Calories Burned

Calories in, calories out. Simple enough ratio to burn fat? Only if you know exactly how many calories are actually going out. Pace, duration, and your weight all play a part in your grand total, but we've got some rough estimates on the most efficient calorie-cutting exercises and just how much they cut per hour. The highest will take off almost 600 calories from your day, and that's a whole lot of peppermint bark.

*Walking speed is approximately 4 mph, running speed is approximately 5 mph, biking speed is approximately 13 mph. Calculations based on a 130-pound woman.

If you're worried about devouring a huge Thanksgiving meal and what that will mean to your waistline, have no fear. You can have your cake — I mean pie — and eat it too, you just have to get moving afterward. Check out the calorie amounts for your favorite Thanksgiving foods and find out some ways you can work off those tasty calories.

I'm just getting started so keep reading to see other ways to burn off those Thanksgiving calories.

No need to hit the gym this Halloween! It turns out that watching horror films and burning calories go hand in hand — no treadmill necessary! In a study by LOVEFilm.com, researchers from the University of Westminster found that watching horror films can burn up more than 180 calories. Taking into account measurements of participants' heart rate, oxygen intake, carbon dioxide output, and calories burned, the proof is in the pudding. As a viewer's pulse rate rises, a surge of adrenaline takes over; in this case, it is brought on by fear, not exercise. As a result, appetite lowers and there is an increase in the Basal Metabolic Rate, ultimately burning calories, without ever leaving the couch!

According to the study, here are the top 10 movies the offer the most burn for your boo!

1. The Shining — 184 calories
2. Jaws — 161 calories
3. The Exorcist — 158 calories
4. Alien — 152 calories
5. Saw — 133 calories
6. A Nightmare on Elm Street — 118 calories
7. Paranormal Activity — 111 calories
8. The Blair Witch Project — 105 calories
9. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre — 107 calories
10. [Rec] — 101 calories

Conclusion? Lose the guilt and indulge in a few fun-size treats come Wednesday . . . Just press play!

Weekends might mean two days off from work, but with weddings, errands, house projects, and visits with friends and family, they can be more busy than your weekdays. If you don't have the luxury of being able to fit in a long weekend workout, shoot for one of these quickie 20-minute workouts instead.

Research shows that 20 minutes of exercise can boost your metabolism, so even though it might not feel like an amazing workout, you're still doing your body good. And aside from keeping your metabolism going, check out how many calories you'll burn.

Continue reading to find out how many calories you burn biking and swimming.

If you're enjoying the tastes of Summer with an ice cream cone but don't want to undo the bikini body you've worked so hard to attain, here are some summery ways to work off those frozen calories. Topped with sprinkles, this sweet and creamy treat is about 300 calories, and you can feel good indulging after you do these fun workouts:

1. Run at a pace of 10 minutes per mile for 34 minutes and burn 306 calories.
2. Hit the pool and burn 307 calories doing the crawl stroke for 31 minutes.
3. Play golf for just over an hour and a half and burn 302 calories; just be sure to carry your own clubs and walk the course.
4. Paddle away on a 35-minute canoe ride and you'll burn 306 calories.
5. You'll burn 306 calories after 34 minutes of biking at a 15 mph pace.
6. Take a 47-minute hike to burn 303 calories.
7. Catch some waves surfing and you'll burn 302 calories after 56 minutes.
8. Tennis anyone? Play for 50 minutes to burn 303 calories.
9. Go for a brisk hour and 15 minute walk. Make sure to walk four miles per hour and you'll burn 304 calories.
10. Burn 302 calories joining a beach volleyball game for 42 minutes.

*All calculations are based on a 130-pound woman.

Source: Flickr User erin & camera

Summer is such a spontaneous season: one minute you're lounging in the sun, and the next you're putting on snorkeling gear or strapping on water skis. During the Summer months, fun in the sun can also be a workout in the sun, thanks to the following sports that make it effortless to burn calories.

Don't see your favorite water sport? Keep reading to find out how many calories are burned when sailing, surfing, or swimming laps.

Who doesn't want to get a better workout in less time? Here are six ways to burn more calories the next time you hit the gym.

1. Do a few extra sets: One minute of push-ups burns eight calories and one minute of crunches also burns eight calories. Complete three extra sets of each and that's 48 extra calories burned.
2. Do five extra minutes of cardio: You'll burn an extra 56 calories on the elliptical, 52 calories on the bike, 34 calories in your cardio class, 49 calories on the treadmill, and 30 calories in the pool when you hang on for an extra five minutes.
3. Pick up your pace: When running for 30 minutes, you can burn 216 calories moving at 5 mph (12 minutes per mile) or you can increase your speed slightly to 6 mph (10 minutes per mile) and burn 270 calories. That's quite a difference that really adds up over time.
4. Pump up the incline: You know that you'll burn 270 calories after 30 minutes while running at a pace of 10 minutes per mile, but if you pump up the incline to five percent, you'll burn 363 calories!
5. Crawl in the pool: Doing freestyle for 30 minutes burns 297 calories, while the breaststroke burns slightly less at 270.
6. Get your yoga on: After a 60-minute Pilates class, you'll have burned 144 calories. Go for a more vigorous yoga class instead and you'll burn 269 calories.

*All calculations are based on a 130-pound woman.