Burning calories – how does it work?
Have you ever persuaded yourself to give yourself a treat because you’ve exercised hard all day? I know I have and sometimes still do, but herein lies the problem.
After going to the gym, many of us go straight home and start eating believing we have burnt enough calories to do so. Yet this far from the truth.
Recent studies revealed that most cardio machines over-estimate calories burnt by up to 30% – that is 30 calories to every 100 which you have falsely been led to believe you have burned.
Then there are our own personal estimations.
Be honest with yourself when you answer this – How many times have you justified having a pudding, when you have only done a 30 minute walk? Go on… think back on all those times.
I can count at least 20 in the last couple of years and part of the problem is that many of us have no idea what it takes to burn off the calories we consume. It is much more than you think.
To lose just 1lb a week, you need to expend 3,500 more calories than you have eaten. This can either be achieved by decreasing your calorie intake or increasing your activity levels or even better… doing both.
How do you burn calories?
If like me you are interested in calculating the number of calories you burn per exercise session this following formula can give you a basic impression. All it involves is:
Your weight X distance travelled = energy used walking
The general rule of thumb is that for every mile you travel, you will burn 100 calories*.
*Based on an individual weighing in at 180lbs.
So what is the moral of this story? Next time you feel inclined towards eating a brownie as a trade for 30 minutes exercise, just be aware that you are consuming far more calories than you’ve burned. It could make a difference to your overall weight loss.
