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

I have a polar heart rate monitor and find it really motivating during workouts! Not only do I like the calories going up but I enjoy seeing if I can push my max heart rate.

If I do a step class or body pump I burn between 350-400 cals per class depending on the instructor and my effort level.

If I go to the gym and use machines it generally takes me about 40-45 mins to burn 400 calories on cardio machines. I then tend to burn another 100 or so doing 20 mintues of weights and resistance training.

I found mfp to be really underestimating the number of calories I was actually burning.

im 5'6 and 105 btw if this helps - high numbers are possible for a low weight if you push yourself! Im literally dripping with sweat after every workout

To be honest I've never really thought about what my target burn should be in a workout as I've always gone for a reason; such as working on legs to try and build stamina for a mountain biking session or even to take my exam revision cards with me just to get out of the house for a while....the aim has always to make myself feel better or to de-stress in some way so I guess I see all exercise as a bonus and try to control my weigh via my food intake.

Its been great to see everyone's responses though and it will make me think about setting myself targets to try and up my game!! So thanks mazomama for asking the question!!

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).

MIne is similar to this, 500 is GOAL on my only cardio/tread day (about 1/2 hour) but when I strength train I end with 12-15 minute cardio/tread and aim for 300

I don't really aim for a certain number, I'm more about the activity / time spent.

When I go to the gym, I average about 400. Otherwise, it's more like 300 (yoga, walking, etc.) If I burnt more than that, I'd never be able to eat enough!

I don't really walk into the gym with a set amount in mind. BUT........after my workout, when I check my HRM and it says I've burned around 500 cal, I feel really good about that.

I always try to aim for at least 500-600 calories burned. From what everyone says ellipticals can overestimate calorie burned by 20%. So if I know I want to burn 500 calories I just aim to burn 20% more so I feel confident that I actually burned 500 calories.

i like the idea of about 500 per day/ but i dont always get my wish.

I try to burn at least ten calories per minute on the elliptical, but in my "zone" I usually average at least 12 or more. Typically I will try to burn at least 200 on lighter workout days (15-20 minutes of cardio plus strength) and 350-400+ on heavier days (35+ minutes of cardio, sometimes strength). Today I did like 27 minutes of the elliptical and burned 375 plus a ten minute walk on the treadmill to cool down, 50 cals. So my total is 425. If I burn a lot, I have trouble eating it back. Today I am having that problem.

I just try to get nice round numbers, multiples of fives, for calories. I don't care if I work out for 37 minutes and 19 seconds as long as my calories burned is a normal number.

I think anything above 20 minutes is at least a small workout. However, I try for 45 minutes to and hour on the exercise bike which burns 400-650 calories. That's what I shoot for.

I try and exercise the amount of calories I'm planning on having at breakfast. Weird? I think it kinda keeps a balance. It's not exact, but close most days. And I do eat back my exercise cals, most of them anyway.

im the same i always try and set out a certain amount of calories, although i know i should be focused on time and intensity to imporve fitness etc. but im very light so i dont really burn as many as i would like. my HR monitor tells me i burn between 600 - 1100 in a 60 - 80 min sesh, but i mean im working out hard, i run uphill for 10k. i do my 10 k in like 40 mins or less with a medium gradient (between 4 - 8% varying during the run). so it makes sense i also do stair climbing. i mean im working out within 85% of my max heart rate for pretty much the whole sesion. im comfortable to do that because im a personal trainer and i know my body well and my limitations. but the calories are always on my mind!!!!

I'm in the military so we run every morning 5 days a week and I do P90x in the evening when I get home. I always wear an HRM, so I always burn 1000+ calories 6 days a week between them both.

i typically try to burn off my last meal especially if it was something i shouldn't have been eating

I aim to burn my breakfast and half my lunch depending on what was for lunch. I hope for 500 in an hour of half jog and half walk. I like to have 1000 cals for dinner.LOL

Usually between 500 and 1500 calories, depending on the workout. Most of the time its around 1000.