Gym workout'ers - how many calories do you burn each visit?

[MuckyAnthea]

And whats your gym routine?

I work out for over an hour - 60 mins cardio, and 20-30 mins walking flat on the treadmill [just to wind my body and heart rate back down] I tend to burn off 600-800 cals. I go three times a week, and swim once a week too. Yet I have not lost weight, only inches around my arms and legs. I don't mind this, but am interested to hear about other peoples gym regimes and weight loss.

: )

yeah, 50-60 mins cardio, then do 2 sessions ashtanga a week too (try and do gym 3x a week). don't really trust the calorie burners on treadmills but usually run 7-9 k in 50 mins.

you probably have lost inches not weight as you're replacing fat with muscle - well done, sounds like you're doing really well.

MA, I only do an hour in total - 30 min cardio, the rest of the time weights (was my starting regime in September and I keep forgetting to make an appt for a review) - I burn 400 calories and go 4 times per week (ideally - it often works out at only 3).

I haven't lost any weight either but I went from a size 14 to a 12 - unfortunately that all seems to have crept on again as the regime became too easy. I daren't try the size 12 jeans at the mo.

wow, what do you do to burn 400 cals in half an hour?
i typically do 20 mins cross trainer & 20 ins rowing or walking uphill on treadmill. 20 mins typically burns off 100 - 150 cals, so best I'd get is 300 cals in 40 mins. That with the weight, I haven't got much more time as have got to get ds

I do something about 3 times a week-step,aerobics,running or gym.
In the gym,will do 55 mins cardio and burn anout 550 calories (most of the time spent running)

I don't see the point of just walking on a treadmill.What is that all about?

Running outside is my new fave-thanks to the encouragemnet of MNers.Doing it in the gym seems so dull now.

Will be off braving the elements this morning!

Hi MA
I normally do about 10-15 mins on rowing machine then 30 mins on treadmill (interval training). Probably burning around 400 cals each session.

Remember being told that fat-burning depends on intensity you work out (Had to google it to remember rates etc though!)
Apparently - 60-70% max heart rate - body should be burning fat as energy, but at 70-80% max heart rate (aerobic zone, body uses glycogen stores in muscles.

Also agree with moondog - I started outdoor running this year although lapsed a bit recently due to horrible weather. I find I can run further and faster because more to distract me and so get less bored.

Actually,I find that running in foul weather and charging through mud and piles of leaves makes me feel great!
The buzz is fantastic.

I live in Snowdonia so the idiocy of pounding away on the treadmill when you can be out and about in fantastic scenery that starts at the bottom of the garden is apparent.

Sorry just read that post back through and realised mistyped it! 70-80% max heart rate - aerobic, for cardiovascular fitness, 80-90% is anaerobic and when glycogen is burned.

I'd love to be able to start running, but when I have attempted it at the gym and glanced at myself in the mirror, I look such a retard its untrue, so I continue to walk and do cardio in other areas just to retain my dignity.

I do 13 mins on the bike to warm up, thats 126 cals burnt, then 20 mins on this leg machine-which I have no idea what its called thats 200 cals, 35 mins on the cross trainer-using the hill climb option which is 400 cals max heart rate 170, but I try to keep it at 159]. So after that my heart is pumping so I walk on the treadmill for 20 mins just so I can cool down and this also burns off 100 cals or so. I try and swim a mile once a week too, its 70 laps altogether, and I do sets of 10 laps using different strokes. I try to be disciplined and never leave it more then 2 days between gym going. After my gym workout I go in the sauna, which is fab, a real treat.

I hae loved reading everyones responses, and yes, although there is no weight loss on the scales [which can be disheartening] there is inch loss, so yay!!

just go for it, MA. I did a hill prog yesterday for 50 mins and looked at the cals burned (with this thread in mind) and it was (allegedly!) over 600!

your swimming sounds impressive too - do you go at weekend?

I usually go swimming on a Tuesday morning. I go to the gym on a Weds arvo, gym again on a Thursday or Friday arvo, and gym it on a Sunday. Did you run on a hill climb on the treadmill? gotta hand it to you, over 600 cals in 50 mins is great! how long have you been doing it, and did you start for weight loss or just to keep fit? if its for weight loss, can I ask what was your weight then and now? I am 72 kilos, but can fluctuate between 69 - 72 in one day! I want to get down to 65.

so many questions!!

Have you been watching what you eat as well muckyanthea - this is my downfall. I do the exercise then have a coffee and a scone afterwards so add on over half the cals I just burned off

I find it difficult to lose weight doing just either exercise or watching what I eat but soooooo difficult to do both I need to lose a few pounds too to get back to weight I'm happier at.

Other thing I would suggest is to keep knocking the speed up a bit on the treadmill even for a minute at a time - it's amazing how quickly you can build up your speed and distance. I put the treadmill on a random program so that I'm getting some inclines too. I started out as a complete non-runner at beginning of this year, completed a 5k in May without too much bother. Would like to do a 10k next.

sorry, it was a random programme with hills -not at v high incline though - max 3.5.

I ran a lot pre-kids, then a lot after dd, who is 4, and have been running properly again for nearly a year (ds is 2) though only jst re-joined gym actually, and have resumed my pre-children routine.

dunno how much i weighed a year go (too much!) but now weigh about 63/4 - want to get back below 60, so am starting to watch what am eating more.

I think I'll try that Loopy,sort of random bumping up the speed.I tend to do it more gradually,starting out at 8.5 km an hour then bumping up to 10 km after about 35 mins (having increased gradually.)

I am running 8 km no problem (well,it's tough but bearable) outside but would like to get up to doing a 10 k race.
Maybe I should just enter one but am scared it will be all stringy Paula Radcliffe types and cocky little blokes in flappy short nylon shorts and sleeveless vests.

Go for it, moondog! I normally start about 8km/hr then bump it up and down between that and 10km whilst on random hill programme. How is your outdoor running going - I really want to get back into it

Need some tips to beat the weather - brrrr, very cold in ireland at the mo!!

Loopity,I hate the cold but feel that by running I am sort of facing my demons head on.
Yesterday was bloody freezing but I felt so good running past people all bundled up in hats and scarves whilst I was braving the elements in a t shirt.

I live in Snowdonia so it can be pretty rough!

Had a warm (and rather smug glow) all day.

Also find that the cold makes me run faster.Knowing it's the only way to warm up is an extra incentive.

How did you start running? sounds stupid I know, but maybe the reason I look so stupid is because I am running at the wrong speed or stride length. Can you give me tips on how to start to train myself to run please? My boyfriend runs for an hour and I just don't know how he does it, I would love to do it, I think I am fit enough now.

Go and enrole yourself in a marathon/race moondog, do it!!

and loopity, yes I probably do eat too much, but have been really watching it lately though and cut out alcohol too

MA - Had a baby 2.5 months ago and ran 5K last weekend in 28:55.
Am steadily losing 1 pound per week.
Gained 40 pounds; have 10 to go now.
CANNOT DIET! Yogurt, chocolate milk, fruit and candy are diet staples.

Gym every Saturday, 1.25 hours; quickly working each of the major muscles with 3 sets of 8-12 repetitions - going from machine to machine without stopping, working alternating muscles. For example, chest presses and then the rowing machine - which works the back - then free weights for arms & then quadraceps machine ... Read recently it's better to work all muscle groups at once, then rest until nothing's sore, then do it again, for max efficiency. Seems to be working.

Run every Sunday, 1 hour. Doing about 8.5 km; it's a paved trail through the woods, and absolutely beautiful, very enjoyable. Much slower pace than race pace! I would suggest bringing along an MP3 player - I cannot run without one, period. Fave music is Collective Soul - it's upbeat and all sounds the same, so you can gel into zen while running.

Forgot to even say calories! Actually, have no idea. Afraid to count what I'm taking in, too!

Hi MA, if you mean start running on treadmill, just gradually get yourself up to jogging speed, and then push up speed to whatever you can manage from there. I started at around 7-7.5k which is around jogging speed and at the beginning just aimed to keep this speed up for a ten minute session. Can now push up to 10 or 10.5 for short bursts of 2 minutes or so from steady speed of 8.5km/hr and spend 30 mins on treadmill.

As for outdoor running - I just went for it one day! I go to the towpath of nearby river with eiher dh or a friend - nice scenery but no hills!

And don't worry - I probably look like a loon too when I'm running

I haven't been running for a few weeks now, posting here has really motivated me again so thanks MA!

Ah I need my iPod in the gym but outside i don't.

I need music with a very fast tempo to run to and am on a permanent quest for suitable tunes.

Good ones are

'Rock Lobster' B52s
'Dancing with myself' Billy Idol
Any Chuck Berry
'Shoot to thrill' AC/DC
'Turning Japanese' The Vapors
'Walk like an Egyptian' The bangles
'Take a chance' Magic Numbers

Marls - wow, sounds amazing! can y9ou give more detail about your weights workout please??

yup - fast tempo music is definitely a great help with running.

The Vapors was the first ever single I ever bought Moondog, when but a wee girl