning and previously, Zumba Gold and Zumba Basic. With Zumba toning, your heat rate may not be as high as the regular classes, but boy do you feel it! I use 1 lb. weights with my work outs and one can go up to a 3 lb. weight but no more, otherwise, you risk injury. I had foot surgery so I wasn't exercising for 6 months and getting back to my previous weight is a challenge. But I'm determined!!! I am equally determined to find out how many calories I'm burning. I will use the 500 per hour guide for now. Thank you all for your input.