The quantum of calorie burn differs among individuals despite them following the same exercise pattern, diet and calorie intake. This is because each of us is endowed with differing metabolism and hence rate of calorie burn differs. Some of the factors that affect the rate of calorie burn are amount of physical activity, metabolism and calorie intake.
The food that we eat is converted into energy that fuels the body processes. Apart from these, we also are involved in physical and mental work which consumes energy. If the calorie intake matches to the calorie expended there is no calorie pile up and you will not experience excessive weight gain. Only when you are not able to burn off the calories that have been ingested, you are saddled with weight gain issues.
Different forms of activities cause varying amount of calorie burn. Swimming burns more calories than walking. Similarly you burn more calories when you are walking or cycling uphill than when doing the same activity on a flat surface. The intensity with which we perform the exercises also determines the rate of calorie burn. High intensity cardio results in a far greater calorie burn than compared to low or medium intensity workouts.
You can lose about 400 to 600 calories by jogging for one hour. An hour’s session of zumba workout can help you lose about 500 to 800 calories. Running at 10 miles per minute can help you lose around 680 calories. Moderate swimming activity can set you back by 415 calories and an hour long game of racquet ball helps you to lose 477 calories. Well, these are the approximate figures that an average person would be able to lose. Other factors like intensity, level of fitness, and other health conditions can alter the rate of calorie burn. Nevertheless, your efforts will not go wasted and you will definitely be able to lose all the excess calories by following a regular exercise regime.
You need to burn off 3500 calories to lose a pound of weight. This can be achieved by a combination of diet and exercise. You can reduce your calorie intake in a phased manner without resorting to drastic calorie cuts. So, also you need to choose higher calorie burning workouts. It is recommended not to start off your workouts at high intensities. You should start at low intensity and gradually step up such that it brings about maximum calorie burn.
Your metabolism too plays a very important role in losing calories. Those who are endowed with slow metabolism take a longer time to burn off calories than persons who have a high metabolism. Metabolism can slow down due to many factors; ill health, lack of adequate nutrition, lesser water intake, lethargy, and fatigue can cause your metabolism to slow down. Some of the ways by which you can speed up your metabolism are by maintaining an active lifestyle and incorporating healthy eating habits with a balanced and calorie controlled diet.