Zumba & calories burned

I've taken Zumba at lots of different places, and they vary a lot. Best bet is to get a HRM, but if that is out for now here is what I've found. Most of these numbers were figured when I was ~ 150 lbs.

Lower intensity class - takes a few minutes after each song for drinks, songs range from medium to fast pace, moves are low impact (no jumping) I burned about 8-10 cals/min. 1 hour ~ 450- 550 (10 minutes warm-up/cool down & 50 body of class)

Moderate intensity class - breaks after each song, but all songs are quick with a lot of jumping or speed work, I burned closer to 10 -12 cals per minute. 1 hour = 550- 650 (10 minutes warm-up/cool down & 50 body of class)

High intensity class - breaks once or twice and keeps it high paced with lots of jumping and quick movement, I was 12 - 14 cals per min. 1 hour = 650-750 (10 minutes warm-up/cool down & 50 body of class).

Enjoy!

I would have thought around 400 calories for an hours class is about right. I have only just started using a HRM and haven't used it in Zumba yet (Class is tomorrow) But I have used it in Step, Body Conditioning, Spin and Aerobics. I burn between 350-450 calories during an hours class and I work pretty hard. I am interested to see what my calorie burn is in Zumba but I'm sure it wont be more than Spin which was 450.

I'll update you tomorrow after my class. Of course it will vary depending on your stats.

Just curious is your spin class and hour or 45 mins? For spin I'm somewhere around 700-800 for an hour with my HRM. I know we're all different and I'm a bit crazy when I exercise, so I'm not truing to be critical it just may help put our calorie info in perspective for this post.

Try zumbacalories.com and then you can enter in manually. Love zumba!

I use this calculator , i found it on this site on another post :happy:

http://www.zumbacalories.com/

I've been going to Zumba, several times/week, for over a year now. I sweat hard and burn between 800-900 calories, 60 min.....

LOVE ME SOME ZUMBA!

Gayle

welcome to ZUMBA - it totally rocks! I have the DVD and the game for Wii -- and on average the 20 minute express I burn 200-225 calories, double for 45 minutes would put you at 400-45, of course this is depending like another responding said - on the intensity. The more you are moving the more calories you are burning.

Definitely migh tbe worthwhile to invest in an HRM bc I have found the system generated calories are sometimes grossly over(or under)stated. In the meantime just HAVE FUN and enjoy ZUMBA - Isnt it the absolute BEST?

Can't wait to see what you post tomorrow. I think you will LOVE the calories you use in Zumba.

And there are always little things you can do when you get comfortable with the song/routine that will help boost your calorie count.

How you hold you arm up. Instead of just putting it up, twist your arm so that the palm of your hand faces away from you (toward the wall). You also work your tricept at the same time.

Be on your tippy toes as much as possible. Not everything can be done on tippy toes, but from the 18-22 instructors I have tried, easily 80% can be on your toes.

Whatever part of the body your are working on that song, accentuate it FAR MORE than usual. (well, I don't accentuate much in the "arm" song cuz just doing the movements get me enough on that one.) If you are working the stomach, make your stomach tense while doing the workout. If you are doing legs, squat slightly at first, then gradually squat further down.

This one is kinda hard to explain, but do a jumping jack when changing from one side to another. Or hop instead of just turning to the other side.

When doing standing crunches, lean back while doing the crunches.

Soooooo many other things you can do to continually increase the calorie burn.

But PLEASE post what your HRM says!

I love Zumba too! I have had an "enforced rest period" of ten months due to broken bones and other health issues, but I went back to class last week. As I am well out of practice, and was under doctor's orders to "start slowly" I logged it as "Aerobics, general" at 350 calories, but zumbacalories.com has just estimated 430! I suppose it all depends, and the only way to be sure is to use a HRM!
Class tonight, can't wait! Zumba is the most fun I have ever had with my clothes on!! lol

depends on your height &weight &also depend in your intensity , you can burn anywhere from 500-1000 calories.

heres a website that might help http://www.zumbacalories.com/

I sweat my butt off everytime. But I can't imagine that I come anywhere near that. I estimated about 500 and thats going hard at medium intensity. i jump, bounce, do all the moves as good as i can. All the power to the ladies who can keep up with high intensity Zumba. either way, its just so fun I dont even think about how many calories I am burning.