how many calories do 'YOU' aim to burn for work outs?

mazomama
mazomama Posts: 138 Member
edited September 26 in Health and Weight Loss
I was just wanting to know what others normally think is enough of a burn for their work outs. I feel like a bum if i do anything less then 400 for working out. But i also know that its a pain to burn a lot with so little time. i CAN burn up to 500+ with my turbo fire dvd's but i feel like i would have to be at the gym for at least 2 hours every day to get in a decent work out. And yea, i know the smaller you are the less calories you burn during activities then when your bigger, but i just wanted to know if i'm on the average side of things or if i should be doing more......any input would be great:flowerforyou:
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Replies

  • Mmmary212
    Mmmary212 Posts: 410 Member
    I do elliptical. 60 minutes, depending on the level anywhere from 600-850 calories burned
  • taso42_DELETED
    taso42_DELETED Posts: 3,394 Member
    My typical burns are somewhere around 250-350.

    On the weekends I tend to burn more, 400-800, as I like to challenge myself to longer runs or bicycle rides. The weird part is that on the weekends, I consider it a recreational activity whereas my normal day-to-day is "work".

    To your question - I don't think you NEED to do any more. What you are doing currently sounds quite adequate.
  • Melis25Fit
    Melis25Fit Posts: 811 Member
    I generally am at the gym for 45 mins and burn about 350 cals. I feel satisfied at 400 or more. It takes ALOT more for me to burn that much now, but it's worth the "high" I feel afterwords. I tend to break up my workouts during the week, and go longer on the weekends. I try to burn more than 450 at least once a week.

    I'm 5'6" and 160 lbs, btw.
  • mazomama
    mazomama Posts: 138 Member
    I do elliptical. 60 minutes, depending on the level anywhere from 600-850 calories burned


    Is that what the machines tell you or do you have a HRM or Body bugg that says those things??
  • catwoodard
    catwoodard Posts: 22 Member
    I aim for at least 400 calories 5-6 days a week. I use a HRM to get a fairly accurate count. Before using it, I thought I was burning a lot more calories than I actually was. But it takes me 60 minutes on average to reach that 400 cal mark on the elliptical or doing zumba so it is pretty difficult to get much more in a day.
  • luv2ash
    luv2ash Posts: 1,903 Member
    You should view exercise as good for the mind, body, and soul and not just a calorie burn. You should focus on good eating habits to keep your total daily calories within check so that your burn at the gym really does not matter if it is low or high---all that matters is that you did something good for you.
  • EriNicole83
    EriNicole83 Posts: 17
    Wow, now I feel like a BUM! I get excited if I burn 175 calories! Hmm.....
  • baisleac
    baisleac Posts: 2,019 Member
    I don't. I burn what I burn.

    Exercise is about getting up and moving, improving cardiovascular fitness, and physical strength.

    The calories burned are a bonus... and should be eaten back. :smile:
  • Atlantique
    Atlantique Posts: 2,484 Member
    I don't go into a workout aiming for a specific calorie burn. I just do my run, or my Pilates, etc. for fitness and de-stressing.
  • mazomama
    mazomama Posts: 138 Member
    You should view exercise as good for the mind, body, and soul and not just a calorie burn. You should focus on good eating habits to keep your total daily calories within check so that your burn at the gym really does not matter if it is low or high---all that matters is that you did something good for you.



    ummm ok. thanks for telling me how i "SHOULD" think. But its not how my mind works. And of course eating is under check, but yes the work outs i do matter. Thanks i guess....
  • AndreaWyland
    AndreaWyland Posts: 142 Member
    Just wanted to throw out a different approach:) I used to worry about how many calories I burned each day trying to hit at least 600 and usually it was more and closer to 1000 and it still is on days I train for my half or snowboarding but not typical anymore. I was reminded by a mfp buddy that when youre working so hard to burn all those cal, you have to eat them all back... counterproductive? What I found to be more useful of my time (unless of course Im training for long distance or snowboarding) is to build muscle, get your cardio in and burn calories at the same time and I typically burn about 300-400 maybe up to 600 at most. Building muscle is important as muscle burns fat:) My advice would be to not get too caught up with all these numbers... thats what Im working on:)
  • dustyhockeymom
    dustyhockeymom Posts: 537 Member
    I don't have much more time during the week than 30 minutes to work out, so I try for about 250 on those days. On the weekends when I have a little more time I try for 400. I was routinely trying for 500, but that was before I got my HRM and I know that isn't realistic in a half hour despite what the machines were telling me. I don't typically have to exercise to meet my calorie goals because my eating takes care of that. I really like how it makes me feel and it does help with the weight loss.
  • mazomama
    mazomama Posts: 138 Member
    Just wanted to throw out a different approach:) I used to worry about how many calories I burned each day trying to hit at least 600 and usually it was more and closer to 1000 and it still is on days I train for my half or snowboarding but not typical anymore. I was reminded by a mfp buddy that when youre working so hard to burn all those cal, you have to eat them all back... counterproductive? What I found to be more useful of my time (unless of course Im training for long distance or snowboarding) is to build muscle, get your cardio in and burn calories at the same time and I typically burn about 300-400 maybe up to 600 at most. Building muscle is important as muscle burns fat:) My advice would be to not get too caught up with all these numbers... thats what Im working on:)

    thats a good point :)
  • riley22
    riley22 Posts: 27
    I love Zumba and do Turbokick as well. It's hard to find how many calories I burn doing them though. I try to burn at least 350 but it's usually more. Depends on the teacher and my effort also.
  • denise980
    denise980 Posts: 296
    I try to burn 500 calories+ per workout, that way at the end of a week I will have burned 3500 calories, which is approximately a pound a week.

    If I'm not feeling up to it, I will burn only 100 calories.
  • Furrytreats
    Furrytreats Posts: 132 Member
    I hate cardio with an unholy passion. My goal is to make myself do at least 250 3x a week. My workouts normally consist of only weightlifting and I have no idea what that burns, I know it isn't what the stupid calculator says on here. I lift heavy and work to increase my weights every month or so. I wish I enjoyed cardio more since I enjoy eating so much and would love to eat my calories! Once I'm back to fighting weight I'll do maybe 20 minutes a couple times a week of cardio and stick to weights primarily. Sounds like you're doing great.
  • HartJames
    HartJames Posts: 789 Member
    Typically 1,000 w/HRM. My new plan starting this week will be about 700/1,000 every other day though I don't count some things like yoga at all.
  • CaraRadz
    CaraRadz Posts: 169 Member
    I just went back through my exercise log for April. In those thirty days, I took 6 days completely off from cardio. Two additional days don't accurately reflect my usual workout (they were either only the 30 Day Shred or walking outside), so the following analysis is based on the 22 days that I did what I would consider average or usual workouts. FYI, for me average/usual means some combination of elliptical, crossramp, stationary rowing, and spin class.

    Workout Length (minutes)
    Minimum: 50
    Maximum: 103
    Average: 68.9

    Calorie Burn
    Minimum: 502
    Maximum: 1,021
    Average: 690.3

    Calorie Burn per Hour
    Minimum: 493.8
    Maximum: 735
    Average: 601.4

    Edit: These numbers are based on my HRM (Polar FT7). I always make sure to take the reading from the HRM and subtract out my "just living" calories based on my MFP daily calories burned from normal activity.
  • chrisyoung0422
    chrisyoung0422 Posts: 426 Member
    I work out 5-6 days a week and aim for 600-1000 depending on what is planned. The days I have a sport and workout tend to be the days up near 1000 and such.
  • HopeytheHopester
    HopeytheHopester Posts: 122 Member
    I try to do at least 50 calories in 15 minutes. That's not bad..., right?
  • MissingMinnesota
    MissingMinnesota Posts: 7,486 Member
    Really it depends on the day, I tend to spend an hour to an hour and a half working out. Today is going to be my long run/heavy cardio day so I will aim for 800-1000 calories in 1.5 hours but tomorrow and thursday is my day with my trainer so I will probably be closer to 500 to 600 calories for 1.5 hours as 30 to 45 minutes of it is going to be weight training and then wed is a "light" day and I do yoga which burns about 340 calories for the hour per my HRM. So it really depends on what the activity is that I have set for the day on how many calories I aim to burn.

    I acutally set a weekly calorie burn goal of 3500 to 4000 and mix up my numbers per day. I am currently 5'5 157lbs.
  • shaunshaikh
    shaunshaikh Posts: 616 Member
    I used to try to get a certain number, now I don't care. I have a strength training program that I do to maintain my muscle while I lose weight. I do cardio to improve my fitness level and eventually begin training for a marathon. I use my diet to meet my nutritional needs and to maintain my average 500 calorie per day deficit. I think shooting for a certain number on your HRM might cause you to focus on cardio and HIIT and neglect strength training, because those burn more calories while you are doing it. But, strength training preserves your metabolism, burns more calories AFTER you do it (which wouldn't be recorded on the HRM), and makes your body look great after you've lost the weight as opposed to "skinny fat".
  • Emi_chan
    Emi_chan Posts: 105 Member
    It depends on the day - on my cardio days, I aim for at least 400. On my ST class days, I aim for 350. :smile:
  • ladybg81
    ladybg81 Posts: 1,553 Member
    I do not aim for a certain number "burn." I burn what I burn and I am happy with whatever it is. At least I got off my *kitten* and exercised is the way I see it.
  • foreverjade
    foreverjade Posts: 213 Member
    My goal is 500/day, 7 days a week, or at least a total of 3500 in a week.
    On strength training days, that means a LONG workout. usually 1.5 hours to 2 hours bc i have to add a cardio in after i lift. On straight cardio days, I'm kicking some calorie butt doing Insanity, so I CAN burn over 600 in an hour (but not usually).
  • mazomama
    mazomama Posts: 138 Member
    thanks for the replies:flowerforyou:
  • bentobee
    bentobee Posts: 321 Member
    When I go to the gym (3-4 times a week), I'm there for a minimum of an hour, usually 1.5 hours. I break my time between elliptical/treadmill, rowing, weight machines and burn 1000-1350 calories (according to Polar HRM).
  • kentlass
    kentlass Posts: 325 Member
    i will do 90mins cardio and burn between 900-1050cals...and then in the evening i do p90x which is an average of 550cals(except for yoga and stretch days)

    i know i do too much but i'm a number obsessive and even when i see i'm burning more than i anticipated i can't stop myself
  • damonmath
    damonmath Posts: 359 Member
    I generally shoot for over 750... As the OP mentioned, you have to eat these calories back... So I found a 750 calorie protein shake that fits that bill. :)
  • ladybug1620
    ladybug1620 Posts: 1,136 Member
    I hope to burn at least 500 per workout, but that doesn't always happen. Especially when I do shorter workouts like HIIT with TurboFire. I'm happy though if I get to 300 with a shorter workout.
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