How many calories should I burn while exercising?

  • Is there a set amount of how many calories one should burn during exercise in order to lose the recommended 2 lbs a week?
  • I don't think there's a set amount because it also depends on your calorie deficit. Overall, for each pound, you would want to create a 3500 calorie deficit, so that is 7,000 calories per week in deficit. It's ideal to cut down 500 calories a day in your food consumption and then you lose a pound from that alone and if you can burn 500 to 700 calories a day from being active and exercising, then you would ideally burn another pound from that. However, I have found that it doesn't quite work exactly how it should. I just do the best that I can. Also, I'm pretty sure that what the gym equipment says is incorrect. I usually burn about 950 to 1000 calories a day at the gym and I don't lose all that quickly and I sometimes hit plateau's and things. Just do the best you can, but don't rush into it because you can get hurt. It needs to be a gradual process. Also, I highly recommend that you eventually do high intensity interval training (you can Google it) because it really helps with weight loss.
  • a good rule of thumb is 100 calories for every mile you walk/run, it varies slightly person to person but still about 100cals.... im a health major and have learned this is many classes!