how many calories does zumba burn?

ukdiva
ukdiva Posts: 3
edited October 1 in Fitness and Exercise
I'm going to my first zumba class tomorrow and was wondering if anyone has a rough estimate for how many calories you would burn in a 1 hour class?

Thanks.

Replies

  • Lauren38570
    Lauren38570 Posts: 239
    depends on your speed and weight but my instructor told me you can burn up to 600
  • MsCandyLynn
    MsCandyLynn Posts: 123
    invest in a HRM ..you won't be sorry!!!
  • Syreeta6
    Syreeta6 Posts: 377 Member
    I typically burn 550+
  • peanut613
    peanut613 Posts: 438 Member
    The only way to know for sure is with a HRM. Otherwise, you would have to estimate it (like logging it under dancing) and you may or may not be accurate.
  • harrietlg
    harrietlg Posts: 239
    I'm just about to go to a zumba class, I put down 500 but I don't plan on eating all of it just in case!
  • rharris86dc
    rharris86dc Posts: 635 Member
    www.zumbacalories.com is a really good estimator!
  • byHISstrength
    byHISstrength Posts: 984 Member
    It really depends on the intensity and class type. Last week, I took 2 Zumba classes back to back, and I know that one was much more high energy than the other.

    The best and most accurate way to know calories burned is to wear a HRM.

    I believe Zumba.com has some sort of calculator you can use to estimate calories burned. Maybe you can check that.
  • abigailhutch
    abigailhutch Posts: 101
    I just went to my first two classes last week! and I definitely suggest a HRM too! Its so amazing to see how much is burned! In the one hour class I burned 700-750!!!
  • joanieizme
    joanieizme Posts: 38 Member
    http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/calories_burned.asp?exercise=320 Use this calculator to find out based on your weight.
  • eleibs
    eleibs Posts: 1
    I simply put high-imact aerobics -- 45 minutes burns 345 calories.
  • angebean
    angebean Posts: 195 Member
    I have been doing Zumba for a while now and I give 100% every class. I burn between 550-650 depending on the instructor.
  • byHISstrength
    byHISstrength Posts: 984 Member
    I do wear a HRM that has the chest strap, and last week I burned 657 calories during a 60 minute class. It was really high energy...and I LOVED IT!
  • julwills
    julwills Posts: 286 Member
    http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/calories_burned.asp?exercise=320 Use this calculator to find out based on your weight.

    I just tried this calculator to see how accurate it was and it was pretty close to what my HRM says I burn in an hour of intense zumba! I would use this to get a good estimate. However, I would definitely recommend investing in an HRM!
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    So many variables! Weight, intensity, fitness level, the routine ...

    I burn around 500 in an hour doing Zumba, but everyone is different.
  • jend114
    jend114 Posts: 1,058 Member
    www.zumbacalories.com is a really good estimator!

    ditto
  • heathersmilez
    heathersmilez Posts: 2,579 Member
    www.zumbacalories.com is a really good estimator!

    Thanks! I did this class a couple times and just logged it as dancing which is far less cals. That being said, I found it a very boring class with lame salsa music so I'll stick to my regular cardio routines and my spinning class which I love - always good music there!
  • Jesse13
    Jesse13 Posts: 72
    How accurate are HRM with a strap? My friend and I are taking the same class, but we burn very different calories 550 vs. 950??
  • heathersmilez
    heathersmilez Posts: 2,579 Member
    http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/calories_burned.asp?exercise=320 Use this calculator to find out based on your weight.

    I just tried this calculator to see how accurate it was and it was pretty close to what my HRM says I burn in an hour of intense zumba! I would use this to get a good estimate. However, I would definitely recommend investing in an HRM!

    Interesting, this calculator is 105 cals LESS than what http://www.zumbacalories.com/ says

    Hmmm....
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    How accurate are HRM with a strap? My friend and I are taking the same class, but we burn very different calories 550 vs. 950??

    The ones with the strap are very accurate, though some brands are better than others. Polar is the most accurate, I'd say. I think Timex way overestimates calories burned.

    If you just have the watch, it's very inaccurate.

    950 sounds extremely high unless your friend is a lot heavier than you.
  • zumbawhit
    zumbawhit Posts: 115 Member
    It really does depend on your weight and the energy you put into it. I have a girl in my class that wears a HRM and many times it says 800-900. When we did Zumba in the Streets last week, it told her 1,200 because we were doing it in 96 degree weather... it was so freaking hot. I thought I was going to pass out! Usually, the most we are told to tell students is 1,000. In a very high intensity class, 1,000 is about the most you will burn... so for an average class, it's safe to figure about 600-700 easily. For me, the dance categories are way off. They only say about 450 for an hour.
  • MsCandyLynn
    MsCandyLynn Posts: 123
    How accurate are HRM with a strap? My friend and I are taking the same class, but we burn very different calories 550 vs. 950??

    Mine is extremely accurate if you get a good one with a chest strap..I have a polar FT4 and it takes in your demographics, age heights weight and then sets your "zone" and i have had absolutely no problems with mine.. you and your friend burn different amounts of cals bc your a different people, no two body's are similiar one could be taller heavier and your heart beats faster or slower all those are taken into account!
  • julwills
    julwills Posts: 286 Member
    http://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/calories_burned.asp?exercise=320 Use this calculator to find out based on your weight.

    I just tried this calculator to see how accurate it was and it was pretty close to what my HRM says I burn in an hour of intense zumba! I would use this to get a good estimate. However, I would definitely recommend investing in an HRM!

    Interesting, this calculator is 105 cals LESS than what http://www.zumbacalories.com/ says

    Hmmm....

    That doesn't surprise me at all. I found MFP and most other websites were highly overestimating the calories burned during my work-outs. Best thing I ever did was invest in a HRM! Mine is a Polar FT4 with a chest strap and I think it's a much better estimate of what I'm actually burning.

    On a side note, some Zumba classes are extremely boring and lame while others are the total opposite. I always encourage people to try out more than one with a few different instructors to be able to make a decision on it. I'm lucky that at my gym we have all great instructors and you're moving constantly the whole time and sweating by the second song. I've been to other classes though that I barely break a sweat and I've actually left another one halfway through because I was barely burning anything. Every instructor is different and they make a HUGE difference.
  • MaitreyeeMAYHEM
    MaitreyeeMAYHEM Posts: 559 Member
    The average person who takes a high intensity class should burn up too 1000 calories. It depends on how hard you push yourself and your instructors style of dance. I'm getting my license in Zumba in two weeks so if you have any other questions feel free to ask.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    The average person who takes a high intensity class should burn up too 1000 calories. It depends on how hard you push yourself and your instructors style of dance. I'm getting my license in Zumba in two weeks so if you have any other questions feel free to ask.

    When I work out really hard and sustained with my heart rate up above 90% sometimes up to 99%) I can burn 600 calories in an hour.

    I have to say, if you're burning 1,000 calories an hour in even a high-intensity Zumba class, either your HRM is wrong, you're REALLY out of shape or you way at least 250 pounds.

    That's a VERY high burn for any type of exercise and I would question it.
  • beccyleigh
    beccyleigh Posts: 846 Member
    I did Zumba friday with my HRM on & did a medium intensity work out & burned 700 cals. Before I had the HRM I used to log about 500 als per hour. I did 30 mins on the Wii at home Saturday & HRM logged 250 cals probably because I wasn't pushing myself as much as I would in a class.
  • MaitreyeeMAYHEM
    MaitreyeeMAYHEM Posts: 559 Member
    The average person who takes a high intensity class should burn up too 1000 calories. It depends on how hard you push yourself and your instructors style of dance. I'm getting my license in Zumba in two weeks so if you have any other questions feel free to ask.

    When I work out really hard and sustained with my heart rate up above 90% sometimes up to 99%) I can burn 600 calories in an hour.

    I have to say, if you're burning 1,000 calories an hour in even a high-intensity Zumba class, either your HRM is wrong, you're REALLY out of shape or you way at least 250 pounds.

    That's a VERY high burn for any type of exercise and I would question it.

    um i work out everyday instead of sit on my *kitten* and i don't weigh 250 pounds thank you. I am just sharing information that I have heard and works for me. take it or leave it.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    The average person who takes a high intensity class should burn up too 1000 calories. It depends on how hard you push yourself and your instructors style of dance. I'm getting my license in Zumba in two weeks so if you have any other questions feel free to ask.

    When I work out really hard and sustained with my heart rate up above 90% sometimes up to 99%) I can burn 600 calories in an hour.

    I have to say, if you're burning 1,000 calories an hour in even a high-intensity Zumba class, either your HRM is wrong, you're REALLY out of shape or you way at least 250 pounds.

    That's a VERY high burn for any type of exercise and I would question it.

    um i work out everyday instead of sit on my *kitten* and i don't weigh 250 pounds thank you. I am just sharing information that I have heard and works for me. take it or leave it.

    Have you worn a quality HRM with a chest strap and seen that you burned 1,000 calories in an hour? I'm not trying to insult anyone. I'm saying that isn't possible per the laws of physics. If you're not eating back your calories, you can count a million calories in an hour, but some people do and if they eat those 1,000 calories back that you're telling them they're burning, they're going to have a lot of trouble losing weight.
  • ukdiva
    ukdiva Posts: 3
    Thanks everyone! I did log it as 60 mins, high impact aerobics, which had a burn of around 600 calories! I think i will invest in a HRM though as i've also bought the Gillian Michaels 30 day shred dvd which i intend to start tonight, and i'd like to know roughly how much this burns too!
  • ackeebee
    ackeebee Posts: 1,042 Member
    i burned 663 cals in my zumba class last saturday.!
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