Group: General Fitness & Exercise

Created: 2011/12/31, Members: 383, Messages: 54581

Various general exercise related discussions. Find out what it takes to reach your fitness goals through daily effective exercise. With so many options we try to find out what works best.

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Confusion! Cals burnt vs heart rate

GymKitten
GymKitten
Posts: 55
Joined: 2002/07/18
United Kingdom
2002/07/23, 08:47 AM
Seeing as you're all so smart on here, I'd like to ask a question which has been confusing me for a while.

Say I do a session on the treadmill, 30 mins at 70% max heart rate.
Or I do a session on the rowing machine, 30 mins at 70% max heart rate.
Will both these activities burn the same amount of calories? (ie is calorie burn a function of time and heart rate).

Similarly, if I know I burn 300 calories by running at 80% MHR for 30 mins, will I therefore burn 300 calories in a 30 min spinning class at the same heart rate?

I'd be very grateful if someone could clear this up for me.
7707mutt
7707mutt
Posts: 7,686
Joined: 2002/06/18
United States
2002/07/23, 08:50 AM
I believe ( and all you others feel free to correct me) that different cardio exercises burn cals at a different rate, such as walking does not burn as much as a light jog etc. hope that helps you I am sure the others here will give you a more detailed answer.

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"When in danger, or in doubt, run in circles, scream and shout" LIFT HARD AND OFTEN!!!!!!
Philia2
Philia2
Posts: 4,078
Joined: 2001/10/19
France
2002/07/24, 01:32 AM
The only prob is that you'll never be able to keep your heart rate at the same intensity for all 30 mins so yes you'll have a difference in the end.

But then it doesn't matter what type of cardio exercise you do if you keep the heart rate (the speed and intensity) excactly the same, then of course you'll burn the same amount of (-/+) calories after a certain given time.

Finally, you cannot really compare two exercises as running (endurance) and spinning (where you mostly work in intervals). We got different ways of working with our heart and bodies depending on of physical condition and the intensity. Aerobic or anaerobic training (with or without ozygen). Different reactions in the body so when you stop exercising you'll have different reactions FOLLOWING the cardio as well.

That's why you cannot really say that you'll burn the excact same amount of calories with different types of cardio training (the very best thing is to vary).

You understand? (did I explain good enough?)

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- Nina :o) Vous êtes tous magnifiques!
roni0906
roni0906
Posts: 1,008
Joined: 2002/01/24
United States
2002/07/24, 04:36 AM
You will burn a different amount of calories, but you do want to do a variety of cardio exercises.

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Lisa