After my run today, I was stretching near the group exercise room at my gym. I noticed a couple of signs advertising an aerobics class and a weight lifting class. On those signs were estimations of calories that can be burned in those classes. I know there is no way that I would burn the amount of calories listed and many other people wouldn't burn that many either. I also can't help but laugh when I hear instructors yell out that we just burned 1000 calories in a class that lasted 45 minutes.
As stated, those calorie counts are just an estimation, and most likely an estimation on the very high end. "Calories burned" are typically calculated based on an "average weight" woman or man who is working to the fullest capacity in a class. Sorry, no breaks or lower impact options! These numbers not only do not take your individual weight into account, but they also do not take your gender, lean mass versus fat mass, fitness level, and age into account.
Wearing a heart rate monitor that takes your age, gender, and weight into account would be the best way to estimate your calories burned in any given activity. Granted, it will not be perfect either, but it will be a lot more accurate than the numbers any machine or instructor gives you at the gym.
This is really an important thing to know because many people overestimate their activity without the help of inflated calorie burns. When you start hearing that you're burning massive amounts of calories (even if you aren't), it is human nature to start eating a little more than you need to.
Ultimately, the best thing you can do is to exercise, eat when you are hungry, and stop eating when you are satisfied. Try not to get tied up in numbers that are inaccurate and unhelpful.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Liebster Award
I want to thank Busy-Dad-E over at www.busy-dad-e.blogspot.com for honoring my blog with the Liebster Blog Award. Apparently this award is given to up and coming blogs with less than 200 followers. What a fun day for the woRD on fitness!
With this fun little award comes rules. Here they are:
1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.
2. Answer the questions the awarder has given you, the awardee.
3. You, now the awarder, choose 11 questions for your nominees who are now the awardees.
4. Choose 11 awardees, link to their website, and notify them.
5. No award-backs.
11 things about me:
1. I am a mom of three fun and crazy kids.
2. I love to run and run some more.
3. I consider myself a foodie and love to cook/try new recipes.
4. For no reason at all, my study partner for our metabolism class and I memorized the chemical structure for cholesterol. I have never forgotten it.
5. A clean house has always been important to me. I have now forgotten what that is after having three kids!
6. You can usually find me wearing gym clothes at the grocery store, home, gym, library, museum, or playground. I rarely wear regular clothes these days except at work, church, and a night out on the town. Even at work I often change into gym clothes. Hey, I work in a wellness facility!
7. In college I realized that I would need to learn to like vegetables if I was going to be a dietitian. I slowly started introducing new vegetables to myself and found new ways to cook them. Many years later, I can honestly say that I love vegetables!
8. I always look forward to quality time with my husband and best friend.
9. Seventy degrees is my favorite outdoor temperature.
10. Until the kids go to bed, the only time I sit down is when I'm driving.
11. I love this crazy life with my wonderful family!
Answer the questions from the awarder:
1. Coke or Pepsi? Coke zero cherry.
2. Pepperoni or plain cheese? I'll go with pepperoni.
3. What are you most passionate about? Professionally: Helping my clients to live their lives to the fullest by staying healthy with good food and exercise. Personally: Raising a family that lives in a way that is pleasing to God.
4. Do you believe in absolute truth? Yes.
5. Where in the world would you most like to visit? Ireland.
6. Which of my posts are your favorite? Oh my gosh, Busy-Dad-E! That is a tough question! So many of your posts are hilarious and so many are sweet. I will go with one of your sports posts.
7. What is your favorite thing about being a parent? Again, hard to pick just one thing. I will go with two! I love the hugs and seeing them master a new skill or hit a new mile-stone. It is such a happy time!
8. Do you floss before or after brushing? After, of course!
9. What makes you truly happy? My family!
10. What is your favorite hobby? Running!
11. What one question would you like to ask me? Does life get harder or easier as your children get older?
My questions for the awardees:
1. What is your favorite Friday night activity these days?
2. Books on tape or music while driving?
3. Would you rather text people or call them?
4. We always say technology is awesome, but what is the biggest drawback to the phones,computers, tablets, etc?
5. What is your favorite hobby?
6. What is your favorite birthday dinner?
7. Coffee or tea?
8. Favorite singer from your childhood?
9. Will you vote in the upcoming election?
10. Summer or Winter?
11. Favorite thing to do on Halloween?
Awardee:
http://anneandbradley.blogspot.com/
Thank you, Busy-Dad-E!
With this fun little award comes rules. Here they are:
1. Each person must post 11 things about themselves.
2. Answer the questions the awarder has given you, the awardee.
3. You, now the awarder, choose 11 questions for your nominees who are now the awardees.
4. Choose 11 awardees, link to their website, and notify them.
5. No award-backs.
11 things about me:
1. I am a mom of three fun and crazy kids.
2. I love to run and run some more.
3. I consider myself a foodie and love to cook/try new recipes.
4. For no reason at all, my study partner for our metabolism class and I memorized the chemical structure for cholesterol. I have never forgotten it.
5. A clean house has always been important to me. I have now forgotten what that is after having three kids!
6. You can usually find me wearing gym clothes at the grocery store, home, gym, library, museum, or playground. I rarely wear regular clothes these days except at work, church, and a night out on the town. Even at work I often change into gym clothes. Hey, I work in a wellness facility!
7. In college I realized that I would need to learn to like vegetables if I was going to be a dietitian. I slowly started introducing new vegetables to myself and found new ways to cook them. Many years later, I can honestly say that I love vegetables!
8. I always look forward to quality time with my husband and best friend.
9. Seventy degrees is my favorite outdoor temperature.
10. Until the kids go to bed, the only time I sit down is when I'm driving.
11. I love this crazy life with my wonderful family!
Answer the questions from the awarder:
1. Coke or Pepsi? Coke zero cherry.
2. Pepperoni or plain cheese? I'll go with pepperoni.
3. What are you most passionate about? Professionally: Helping my clients to live their lives to the fullest by staying healthy with good food and exercise. Personally: Raising a family that lives in a way that is pleasing to God.
4. Do you believe in absolute truth? Yes.
5. Where in the world would you most like to visit? Ireland.
6. Which of my posts are your favorite? Oh my gosh, Busy-Dad-E! That is a tough question! So many of your posts are hilarious and so many are sweet. I will go with one of your sports posts.
7. What is your favorite thing about being a parent? Again, hard to pick just one thing. I will go with two! I love the hugs and seeing them master a new skill or hit a new mile-stone. It is such a happy time!
8. Do you floss before or after brushing? After, of course!
9. What makes you truly happy? My family!
10. What is your favorite hobby? Running!
11. What one question would you like to ask me? Does life get harder or easier as your children get older?
My questions for the awardees:
1. What is your favorite Friday night activity these days?
2. Books on tape or music while driving?
3. Would you rather text people or call them?
4. We always say technology is awesome, but what is the biggest drawback to the phones,computers, tablets, etc?
5. What is your favorite hobby?
6. What is your favorite birthday dinner?
7. Coffee or tea?
8. Favorite singer from your childhood?
9. Will you vote in the upcoming election?
10. Summer or Winter?
11. Favorite thing to do on Halloween?
Awardee:
http://anneandbradley.blogspot.com/
Thank you, Busy-Dad-E!
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