fitness and calories

babyblake11
babyblake11 Posts: 1,107 Member
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
if both a fit person and an unfit person that were the same weight and height did the same amount of exercise, who would burn more? or would if be the same? does anyone know about this?

Replies

  • tashajayne2011
    tashajayne2011 Posts: 288
    I guess the fit one because they would have more muscle?
  • jdhosier
    jdhosier Posts: 315 Member
    I am reading a book by Covert Bailey called Smart Exercise. He talks about this exact topic and explains why in very plain English. The fit person will burn more calories because the fit person's body is more efficient in the biochemical processes that burn fuel (fat and sugar).
  • babyblake11
    babyblake11 Posts: 1,107 Member
    I am reading a book by Covert Bailey called Smart Exercise. He talks about this exact topic and explains why in very plain English. The fit person will burn more calories because the fit person's body is more efficient in the biochemical processes that burn fuel (fat and sugar).

    thanks :D
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    It depends what you mean by "the same amount of exercise". If they worked at the same heart rate and/or perceived rate of exertion levels, it's possible the fit person would burn more for the reasons described.

    However, if they were both to race the same 5K race at the same speed, for example, the unfit person would be working much harder and would torch far more calories. A fit person who runs 5K five times a week, would just be cruising in comparison.
  • inspiration345
    inspiration345 Posts: 218 Member
    Thanks for the post and the answers. I thought that unfit people burn more because their body is not used to burning calories so its more of an effort. And fit people burn less for the same amount of work because their body had adapted so they have to push themselves more to get the same calories burn. But it would be awesome for me if I burn more as I get fitter because I already burn a lot :).
  • BerryH
    BerryH Posts: 4,698 Member
    And fit people burn less for the same amount of work because their body had adapted so they have to push themselves more to get the same calories burn.
    They do! As I mentioned, the "same amount" would have to be defined by effort, which can be estimated by heart rate, rather than speed, distance or completing the same workout.

    However, at rest the fit person will continue to have a higher "afterburn" by having a higher proportion of muscle to fat, which is metabolically active.
  • bossmodehan
    bossmodehan Posts: 210 Member
    Interesting post! I'm concerned that the fitter I'm getting the less i'm burning but MFP still gives me the same exercise cals, as I don't have a hrm, this could mean i'm overeating.
    I guess i justify it by having an increasing metabolism from having a leaner body composition!
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Thanks for the post and the answers. I thought that unfit people burn more because their body is not used to burning calories so its more of an effort. And fit people burn less for the same amount of work because their body had adapted so they have to push themselves more to get the same calories burn. But it would be awesome for me if I burn more as I get fitter because I already burn a lot :).

    i thought this!

    the body is very clever at conserving energy, so once its used to doing someting it adapt to do it with the least amount of effort, so like the running 5k example, a fit person can do it a lot more easily and burn less cals than an unfit person.
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