FitSugar

Fitness Myth Busted: Cardio and Extended Calorie Burn

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 02:30:00 PDT

Do you work under the assumption that your aerobic workout boosts your metabolism for hours after you stop working out?
This statement is actually true -- but the calorie burn is probably not nearly as much as you think!

According to coach Eric Harr, author of The Portable Personal Trainer, your metabolism will continue to burn at a slightly higher rate after you finish an aerobic workout. Unfortunately, the amount is not statistically significant. In fact, it allows you to burn only about 20 extra calories for the day. Harr says there is a little bit more of a metabolic boost after strength training, but still he says it is marginal.

Moral of the story: Just because you are working out doesn't mean you can consume all the calories you want.

Source

Up and at 'Em! Calorie Burners For Memorial Day

Michele Foley — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:14:24 PDT

Memorial Day is more than just good barbecue! Why not throw in some fun activities so those treats don't expand your waistline? Here are a handful of ways to burn at least 200 calories this holiday. The best part is that they are all fun group activities, so it won't feel like you are working out at all!

Calories burned based on a 130-pound woman. Calculate a more accurate burn stat for your weight and height with our Calorie Burn tool.

Calories Burned With 15 Minutes of Exercise: Summer Edition

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:29:01 PDT

Summer weather inspires me to exercise outside, even though some days it's super hot and humid. I usually work out early in the morning when temps are the lowest, and if I'm done by 8:30 a.m., I usually beat the heat. Not only do I love not having to wear a lot of clothes, but there are also so many different ways to move your body, you'll never get bored.

With busy Summer schedules and the sometimes unbearable heat and humidity, 15 minutes may be all you can spare (or bear). It may feel like a short time, but some exercise is always better than none at all. Check out how many calories you'll burn in your mini-workout. All stats are based on a 130-pound woman.

Running at a pace of 6 mph (10-minute miles): 148 calories
Walking at a pace of 4 mph (15-minute miles): 59 calories
Biking at a moderate pace of 13 mph: 118 calories
Mountain biking: 126 calories
Stretching/light yoga: 59 calories
Swimming laps at a moderate pace: 118 calories
Snorkeling: 74 calories

Not seeing your favorite Summer activity? Keep reading to find out how many calories you burn in 15 minutes of hiking, tennis, or playing Frisbee.

Learn Your Burn: Calories in Yoga Classes

Heather Dale — Sun, 22 May 2011 09:23:28 PDT

Deciding if a workout is worthwhile shouldn't be based on how many calories you burn; there are other factors to consider, like if you got your heart rate up, improved your balance and strength, or the exercise improves your energy levels. I'm a regular attendee at yoga classes, but it recently dawned on me that I have no clue how many calories I'm burning during yoga class. Because yoga makes me stronger and more flexible, it really doesn't matter how many calories I burn, but out of curiosity, I thought I'd see how my yoga classes stack up in the calorie department thanks to Health Status's calorie calculator.

Here are the results, listed from the lowest to highest calorie burners.

Celebrate Earth Day With These Weekend Calorie Burners

Leta Shy — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:09:11 PDT

This weekend get out and enjoy the season! Not only is it the end of National Park Week, but it's also a great time to celebrate Earth Day since you'll likely have more time to devote to outdoor activities.

Since this week is all about getting out, enjoying, and appreciating the outdoors, you know you'll be working out while having fun. Here's how these Earth Day activities stack up in the calorie department!

Gardening. Many cities around the country are planning citizen park cleanups this weekend, so you can enjoy your favorite public space while helping plant trees and picking up trash. All that work can mimic time at the gym - you'll be squatting, weight-lifting, and "rowing" your way to burning an average of 300 calories per hour.
Hiking. With the weather warming up, now's the time to go for a Spring hike to enjoy the fresh, crisp air. It'll help you reconnect with your natural surrounds and may even inspire you to make greener choices and, perhaps best of all, will burn about 355 calories every hour.
Running. Besides park cleanups, Earth Day runs are another organized way to celebrate the environment. Sign up for an Earth Day 5K; jogging at a 12-minute mile pace will burn about 230 calories during the race, while running an 8.5-minute mile will burn about 280 calories.

How will you be going green or celebrating Earth Day this weekend?

Insanity's Shaun T's Last-Minute Diet and Exercise Tips

Leta Shy — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:34:46 PDT

Shaun T, the personal trainer who's motivated millions with his at-home workouts, knows how to get people in shape in a short amount of time. After all, his Insanity workout program promises incredible results in just 60 days of sweating and jumping in front of your TV.

With Summer a mere few weeks away, we spoke with Shaun about how to get in shape for anything - whether it's a beach holiday, wedding, or event - when you've only got a little time. Find out his recommendations below!

Watch your drink calories: "Don't drink your calories. That's the number one rule of thumb: not to drink your calories. It will eliminate so many calories in your body. Everybody knows that sugar that's not burnt off eventually turns into fat," says Shaun, who's also holding live workouts nationwide to promote his partnership with Powerade Zero. Shaun recommends portion control and cutting the amount of sugars and carbs in your diet in half, but "still ensure you have enough energy during the day," he says.

Kick it up a notch: "If you're a person who works out at the gym, try to take [fewer] breaks," Shaun recommends. "If you're a weight lifter, while you're not doing weights, try to do some different cardio exercise in between to try to ramp up the calorie burn."

Keep reading for more of Shaun T's last-minute diet and exercise advice!

4 Time-Saving Tips For a Healthy Lifestyle

Leta Shy — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:18:40 PDT

Summers can be incredibly busy - between shuttling kids to and from activities to planning and going on vacation, all the activities that come along with the season can leave you pressed for time. Luckily, we've got a few suggestions for how to maintain a healthy lifestyle, even if you've only got minutes to spare.

Total-body in 20: Breaking up your workout in just 10- or 20-minute increments ensures that you'll break a sweat and burn calories without having to devote too much time out of your day. Even more efficient is making sure that your workouts target all areas of your body. For short workouts that you can do anywhere, check out our fast full-body workouts.

Home cooking: It's easier to cook healthily if you've already done the legwork. Shop for produce and other groceries at the beginning of the week so you can plan every night's dinners - check out one of our healthy dinner plans for the week here. You can also store individual servings of smoothies or sauces (using an ice-cube tray!) in your freezer to have at hand while whipping up a meal.

Read on for more time-saving tips!

From the Fit Community: The Best Cardio Machine For Your Body

Fit Community — Mon, 21 May 2012 16:53:42 PDT

Which cardio machine is right for you? FitSugar reader JessicaSmithTV asks an expert for the answers. She shared what she found in our 10 Pounds Down! community group.

The stair master, the stationary bike, and the elliptical - we all have our favorite cardio machine at the gym, but which one is the best one for your body? We asked Dr. Yoav Suprun, DPT, a McKenzie physical therapist at Canyon Ranch in Miami Beach to weigh in on the pros and cons of some of your favorite gym staples.

The Stationary Bike
Pros: Low impact, easy on the joints, offers a wide range of intensity options
Cons: The riding position can bring on back pain, or aggravate sciatica for some. “We flex our spine all day and sit for hours - why sit for a cardio session?” asks Dr. Suprun.

The Elliptical
Pros: Low impact, upright position of the body, also easy on the joints and offers a wide range of intensity options
Cons: If you have a small structure or small frame, using an elliptical with handles would be pulling your body out of alignment. “People suffer from holding the handles as it pulls on the lower back and neck once the handle is moved forward,” explains Dr. Suprun.

Keep reading for more pros and cons of your favorite cardio machines.

Burn Calories and Fight Belly Fat: 45-Minute Treadmill Workout

Susi May — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:46:25 PDT

Intervals are the antidote to boring treadmill workouts. Playing around with speed and timing rest periods keeps both the mind and body busy. Interval training is also one of the best ways to beat belly bulge. We've created a fun interval workout to help you get ready for the beach. After torching serious calories in 45 minutes, you'll be ready to lounge poolside.

Keep reading to check our latest treadmill workout.

The Right Way to Eat Breakfast For Weight Loss

Leta Shy — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:24:46 PDT

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, because of so many reasons. But you need to make sure that you're doing it right. If you're trying to maintain or lose weight, here are some things to consider when enjoying your first meal of the day.

Eat it soon: Studies have found that eating breakfast jump-starts your metabolism, and not only that, it can help ensure that you don't feel so starved later, you make bad eating choices for lunch or dinner. To take advantage of your body's fat-burning potential, try to eat breakfast soon after waking up.

Go for filling: Stay away from foods that can lead to a midmorning crash. Instead, opt for meals that are full of slow-digesting nutrients to help keep you satisfied throughout the morning; high-fiber, high-protein breakfast options are a good choice for feeling full and energized. And make sure your breakfast doesn't have too much sugar in it - here are seven low-sugar, high-protein and fiber breakfast ideas that fit the bill.

Watch out for portions: A big breakfast can help fill you up, but you don't want to overdo it. Check out our handy chart of what servings sizes should look like, and keep calories in check with this list of the amount of calories in typical breakfasts.