Calorie Fallacies

In the race to lose weight and get fit, faster always seems better. Like me, you’ve probably tried to figure out which exercises burn the most calories in the least amount of time. We are all looking for a shortcut. The problem with shortcuts, of course, is that they are usually missing some pretty important steps. So I’ve decided to do the math for you. Here’s the skinny on which cardio exercises burn the most calories, and why you shouldn’t care.

The some of the most effective calorie burning cardio exercises are running, cross-country skiing, bicycling, handball, elliptical trainer, swimming, step aerobics, rowing, and rock climbing. They all burn over 300 calories (for the average 145 lb person) in just thirty minutes.

So, where does this information get you? Nowhere really, because what if you don’t enjoy any of these specific activities? Should you do them anyway just to blast the most calories? The most effective workout program is one you will stick with. Instead of worrying about how many calories you can burn in an hour. Worry instead about how many hours of this activity you’ll be willing to commit to every week, or every year for that matter. Weight loss is a long-term process. If you hate your workouts, you won’t do them – and that won’t help you lose weight.

Don’t be so focused on the numbers. If you are sweating and breathing hard, then believe me, you are burning lots of calories. A better plan would be to work on creating a well rounded exercise program. Include some resistance training to increase your metabolism by adding muscle mass. Do some yoga to reduce stress. Workout indoors some days and outdoors others. Vary your workouts to prevent boredom and to prevent your muscles from adapting. Once your body has adapted, the activity is no longer challenging, making it a less effective workout.

Counting the calories you put in is more accurate and useful than counting those you put out. We all fall into the trap of overestimating our calorie output, because working out always feels hard! Don’t trust the charts or the readout on the cardio machine either, because it is nearly impossible to accurately estimate how many calories you are burning. It depends on multiple variables including age, metabolism, weight, exertion level, and muscle mass. Assuming that you’ve probably burned enough calories to eat that giant piece of cheesecake is a dangerous road to walk.

Losing weight and getting fit means a lifelong commitment to eating right, exercising, and living a generally healthy lifestyle, and there is no single thing any of us can do to take ourselves directly from point A to point skinny.