Is there a certain amount of calories you should burn every

Melissaol
Melissaol Posts: 948 Member
edited October 6 in Fitness and Exercise
I was wondering if theres a certain number of calories you should burn at each workout...

Replies

  • chrissaucier
    chrissaucier Posts: 252 Member
    I don't know if there's a certain amount, but I see my workout calories as buying myself extra food. The more calories I burn the more I can eat without feeling guilty. I don't always eat all the calories, but on the days I don't workout it's hard to stick to 1200. So, I guess for me it comes down to if I exercise I get to eat a little more.
  • emergencytennis
    emergencytennis Posts: 864 Member
    Yes. 567. Two hours of tennis (doubles). You cant go wrong haha.

    The health dept says nothing about calories. You need half an hour of elevated heart rate a day for cardio health. Like walking the dog or backyard cricket.

    To lose weight you need to burn more than you eat, and do some weights to minimise muscle loss. Personally, I did no extra exercise, I just ate less.
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,029 Member
    Nope. Although is it hard NOT to burn calories in any good workout.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • Dtrmnd86
    Dtrmnd86 Posts: 406 Member
    I don't think there is a certain amount that is right for everyone. I see some people who burn 1500, and others who burn less than 200. For me, I set a goal to burn at least 300 each workout session. I don't usually log anything under 200 and can't seem to burn more than 500. All that matters is that you are exercising :)
  • UponThisRock
    UponThisRock Posts: 4,519 Member
    On a related note, I would like to know how long a piece of string is.

    Someone please respond.
  • Melissaol
    Melissaol Posts: 948 Member
    I haven't been lossing for awhile, so I decided to up my time on the elliptical. So I upped it to hour. I burn over 500.
  • jhuft
    jhuft Posts: 5 Member
    Congratulations on your weight loss! It sounds like you have hit a plateau if you would add strength training to your routine it would cut down the time you need to exercise and boost your metabolism:) You could find strength routines in fitness magazines and modify them to your ability.
  • I haven't been lossing for awhile, so I decided to up my time on the elliptical. So I upped it to hour. I burn over 500.

    Try upping the intensity and adding intervals to your workout. It helps too! :)
  • .
  • emergencytennis
    emergencytennis Posts: 864 Member
    I have snooped at your diary and on the face of it you are hitting your mfp target plus or minus a bit. If you have stopped losing then either

    You need to recalulate your goals after some weight loss or

    You are overestimating your exercise calories and/or underestimating your calorie intake.
  • I try to burn 500+ calories a day because 1 lb = 3500. :wink:
  • kerriBB37
    kerriBB37 Posts: 967 Member
    I try to burn 500+ calories a day because 1 lb = 3500. :wink:

    Yep!! I've had a few trainers tell me to aim for 500 calories burned in each gym session. Whether it takes you 20 minutes of 2 hours.. get 500 done! so that's what I try to do! :)
  • emergencytennis
    emergencytennis Posts: 864 Member
    I try to burn 500+ calories a day because 1 lb = 3500. :wink:

    Yep!! I've had a few trainers tell me to aim for 500 calories burned in each gym session. Whether it takes you 20 minutes of 2 hours.. get 500 done! so that's what I try to do! :)

    I dont understand what you mean. Why do you have to burn 500 calories?
  • Melissaol
    Melissaol Posts: 948 Member
    Well I have been burning 200 calories for a long time. So I just thought if I would up it to 500 calories that it would help... SO I was just wondering if there was a certain amount., I also have noticed that lots of people burn more calories then 200, So I was just wondering.
  • hbrittingham
    hbrittingham Posts: 2,518 Member
    The better condition I get in, the more calories I want to burn. When I started out, I was happy with 200 calories. Then 300 calories. Now I aim for 300-500 most days on 500+ on the weekends. I like to eat my calories burned. LOL
  • emergencytennis
    emergencytennis Posts: 864 Member
    Melissa, I think this 500 stuff is rubbish. If your goal is to lose weight then you need to eat just a bit less than you use, and give yourself some time. The only reason to burn 500 calories is if you are going eat 500 calories more than your mfp goal.

    It is not about how much you burn. There is no magic number.

    You will lose weight in a healthy way if you eat a bit less than you use. Follow mfp strictly, both with food and exercise. It works.
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
    Well I have been burning 200 calories for a long time. So I just thought if I would up it to 500 calories that it would help... SO I was just wondering if there was a certain amount., I also have noticed that lots of people burn more calories then 200, So I was just wondering.
    You thought it would help what, exactly? Lose faster? Get in better shape?
  • _SusieQ_
    _SusieQ_ Posts: 2,964 Member
    On a related note, I would like to know how long a piece of string is.

    Someone please respond.

    42. It's always 42.
  • Firefighter_Ray
    Firefighter_Ray Posts: 53 Member
    I can't find the source right now, but I'm sure if you google it you will find several, but I read in several places that you should shoot for a min. of 30 minutes a day and 20-25% of your daily calorie intake. So if you are shooting for 2000 calories a day net then you could eat a total of 2500 and exercise 500 to burn off your excess. I know those numbers aren't exact, but you get the idea. Sorry for the bad grammer and junk...:blushing:
  • emergencytennis
    emergencytennis Posts: 864 Member
    Dear fellow members. There have been a few sarcastic comments on this thread. If someone asks a question, you can either attempt to answer it in the way it was asked, to the best of your knowledge, or you can be a smart *kitten*. Personally, my smart *kitten* limit has been reached for this week.
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